Netflix’s newest series, With Love, Meghan, begins with a serene scene of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, standing in her garden alongside her beekeeper as they extract fresh honey. From the very first shot, the show sets a calming tone, blending nature’s beauty with a sense of warmth and intentionality.
In this latest series, Meghan welcomes friends and well-known guests to a stunning California estate, where she shares her passion for cooking, gardening, and hosting. The series premiered on March 4, and offers practical tips for making everyday moments more thoughtful and fun. Her simple yet elegant approach has sparked enthusiasm among fans, inspiring them to recreate her dishes and seek out the cookware and décor featured in the series. According to Tastewise, global consumption of edible flowers has risen by 27.5% in the past year, while Google searches for incorporating them into meals and cocktails have surged by 300%, making them one of the season’s hottest trends.
While some critics have found reasons to be negative, I found With Love, Meghan both enjoyable and deeply relatable. Watching the series reminded me of the love and care I witnessed in my own family, my grandmother, mother, uncles, aunts, and friends all embracing the art of entertaining as a way to connect with others. Rather than an exclusive affair for the wealthy, hosting is about creating meaningful experiences. If anything, the show encouraged me to lean into those small, thoughtful touches that make guests feel truly welcome.
From Screen to Kitchen
With Love, Meghan Inspires Home Cooks
In the eight-episode series With Love, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex steps into the kitchen to prepare both simple and elaborate dishes, with the help of her friends and celebrity Californian chefs Ramon Velasquez and Roy Choi. Fans wasted no time rushing to their kitchens to recreate these recipes, sharing their results online and celebrating the joy of home cooking.
Among the standout dishes was Meghan’s effortless one-pot pasta, a meal that requires little more than tossing ingredients into a pan and letting the flavors meld together. Another fan-favorite was the Honey Lemon Layer Cake with Raspberry, a beautifully delicate cake soaked in a fragrant lemon-honey syrup and layered with raspberry preserves for a sweet, tangy surprise. For those up for a challenge, the series also introduced more intricate recipes, such as Salt-Baked Fish with Roasted Tomatoes and a homemade Focaccia that showcased the art of breadmaking.
Social media quickly filled with renditions of these dishes, proving that Meghan’s approach to cooking was both accessible and inspiring. The enthusiasm surrounding the series speaks to the growing movement of home cooks and content creators who love sharing their culinary adventures. One of my favorite recent trends in home entertaining is the rise of Cookbook Clubs, intimate social gatherings where a group selects a cookbook, each member prepares a dish from it, and everyone comes together to enjoy the meal. It’s like a traditional book club, but with way more flavor bringing the added joy of shared food and experiences.
Whether through casual weeknight dinners or ambitious weekend projects, With Love, Meghan is inspiring people to see cooking as more than just meal prep—it’s an opportunity to create, share, and connect in meaningful ways.
The Meghan Markle Effect
A Surge in Cookware and Entertaining Trends
The show With Love, Meghan is a prime example of the “Meghan Markle effect,” a well-documented phenomenon where brands see a dramatic spike in sales due to the Duchess’s influence. Since the series premiered on Netflix, searches and social media engagement around many featured products have surged.
According to Waitrose, their website has seen significant increases in interest for certain ingredients highlighted in the show:
- Crudités +200%
- Honey +49%
- Sparkling water +233%
- Assorted fruit platter +33%
- Truffle salt +3200%
- Microwave popcorn +200%
- Edible flowers +200%
- Bruschetta +50%
- Focaccia +86%
- Bath salts +65%
Le Creuset has experienced one of the biggest boosts from the show. In the first episode, Meghan prepared her popular one-pan pasta dish using a Le Creuset Signature Skillet. The skillet quickly sold out, along with several other products in the brand’s Meringue colorway.
While some critics found reasons to nitpick everything from her cookware to her wardrobe, Black women on social media embraced the moment, proudly sharing their own Le Creuset collections. Content creator Dom-in-the-City highlighted her Harlem Toile Collection designed by renowned interior designer Sheila Bridges. This collection features intricate pastoral motifs from the late 1700s, reimagined to depict vibrant scenes of everyday Black life. The exquisite design, rendered in crisp black appliqué on a white Le Creuset background, serves as a reminder that luxury home design is not limited to one demographic. Meghan’s influence continues to break stereotypes, proving that style, elegance, and thoughtful entertaining are for everyone.
Cooking as an Expression of Love and Thoughtfulness
One of the most common criticisms of With Love, Meghan is that the show feels out of touch. But to me, this viewpoint seems misguided. Many of us grew up watching our grandmothers and mothers take pride in entertaining, using food and hospitality as a way to show love.
At my grandmother’s homegoing service, several women from her church shared touching stories of how much they cherished visiting her home, where she always welcomed them with a warm, home-cooked meal. It was then that I realized this tradition had been passed down first to my mother, and now to me.
I remember growing up and helping set the formal dining table, carefully placing the fine china that only made an appearance when guests were over. I’d sit with my mother as she arranged floral centerpieces, experimenting with different flowers and color themes to make the table feel extra special. In the kitchen, I watched her test and tweak recipes, never relying strictly on measurements but instead seasoning by the instinct of her ancestors as we would say, adding a little more of this, a little less of that until the dish tasted just right. Everything she did came from a place of love, and the greatest reward was seeing the joy it brought to others.
Now, I see my own generation carrying on these traditions. My home is part of the family’s holiday hosting rotation, and I take pride in preparing for guests creating floral arrangements, trying new recipes, and crafting cocktails to make the gathering feel even more special. I was recently reminded of how deeply these traditions run when a close friend from high school helped me decorate for my nephew’s first birthday party. She effortlessly built a stunning balloon arch, revealing a hidden talent for arts and crafts that I had never known she had while we were growing up.
Moments like these prove that hosting is not just for the wealthy, nor is it an outdated concept. In a world filled with uncertainty and stress, creating a warm, welcoming space for family and friends is a way to offer comfort, connection, and joy. The laughter that fills a home during these gatherings is a reminder that intentional hospitality is never out of touch, it is a timeless expression of love.
Bringing the Essence of With Love, Meghan Into Your Own Home
Want to elevate your hosting game with a touch of duchess-approved elegance? Here are three simple yet thoughtful entertaining tips inspired by Meghan Markle herself:
1. Create a Cozy and Thoughtful Guest Space
Make your guests feel at home by adding small but meaningful touches to their room. Meghan suggests decorating the bedside table with fresh flowers and providing thoughtful amenities like snacks and nighttime essentials.
“Whenever I have someone come and stay, one of my favorite things to do is prep the guest room. I think of two places for the guest experience … what’s at the side of the bed for them that’s their good morning and good night moment? And what’s in the bathroom for them so they can have a beautiful soak at the end of the night?”
2. Keep Cake Decorating Simple and Elegant
When it comes to cakes, less is more. Meghan’s approach favors minimal frosting and natural garnishes like fresh fruits and herbs, allowing the true flavors to shine.
“There’s something really satisfying about a cake that is bare on the outside but she is so beautiful on the inside, and you just don’t know how good she is until you go deep and you get to know her better.”
3. Elevate Dishes with Thoughtful Garnishes
A simple way to make any dish or drink feel special is by using edible flowers or dehydrated fruits as garnishes. These small details can instantly transform a meal into something visually stunning and inviting. Below is her method of creating homemade dehydrated citrus.
Dehydrated Citrus
Tools
- Dehydrator (You can can also use air fryer or oven on low heat)
Ingredients
- Limes
- Lemons
- Oranges
- Blood oranges
- Any other citrus you might have on hand
Method
- Slice all citrus into even wheels about ¼-inch thick.
- Arrange citrus in a single layer on dehydrator trays.
- Place trays in the dehydrator and dehydrate for 6–8 hours at 135 degrees Fahrenheit.
- After the fruit has dehydrated, place in an airtight container until ready to use.
Beyond the show, Meghan is further embracing the world of lifestyle and entertaining with the launch of her new brand, As Ever, in partnership with Netflix. The collection will feature artisanal products like her signature raspberry jam, a variety of herbal teas, crepe mix, flower sprinkles, wildflower honey with honeycomb, and shortbread butter cookies. With this new venture, Meghan continues to inspire fans to bring warmth, elegance, and a personal touch to their homes.
Cooking with Love and Intentionality
With Love, Meghan has undoubtedly sparked a new wave of inspiration for home cooks everywhere. Whether it’s through simple, delicious recipes or thoughtful tips on creating a welcoming atmosphere, Meghan has shown us how cooking and entertaining are powerful expressions of love and care.
As you embrace your own cooking and hosting endeavors, remember that it’s not about perfection it’s about the intention behind your actions. Cooking a meal or hosting a gathering is a beautiful way to show your family and friends that you care, and it can be as simple as adding a personal touch or trying something new.
I encourage you to bring the spirit of With Love, Meghan into your own home by embracing these traditions and making your own lasting memories. How do you cook with love? What are the small, meaningful gestures that make your gatherings feel special? I’d love to hear your stories and experiences in the comments!
And if you’re already looking forward to more, you’ll be excited to hear that With Love, Meghan has been renewed for a second season, which will air this fall. Stay tuned for more inspiration and heartwarming moments that will continue to inspire us all to cook, create, and connect.
Author: Falayn Ferrell
Managing Partner - Operations of Black Restaurant Week
