‘No excuse': Meghan Markle's As Ever fruit spread savaged by MasterChef star
The queen of jam has spoken.
Jam expert Donna Collins trashed the new apricot spread from Meghan Markle's As Ever lifestyle brand.
'It's a real disappointment that Meghan is selling a fruit spread, which is what you make when your jam fails,' Collins said, according to the Daily Mail.
'In the jam industry a spread is what we call something that didn't work,' the Jelly Queens owner continued. 'It can have the best ingredients, but if I had a jam that was too runny, I'd slap a label on it and call it a spread.'
'There's no excuse for this,' Collins added. 'It should be perfect.'
The MasterChef alum, who has reportedly won over 40 world championship honors in jam-making competitions, also called out Markle, 43, for her 'conventionally grown apricots, which will have used pesticides.' 'And why is she using pectin, which is a gelling agent, unless it's because her spread was too runny?' Collins asked. 'Most spreads don't use pectin.'
On Friday, Markle released her new apricot spread in an individual jar for $9 and keepsake packaging for $14. Both items quickly sold out.
'Her apricot spread sold out in minutes, just like her earlier raspberry spread, which may mean they only made a small batch,' Collins surmised.
'I don't know who's making her spread,' the jam guru continued, 'but we all know it's not Meghan. It sounds like they really don't know what they are doing.'
The Post has reached out to Markle's reps for comment.
Markle revealed her plans to sell homemade jam after announcing her own lifestyle company last year.
The royal even sent out lemon-filled gift baskets containing fresh fruit jam to 50 of her friends last summer.
She ended up releasing fruit spread instead of jam as part of the official launch of her lifestyle brand in April.
The other products (which also all sold out) included a limited-edition $28 wildflower honey with honeycomb, $12 herbal teas (hibiscus, peppermint and lemon ginger), $14 crepe mix and shortbread cookies with $15 flower sprinkles.
Earlier this month, The Sun reported that Markle is looking to add hotels and restaurants to her brand.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Australian
16 minutes ago
- The Australian
Calgary Stampede 2025: Your ultimate guide to the city's biggest festival
The biggest event on Calgary's calendar kicks off on July 4. Here's how to experience the best the town has to offer. The world's most famous rodeo begins on July 4, launching 10 days of boot-scootin', bronco-riding, guitar-twanging good times. This fixture of the Calgary calendar attracts thousands of visitors plus cowboys and cowgals from all over the world to Stampede Park, a huge complex of exhibition halls, arenas and dining and drinking venues beside Elbow River, southeast of Downtown. The rodeo action starts at 1.30pm every day, and there's a packed program of other activities, from walking tours and comedy performances to magic shows and blacksmithing demonstrations. Superstar Shania Twain is the headline act this year and will fill the Saddledome stadium on July 5, while a special Australian icon will also be in the spotlight. Our favourite cattledog, Bluey, will be telling stories and meeting fans throughout the festival. 2 In the red Rouge restaurant is something of an institution, having been pleasing palates since 2001. Located on a half-hectare plot in the hip, historic Inglewood district, it has extensive gardens and two greenhouses that last year helped to put more than 1400 salads on plates. Menu highlights on my visit include pheasant breast served on squash risotto and a herb-crusted pork tenderloin. Food aside, the eatery's claim to fame is the 1891 abode in which it's housed, a heritage-listed gem that was the home of brewing tycoon AE Cross. It's here that Cross and three other business bigwigs cooked up the idea of the Calgary Stampede while sipping contraband whiskey. 3 Tall stories Once the tallest building in Canada, Calgary Tower may be overshadowed these days by its more modern neighbours but it still looms large for proud Calgarians. A brutal winter of minus 30C temperatures and freezing winds didn't hinder the ambitious 16-month building project on the site of the old Canadian Pacific Railway station. Husky Tower, as it was known, opened in mid-1968 and it has since welcomed more than 13m visitors up its 191m shaft. Its place in the city was further cemented by its role as an elevated Olympic torch during the 1988 Winter games. On one of Calgary's many bluebird days, the observation deck at the top affords 360-degree views across the city to the snow-capped Rocky Mountains in one direction and rural plains in the other. Brave souls can stand on a glass floor and watch pedestrians and cars far below. 4 Retail therapy Aptly named, the mammoth Core shopping centre forms the epicentre of Calgary's retail scene. Sheltered under the world's largest suspended skylight, the Core is a retail and pedestrian sanctuary at the heart of downtown. It's a giant retail haven spread across four levels that's popular with shoppers, especially during the brutally cold winters. Meander through high-end Canadian retail icons such as Holt Renfew or Harry Rosen, or head to the top floor where sunlight beams through the expansive glass ceiling as children frolic in the Devonian Gardens, an impressive leafy playground with water features and a fishpond. After shopping, use the Core as a launch pad to explore the labyrinthine raised alleys that connect different buildings around the CBD. Named Plus 15s because of their height above the traffic, the skywalks form an network of temperature-controlled links so you can access most corners of the CBD, while oblivious to the plummeting mercury outside. 5 Boulevard of dreams Stately heritage buildings mark Stephen Ave, a cruisy pedestrian boulevard in the heart of Calgary. It's an outdoor shopping and dining strip marked with restaurants and bars behind historic edifices. Showcasing the character-filled Victorian and Art Deco architecture of early frontier Calgary, much of the strip was rebuilt after a fire in 1886. Snap up some cowboy attire at Lammle's Western Wear or head inside for lunch at one of the bars such as the grand Bank and Baron pub, an ornate structure that was once the Bank of Nova Scotia. Sadly, one of Calgary's best-loved buildings has shut up shop. The Hudson Bay Company, billed as one of the oldest commercial corporations in the world, went bankrupt in March. 'The Company', as it's known, was founded on the fur trade in 1670 and it was said that the retailer, and indeed the country, was built on beavers. 6 Island life Formerly home to a timber mill, Prince's Island was where felled trees could be sent from the wilds to be processed in the heart of what is now modern-day Calgary. Even in subzero winter the 20ha site on the Bow River seems to be a magnet for joggers and dog-walkers, but in summer the sun sets late in these parts and the pedestrian island springs to life to host musical festivals and other events, as well as becoming a picnic and outdoors hotspot. For a special treat book ahead for a seat at the River Cafe for lunch or dinner, consistently rated a highlight of the city's dining scene. Voted the most eco-friendly eatery in the nation due to its local suppliers and energy-efficient farming practices, the River Cafe prides itself on a seasonal, sustainable menu stemming from indigenous and foraged Canadian ingredients. Dine in with a view of the Bow River or in summer order a luxury pop-up picnic to enjoy under the open sky. 7 Hip district On Ninth Avenue, just east of the CBD is Inglewood, a hip haven of record shops, cafes, barbers and clothing shops with a trendy but slightly grungy vibe. The original high street of old Calgary, there's a whiff of wild west history behind the character facades. Spend an afternoon wandering along the street looking at vintage clothes, cafes, organic restaurants, and get lost in Canada's largest vinyl collection at Recordland. Don't miss Kent of Inglewood, a barber shop where the massive head of Blueberry the Bison is mounted on the wall. The store stocks every lotion and potion a man might need for his old-style shave, and hirsute types can step into the chair for a slice of classic cutthroat pampering with the local barber. If facial hair doesn't do it for you, they have an impressive array of axes, hatchets and hunting blades for sale. 8 Where to buy cowboy boots The aroma of leather, the din of hammers and hum of light machinery greets you as you step into the Alberta Boot Company workshop. It's the engine room of an iconic Canadian firm established in the 1970s that is now the Canadian equivalent of RM Williams. It takes about four weeks to make a pair of the handcrafted clodhoppers, and if straight cowhide isn't your style try ostrich leather, python or alligator with the different materials coming in myriad colours. Computer-aided embroidery adds artistry to the traditional craftsmanship. This small factory on the edge of the city brings together traditional Mexican and Canadian skills to produce footwear for anything from farm work, to a rodeo or night-time line-dancing. 9 Must-see museum Ageing hippies, metal heads, prog-rock fans and jazz aficionados can all find their perfect pitch at Studio Bell, a museum devoted to all things music. Even the extraordinary building, which is shaped like a guitar, is noteworthy. Exhibits include an early synthesiser used by Stevie Wonder, one of Elton John's pianos, a virginal dating from 1560 and the extraordinary Kimball Theatre Organ from the 1920s, a giant contraption with a bizarre array of bells, whistles and xylophones. Visitors can try their hand at some of the musical items that are on display – theremin, anyone? Take the Behind the Glass tour, $C11.50 ($12.90) on top of the $C24.50 general admission ticket, to see some of the rarer instruments in action. A must-see is the Rolling Stones Mobile Recording Studio, used by the legendary rock band. And a word of warning: if you come for an hour, be prepared to stay for the whole day. 10 Where to stay British royalty may favour the Fairmont Palisades, but for a less traditional option consider The Westley, a Hilton Tapestry Collection hotel conjured four years ago from a former oil and gas office block. Interiors have a Mexican-chic aesthetic, enhanced by pale adobe-esque arched walls, succulents and abundant tequilas and mezcals at the bar, and modern Mex meals at restaurant Fonda Fora. The suites are spacious, with king beds, generous storage, separate living area with desk, sofa and smart TV plus a small kitchenette with Smeg kettle (but no coffee machine). But it's the bathrooms that are the standouts, featuring geometric-patterned tiles giving off a 1970s vibe, double vanity, bathtub and capacious shower cubicle plus high quality brushed gold tapware. Smart and snazzy. Rooms from $C312 a night. Damian Haarsma was a guest of Tourism Calgary and Air New Zealand. If you love to travel, sign up to our free weekly Travel + Luxury newsletter here.
News.com.au
41 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Christie Brinkley on Billy Joel, romantic rivals, and the ‘only time I miss having a man in my life'
Sitting cross-legged on the floor of her home in the Hamptons, Christie Brinkley looks youthful and chic in an oversized blue shirt and jeans. Little wonder: the model, actor, entrepreneur and mum-of-three has been commanding the camera for over half a century. Emerging at the dawn of the supermodel era, the 71-year-old has graced more than 500 magazine covers as well as starring in ex- husband Billy Joel's video for her own theme song, 'Uptown Girl'. But if she exemplifies all-American wholesomeness, Brinkley also embodies survivor's resolve. As she chronicles in her recently released memoir Uptown Girl, she suffered beatings by her biological father, the shock race car-related death of a boyfriend, humiliation by more than one husband, and terrifying helicopter crash in which she was certain she would die. 'I knew some memories were going to be fun to revisit and others would be really hard,' she tells Stellar via Zoom. 'But I'm not that introspective. Mum raised me to look on the bright side.' From the day she was discovered, at age 19, by a photographer outside a Paris post office, Brinkley regarded modelling as a gateway to new adventures. So much so that when celebrated agent Eileen Ford told her to lose weight by eating only fish, she ignored the advice. 'I am so about the experience, and I figured if I get a trip to Mexico, I'm eating tortillas, guacamole, I'm having margaritas,' she says. 'I want the full experience. I don't want to cut myself off from any of that.' That includes the ups and downs of her relationships with four ex-husbands. Brinkley's lawyer calls her a 'bad picker', and a psychiatrist she saw during her six-year divorce battle with fourth husband Peter Cook recommended she seek therapy for trust issues. 'But I prefer to keep on believing and seeing the good in people,' she says. The marriages, to artist Jean-François Allaux, musician Joel, real estate entrepreneur Ricky Taubman and architect Cook, may not have lasted, but she shares 39-year-old singer Alexa Ray with Joel; aspiring actor Jack, 30, with Taubman; and model Sailor, who is 27 this week, with Cook. The proud mum, who painted Joel's River Of Dreams album cover, has her own artworks of the children adorning her house. Fondness for Joel endures. The couple met on a Caribbean island in 1983, where he initially dated Australian model Elle Macpherson. 'We were at his apartment and he said, 'I'm going to call Elle because I've been out with her a couple of times and I want to let her know that now I want to be exclusive with you',' Brinkley recalls. 'I don't know whether he was trying to impress me, or to be nice to Elle in case she saw a picture of us.' Today she and Joel maintain a friendship. He is godfather to Jack and Sailor and, until his recent diagnosis with a rare brain disorder put his live shows on hold, they attended his concerts together. 'Alexa just had a long conversation with him and she said he sounded good, but he's got a lot of physical therapy to contend with,' Brinkley reveals. 'We're all just cheering him on.' While she continues to evolve in business with her own wine and clothing labels, and as an environmental activist, the memoir allowed time for reflection, such as reminiscing about the days when images were shot on film. 'Now there are so many cooks in the kitchen you don't have that same kind of magic,' she laments. Ageing is another bugbear. 'You have choices … If you don't like something, there's a million ways to fix it,' she says, adding that energy and curiosity are 'more useful than any cream you can buy in a jar'. As she chats, one daughter, then another, flies out the door. Does she ever feel lonely? 'I'm very content,' Brinkley says, glancing out of her window at the night rolling in. 'The only time I miss having a man in my life is when there's a magnificent sunset or a storm sweeping across, and I want to share that moment with somebody I love.' Uptown Girl: A Memoir by Christie Brinkley with Sarah Toland ($36.99, HarperCollins) is out now.
The Age
an hour ago
- The Age
To channel the elegance of a '90s icon, these are the fashion choices to make
This story is part of the June 29 edition of Sunday Life. See all 13 stories. Newcomers to royal-watching might consider California-born Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, the ultimate American princess. Marrying the blue-blooded, redheaded Prince Harry is a step in the right direction but the former Suits actor still has to bow down to the style credentials of the late Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. After marrying American 'royalty' John F. Kennedy Jr in 1996, fashion executive Carolyn epitomised the international ideal of streamlined sophistication, rivalling her mother-in-law, Jackie Kennedy, and the crowned and tiara-wearing heads of Europe. Recent images from the upcoming, Ryan Murphy-produced series American Love Story about Carolyn and John, who both died in a plane crash in 1999, caused an online uproar for not capturing the ethereal blonde's elusive essence. Here are the ingredients for avoiding the keyboard warriors and emulating and updating Bessette-Kennedy's eternal chic. Make it sleek Bessette-Kennedy's wedding dress, by designer Narcisco Rodriguez (they worked together at Calvin Klein when she was a public relations executive), was a masterpiece of '90s minimalism. The cowl-neck white slip dress dismissed ornament and excess, making Bessette-Kennedy the star. In a 2016 interview with Glamour, the then Meghan Markle acknowledged its impact when asked about her favourite celebrity wedding dress: 'Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. Everything goals.' To make an elegant impact in the evening, prioritise minimal draping over tailoring to create a fluid fit that skims the figure. Make it monochrome Black, white and neutrals were Bessette-Kennedy's preferred palette but feel free to add drama with cool creams, soothing blues and fresh greens. Discipline is key when wearing one colour from top to toe. Update the restraint of the '90s with smooth sequins or subtle lace details for a more modern approach to minimalism. Bessette-Kennedy would break the monochrome rule to wear crisp white shirts with skirts. A T-shirt-style blouse over a satin skirt offers the same cool contrast without drifting into officewear. Make it look easy Leave outrageous up-dos and complicated braids to the aspirants to your style throne. Bessette-Kennedy was the model of simplicity when it came to hair and make-up. 'Most of the girls at Calvin had similar long hair, but Carolyn never blew hers out,' former colleague Stormy Stokes told Sunita Kumar Nair for her book Carolyn Bessette Kennedy: A Life in Fashion. 'She taught me how to style my own: wash it, flip it up and down twice, then tie it in a top bun, and ride the subway. By the time we would get to the office, we'd take the bun down and our hair would just be ready to go.' Loading For shorter hair look to the ultimate British princess, Diana, who redefined her signature style with slick hair following her 1996 divorce from Prince Charles. 'She was a bit nervous about the slicked-back appearance,' Sam McKnight, Diana's hairdresser told The Telegraph in the UK. 'Like many women, she used to hide behind her hair. But she looked her best when she didn't do anything to it.'
