Meghan Markle's holiday special is out
What I'm now inspired to make...sorry Meghan!
Hi Royal Clubbers,
Alex here! As I’m sure you’ve heard – or probably seen on social media – Meghan Markle’s holiday special, With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration, is now streaming on Netflix. Just like the first two seasons of her lifestyle series, the Duchess of Sussex welcomed friends into the rental property she films at near her and Prince Harry’s home in Montecito for an episode filled with festive crafts, drinks and food.
As a lover of all things Christmas, I was curious to see what Meghan would be teaching her guests and making this time around. Spoiler: it included gougères, reindeer chow, wreaths, gumbo, Prince Harry’s anti-salad (made of beets, black olives, fennel and anchovies) and more.
I’m not much of a cook, though I do enjoy baking, so I have to admit I find With Love, Meghan to be an easy watch. That said, I’m always a little surprised when I see the Duchess in the kitchen wearing her jewelry – I’d be worried about dropping a ring down the sink or getting my bracelets and watch dirty. But, to each their own!
Jewelry hazards aside, watching the episode did inspire me to get into the kitchen, but I’m sorry, Meghan, that inspiration actually came from a colleague. When Meghan started assembling a crudité platter in the shape of a wreath for Naomi Osaka, my coworker Izzy pulled out a photo of a hummus wreath she once made (photo below!). Now I’m thinking I want to try making a pesto wreath someday with tomatoes, arugula and mozzarella.
Meghan certainly likes to showcase skills she’s confident in, like her calligraphy and gift-wrapping – lots of cute ideas, if you have the time and patience to skip the gift bag!
Perhaps because of my recent encounter with a cracker, I particularly enjoyed the segment in which she showed Will Guidara how to make them. Full disclosure: up until last week, I had no idea they were even called “crackers” – remember I’m from Miami, Florida – nor do I recall ever seeing one before the trailer for With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration.
I actually just pulled my very first cracker last Friday during a cozy luncheon at Coworth Park – a post on that coming soon! As soon as I saw the cracker, I asked: “What are these?!” Of course, I mentioned that the first time I’d seen one was in the trailer for Meghan’s holiday special.
Not to dwell too long on crackers, but I was genuinely excited to experience one myself. While mine at the luncheon had colorful tape inside, I liked how Meghan personalized hers for Prince Harry and their children, revealing a few new tidbits about them – too bad we didn’t get to see Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet during the episode.
Speaking of Prince Harry, who else laughed at his “anti-salad” remark? Even Tom Colicchio seemed to find it funny.
All in all, it was a festive watch and no doubt an early Christmas gift for Sussex fans.
As revealed in the episode, gumbo is one of Meghan’s “family favorites” that she makes on Christmas Eve, so I’d love to know, what are some of your family’s go-to recipes, and do you plan on watching the Duchess’ holiday special? Let me know in the comments!
Further reading
My Thanksgiving with Princess Catherine
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Kensington Palace
Heavens no!! Can't stand to look at her.
She is not a royal! Do tired of both of them and their well paid publicist!