Image credit: Netflix
After months of speculation and teasers, Meghan Markle’s new Netflix show, With Love, Meghan, has finally launched – and unsurprisingly it has divided opinion.
One review called it “pointless” while another labelled it an “exercise in narcissism”. Showing off her charmed life in California, Meghan invites celebrity guests into her kitchen (not in her own home but instead in the mansion of a friend) to show off her culinary and hosting skills.
While critics argue it is quite tone deaf at times as not many people have sprawling homes and gardens with fresh produce on their doorsteps, there were some interesting insights into her life in California with husband Prince Harry and their two children, Archie and Lili.
If you don’t fancy watching all eight episodes, here’s what we discovered.
It’s the age old saying that nothing smells better than freshly brewed coffee and baked bread and it seems that Meghan agrees.
Ahead of inviting her friend Mindy Kaling over for a girls’ afternoon, Meghan makes sure Mindy is greeted by a cup of coffee from her cafetière. As she says, “but first coffee”.
The same with bread and when she hosts Delfina Figueras – wife of one of Harry’s polo pals – she teaches her to make focaccia, “which is the easier bread in the world to make”. She says it never fails to impress and the smell of it baking immediately gives off a cosy and warm homely feel.
“Your house is going to smell great when your guests arrive.”
Perhaps, the most important rule in any kitchen. Whenever Meghan opens her designer fridge there is always a bottle of wine of champagne chilling ready to be opened.
Despite it being mid-morning when Mindy visits, Meghan is quick to pop a bottle of champagne and pour two glasses, telling her guest who is worried bout drinking alcohol so early, “Welcome to Montecito!”
She has even made her own juices to add into the fizz and has perfected her peach puree to make delicious bellinis.
She is also a big fan of rose wine and regularly offers her guests a tipple, while her and Harry often indulge in a glass or two once the kids are in bed.
Flowers have the ability to cheer most people up and Meghan says a beautiful floral arrangement is key when having guests over. She says they don’t have to expensive and all blooms can look good, as long as they’re shown some TLC.
When deconstructing a supermarket-bought bouquet, she adds carnations to make it look “stunning and high-end”.
It doesn’t just stop with pretty flowers on the tables as Meghan likes to add decorative (and edible) flower petals to make her food look pretty.
She also has a thing for bright colours and if giving guests fruit, she won’t just serve it in bowls, she’ll arrange it in the shape of a rainbow to entice them to get some of their five a day.
If you’ve got the time and the patience, then according to Meghan, there is nothing better than a goodie tray for overnight guests.
In the first episode, Meghan is hosting long-term friend Daniel Martin and like the attentive host that she is, she preps the guest room to give them a great experience. In Daniel’s case she makes him up a tray with his favourite treats and homemade bath salts.
“I think about the two places of a guest experience once they've gone into their room,” she says.
“What's at the side of the bed for them? That's their good morning and good night moment, and what is in the bathroom for them so they can have a beautiful soak, a nice bath at the end of night.”
She also leaves out handwritten notes and labels all of her gifts, saying, “Anything I can do with handwriting adds a personal touch.”
There’s no need to feel guilty if you decide to order a takeaway instead of slaving away over a hot stove – just make sure you take it out of the containers before your guests see it.
Chinese is a favourite with Meghan and Harry but she won’t let her standards slip and reveals, “Even when I get take-out, I will try to plate it beautifully. And that goes for any type of food you serve, even sharing platters.
“I think the most important thing when I’m thinking about putting a cheese or charcuterie board together is finding different layers, textures and balance. So salty, sweet, umami flavours,”
Meghan says everyone has it in them to be the perfect host and encourages everyone to strive for “balance, not perfection” and doing things “with love”.
“Just because you can’t do everything doesn’t mean you don’t want to do some things,” she says.
“'Some things’ is where a lot of that love can come in. You’re not losing extra credit - you’re not losing the gold star by not making the dumpling wrapper!”
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