Royalty Thread #16: the best of times, the worst of times

[kwanfan1818]

My favorite instructions are "Do X until just before Y happens." Nothing to tell you how you know it's "just before", like you will smell a slight caramel scent just before that is about to happen, or the surface will start to jiggle slightly just before that is about to happen.

The mind-reading part is why I don't cook.

 

[Jenny]

I love cookbooks! Our dining area, which also includes a comfy couch, has an entire wall devoted to cookbook shelves

Agree with everyone on quantities - in addition to juice of/zest of, onions vary in size (what's a medium onion even?) and don't get me started on garlic cloves. I prefer the recipes that say "one tablespoon of minced garlic" or "half a cup of chopped onions."

I can see Meghan doing a cookbook, why not. Celebrity cookbooks have been around forever, and I'm sure there's a market among her fans. She's already done the obligatory children's book after all.

 

[canbelto]

Another thing Meghan could do is a clothing line. I like her minimalist, neutrals-heavy style. A lot of celebs have clothing lines.

 

[MacMadame]

Posted an entire screed on my cookbook situation when I realized this was the royalty thread.

 

[shan]

Posted an entire screed on my cookbook situation when I realized this was the royalty thread.

I know. Everytime I read this thread, I think I've stumbled into the wrong one.

 

[Vagabond]

Ella Fitzgerald:

Posted an entire screed on my cookbook situation when I realized this was the royalty thread.

#priorities

 

[myhoneyhoney]

It would be neat if the royals released a cookbook of their favorite dishes. Or has that been done?

 

[puglover]

It would be neat if the royals released a cookbook of their favorite dishes. Or has that been done?

I don't know but I remember watching a demo on sticky toffee pudding done by a royal chef who claimed it was Princess Catherine's favourite dessert. I do have a copy of the recipe (if you believe it) for Princess Catherine and William's Chocolate Wedding Cake which is made with rich tea biscuits and chocolate ganache. Queen Elizabeth was not a foodie and drank Earl Grey tea without cream or sugar, ate a lot of chicken and salmon without sauces, never ate garlic (banned) and threw her scones to her dogs. Very plain, from what I gather.

 

[kwanfan1818]

That's way to keep one's girlish figure, I guess.

The wedding cake sounds wonderful, no matter whose wedding or non-wedding.

 

[Parsley Sage]

Queen Elizabeth loved chocolate.

The Eating Royally Cookbook I posted about is by a former royal chef. There are great stories and pictures in it.

I made a version of chocolate biscuit cake to snack on during Will and Kate's wedding. Despite having British grandparents and multiple trips to the UK when I was young, I'd never had it before.

I might make it again some day but as squares and not a full cake

Prince William Squares. Chocolate biscuit cake as smaller cookie bars.

Prince William Squares. A downsized version of the UK favourite, chocolate biscuit cake, but made into smaller portions as cookie squares.

www.rockrecipes.com

 

[Coco]

Has anyone tried the Downton Abbey cookbook?

 

[Lynn226]

Meaghan supported the cookbook that the women from Greenfell Tower wrote after the West London fire.

She could do other charitable cookbooks and host another podcast or cooking show to support it.

 

[canbelto]

Royal-adjacent news. And it's bad:

https://people.com/mohamed-al-fayed-whose-son-died-alongside-princess-diana-accused-of-multiple-rapes-8715086

 

[emason]

Keepers included my old Joy of Cooking, which I still find invaluable because it is so comprehensive

I’m on my 3rd copy of the old Joy of Cooking; I use it so much I wore out the 2 previous copies. (Also on at least my second, if not third, copy of Fannie Farmer. You can tell I’m a New Englander by the 2 cookbooks I use the most.)

 

[canbelto]

Daily Beast has another article about Meghan's management style:

Ex-Staffers of ‘Demon’ Boss Meghan Markle Recall ‘Psycho Moments’

Meghan’s staff have reopened a can of worms about her management styles after they praised her as the best boss ever in the U.S. media.

www.thedailybeast.com

I give these reports much more credence than the reports written by the right-wing British tabloids. These are American news outfits that are reputable news sources.

 

[Karen-W]

Daily Beast has another article about Meghan's management style:

Ex-Staffers of ‘Demon’ Boss Meghan Markle Recall ‘Psycho Moments’

Meghan’s staff have reopened a can of worms about her management styles after they praised her as the best boss ever in the U.S. media.

www.thedailybeast.com

I give these reports much more credence than the reports written by the right-wing British tabloids. These are American news outfits that are reputable news sources.

Well, you do realize that some of the British news reporting was coming from absolutely reputable sources like The Telegraph, The Times and The Guardian, right?

No offense, but The Daily Beast is hardly comparable to those three media outlets.

Having said that, I do think that when basically the same allegations are coming from two very different locales and press environments several years apart then one has to consider all of them to very likely be true. The "there was a cultural difference, people had a difficult time adjusting to a blunt, no-nonsense, biracial American woman" line worked when the locale and press was the Royal Family & London but it certainly won't work in LA where there are plenty of blunt, no-nonsense biracial American women who are successful bosses and managers in the lifestyle & entertainment industry where Meghan wants to play.

 

[kwanfan1818]

Being staff for Hollywood celebrities sounds like a dog's life from every account I've read. The sense of entitlement that they own your life is unreal.

 

[canbelto]

Well, you do realize that some of the British news reporting was coming from absolutely reputable sources like The Telegraph, The Times and The Guardian, right?

No offense, but The Daily Beast is hardly comparable to those three media outlets.

Having said that, I do think that when basically the same allegations are coming from two very different locales and press environments several years apart then one has to consider all of them to very likely be true. The "there was a cultural difference, people had a difficult time adjusting to a blunt, no-nonsense, biracial American woman" line worked when the locale and press was the Royal Family & London but it certainly won't work in LA where there are plenty of blunt, no-nonsense biracial American women who are successful bosses and managers in the lifestyle & entertainment industry where Meghan wants to play.

That was what I meant. In the UK, I could believe cultural differences, culture shock, and probably some PPD played a role in the rumors of staff turmoil. But in Montecito? If anything, the turnover is just as high, as are the reports of staff bullying. Also, in Hollywood treatment of staff tends to be pretty awful overall, so if they're getting a reputation of being difficult even in Hollywood, that actually is something to look at.

 

[kedrin]

Being staff for Hollywood celebrities sounds like a dog's life from every account I've read. The sense of entitlement that they own your life is unreal.

I once (when I worked at a studio) was working with Kathy Bates' assistant over the phone, and casually mentioned that I had heard that Kathy was nice. The assistant went on about how wonderful she is and that she's been with her for years, so, there are some good ones. I also knew some assistants to other celebrities (I'll leave off the names) who had not so great experiences.

 

[kwanfan1818]

I think there are always good ones. It's just not something I'd ever assume.

 

[kedrin]

I think there are always good ones. It's just not something I'd ever assume.

Yeah- it's not a job I'd want.

 

[canbelto]

In Hollywood a lot of PA's are drug runners, unfortunately. See: Matthew Perry.

 

[once_upon]

In Hollywood a lot of PA's are drug runners, unfortunately. See: Matthew Perry.

What is a lot? What is some? What is a few?

We hear about the drug runner ones ie Perry, Prince or whoever else. But the # of PAs vs the # of drug runner PAs?

 

[Karen-W]

What is a lot? What is some? What is a few?

We hear about the drug runner ones ie Perry, Prince or whoever else. But the # of PAs vs the # of drug runner PAs?

As a percent of the # of people employed as PAs in the entertainment industry v. # of people employed as PAs in other industries? I'd guess that there are probably a lot more PAs in the entertainment industry than, say, banking or politics. Who knows if that gut instinct is right or not, but my goodness... We do hear about these stories and I think, at some point, we have to take them, along with the Harvey Weinstein felonies, the Sean Combs allegations, Michael Jackson, etc and consider them as wholly representative of the industry.

Not that that has much to do with the Sussexes - as far as I'm aware, Harry's the one who had a drug problem in his past, not Meghan. Right now, the stories about Meghan are more of the Ellen Degeneres "horrible/tyrannical boss" variety than anything else.

 

[mattiecat13]

I also knew some assistants to other celebrities (I'll leave off the names) who had not so great experiences.

We want names!

 

[taf2002]

I don't know but I remember watching a demo on sticky toffee pudding done by a royal chef who claimed it was Princess Catherine's favourite dessert. I do have a copy of the recipe (if you believe it) for Princess Catherine and William's Chocolate Wedding Cake which is made with rich tea biscuits and chocolate ganache. Queen Elizabeth was not a foodie and drank Earl Grey tea without cream or sugar, ate a lot of chicken and salmon without sauces, never ate garlic (banned) and threw her scones to her dogs. Very plain, from what I gather.

Sticky toffee pudding is also Harry Potter's favorite. I would love to try it.

Re cookbooks- My maternal grandmother (born in 1888) had a Southern Living cookbook that was passed down from her grandmother. My middle brother took it to his house without asking & when he was through with it he threw it in the trash. There were so many family recipes in there that we will never recover. Everyone was mad at him but that was just his regular MO.

Not that that has much to do with the Sussexes - as far as I'm aware, Harry's the one who had a drug problem in his past, not Meghan. Right now, the stories about Meghan are more of the Ellen Degeneres "horrible/tyrannical boss" variety than anything else.

The stories about Meghan being a horrible boss are not right now. They are about 4yrs or so old. Some people would rather believe them instead of the stories about her being a fantastic boss. The bad stories started in the UK about the time that the Sussex's popularity was at its heighth. I think either story paints her as a Type A. It may be that royal assistants didn't want to work as hard as Meghan wanted. The American assistants may be more used to her working style, thus the good stories.

 

[Jenny]

One of my favourite episodes of the old Upstairs Downstairs was titled "The King Comes to Dinner" and while there's a whole other storyline, I'm all about menu There's a lovely little scene where Mrs. Bridges ventures out of her kitchen and has a cozy sit down in the parlour with Lady Marjorie, and she's brought some newspaper clippings with the "receipts" for the King's favourite dishes. Spoiler alert, Lady Marjorie smartly convinces her to go with something tried and true, what we'd today call one of chef's signature dishes.

 

[Kruss]

The stories about Meghan being a horrible boss are not right now. They are about 4yrs or so old. Some people would rather believe them instead of the stories about her being a fantastic boss. The bad stories started in the UK about the time that the Sussex's popularity was at its heighth. I think either story paints her as a Type A. It may be that royal assistants didn't want to work as hard as Meghan wanted. The American assistants may be more used to her working style, thus the good stories.

Except the stories are recent and by her staff in her American-based company. So these claims come from both sides of the pond.

 

[canbelto]

The stories about Meghan being a horrible boss are not right now. They are about 4yrs or so old. Some people would rather believe them instead of the stories about her being a fantastic boss. The bad stories started in the UK about the time that the Sussex's popularity was at its heighth. I think either story paints her as a Type A. It may be that royal assistants didn't want to work as hard as Meghan wanted. The American assistants may be more used to her working style, thus the good stories.

The THR story includes some of the turnover and problems with her in the US, including the turnover at Archewell.

 

[taf2002]

@Kruss & @canbelto, I said the stories started in the UK. I do know there have been recent stories, both good & bad coming from the US. So is she a Ellen DeGenerus or Miranda Prisley? Or is she a driven person who wants things done right the 1st time? I don't think she's Jekell & Hyde but what do I know?