logo
EXCLUSIVE Celebrity chef weighs in on Meghan Markle's As Ever business venture... before comparing her to Melania Trump

EXCLUSIVE Celebrity chef weighs in on Meghan Markle's As Ever business venture... before comparing her to Melania Trump

Daily Mail​23-04-2025
Celebrity chef Jose Andres has weighed in on Meghan Markle's As Ever business venture - before comparing her to Melania Trump.
Despite the Duchess of Sussex being met with scathing reviews following the launch of her new lifestyle project, Andrés remains steadfast in his support.
In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, conducted at the City Harvest Gala in New York City, the Michelin-starred humanitarian opened up about his admiration for the mom-of-two.
'Listen, I think the work she does is great. She is great,' Andrés said passionately.
'She could be a person that goes into her own world and forgets about the real world but - what I can only say as her friend - she's a friend, but also she's there in the fire.
'She doesn't need to be out [in the public eye] but she is there.'
Discussing Markle's As Ever brand in more depth - most notably, the jam spread that has become a hotly-contested topic - Andrés fiercely defended his pal.
'It's good. It's good. It's very good,' the famed restauranteur said, having been sent a jar directly by Markle herself.
He then addressed the fierce criticism surrounding the brand, explaining: 'I don't know why it is.
'I think we should be in the moment of celebrating anytime anybody wants to do anything.
'Can be her, can be Gwyneth Paltrow, can be me, can be Eva Longoria, can be Melania Trump.
'Let's celebrate what anybody wants to do. Just forget about criticizing others.
'Everybody should be cheering up everybody that just tries to do something.'
Andrés, who founded The World Central Kitchen, explained that he and Markle - along with Prince Harry have collaborated on multiple philanthropic projects over the years.
This includes the rebuilding of a kitchen in Dominica that serves children during the school year and operates as an emergency relief hub during hurricane season.
'Quite frankly, very proud of them and very proud to call them friends,' he said.
Despite the Duchess of Sussex being met with scathing reviews following the launch of her new lifestyle project, Andrés remains steadfast in his support
And while the chef didn't reveal any upcoming collaborations with Markle, he hinted at the possibility of appearing on one of her shows someday.
'I think she has plenty of support, but I will not be surprised if one day you see me in one of her shows,' Andrés said.
Andrés himself has no shortage of things to promote - his new cookbook Change the Recipe hit shelves recently and is already climbing the bestseller charts.
He also teased a new documentary on Netflix and a cooking show with Martha Stewart on NBC, both debuting April 28.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Meghan & Harry's Netflix deal disaster is killing their US dream – how will they fund their incredibly lavish life now?
Meghan & Harry's Netflix deal disaster is killing their US dream – how will they fund their incredibly lavish life now?

Scottish Sun

time2 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

Meghan & Harry's Netflix deal disaster is killing their US dream – how will they fund their incredibly lavish life now?

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LIKE a slowly collapsing soufflé, the Duchess of Sussex's 'narcissistic' cookery show has been judged a ratings flop – and Netflix has decided to pull the plug. The streamer will let the five-year, $100million deal they inked with Meghan and Harry for that series and a host of other shows quietly lapse when it is due for renewal in September. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 Prince Harry and wife Meghan's $100million deal with Netflix has been scrapped Credit: Getty 8 There was backlash over Meghan's new name 'As Ever' Credit: As Ever A source at Netflix said of Meghan's efforts: 'She had everything going for her — name, platform, press — and the numbers were dismal.' Lifestyle and cookery show With Love, Meghan only ranked at number 383 in Netflix's six-monthly engagement report this year, with just 5.3million viewers across the globe. Described by one critic as an 'exercise in narcissism', it was beaten by reruns of the first four seasons of legal drama Suits, which also starred the Duchess in her pre-royal days. Once judged by some as Britain's greatest soft power asset since Princess Diana, Meghan was filmed for her show making ladybird-shaped canapes from cherry tomatoes and mozzarella balls. 'Dull indulgence' Even The Guardian was moved to describe With Love, Meghan as 'the sort of gormless lifestyle filler that, had it been made by the BBC, would be used to bulk out episodes of Saturday Kitchen'. In truth, the show is a smash hit compared to her husband's vanity docuseries Polo, blasted as 'a dull indulgence about a rich person's pursuit'. In the first six months of the year the programme attracted a disastrous 500,000 views globally, ranking it at number 3,442 out of around 7,000 shows. Reruns of the nine-year-old cartoon He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe scored similar numbers. A Netflix insider has pronounced the couple's lucrative contract 'dead', adding: 'They're just waiting for the credits to roll. 'They're letting it expire without drama. There's no appetite for anything new.' Meghan and Harry must need more money - their staff induction bill alone will be HUGE The end of what many regarded as a reliable source of vast income for the former HRHs has set off a bomb under Project Sussex and its bold ambitions. And of course it is not the Sussexes' first media deal that has gone south. Their reported $20million podcasting deal with Spotify was terminated in June 2023, with senior Spotify executive Bill Simmons labelling the duo 'f***ing grifters'. Hosted by Meghan, the Archetypes podcast featured conversations with friends and celebrities including Serena Williams, Mariah Carey and Trevor Noah. Critics said that in the episode with Williams it took 11 minutes before the tennis legend got a word in edgeways. In 2023 Simmons said: 'I wish I had been involved in the 'Meghan and Harry leave Spotify' negotiation. 'The F***ing Grifters. That's the podcast we should have launched with them. 'I have got to get drunk one night and tell the story of the Zoom I had with Harry to try and help him with a podcast idea. 'It's one of my best stories. F*** them. The grifters.' The Sussexes' undoubted TV hit was docuseries Harry & Meghan, released in December 2022. It became Netflix's biggest documentary debut, with more than 28million watching in the first four days of its release. In it the couple accused the Royal Family of 'unconscious bias' and claimed Palace aides were complicit in negative media briefings against them. 8 The Sussexes' undoubted TV hit was docuseries Harry & Meghan, released in December 2022 Credit: Netflix 8 Marketing experts Camille Moore and Phillip Millar accused Meghan's As Ever brand of being 'not intelligent' and 'not well executed' Credit: Instagram Podcast boss Simmons said of Harry that year: 'You live in f***ing Montecito and you just sell documentaries and podcasts and nobody cares what you have to say about anything unless you talk about the Royal Family and you just complain about them.' While the Netflix deal will lapse, Meghan's As Ever collection of wine, jam and cookies is displaying 'sold out' signs on her website. It raises the question of whether it will be her earnings that are increasingly relied upon to fund the family's expensive Hollywood lifestyle, and if so, will it be enough? PR expert Nick Ede believes that in the future the Duchess will provide the surest revenue stream, saying: 'Meghan is the best way of making money for the two of them. 'She is the breadwinner.' However, marketing experts Camille Moore and Phillip Millar accused Meghan's As Ever brand of being 'not intelligent' and 'not well executed'. Speaking on The Art Of The Brand podcast this week, Millar accused Meghan of trying to rinse the maximum value from her 'fame that came from Suits and being a part of the Royal Family'. Millar added: 'Her brand wasn't one built on substance. It was based on using people.' Meanwhile, Harry, who has two paying jobs — with sustainable tourism firm Travalyst and coaching company BetterUp — seems most passionate when he is undertaking his charitable endeavours. During a recent trip to Angola, The Duke followed in the footsteps of Princess Diana by walking through a minefield on behalf of his charity The Halo Trust. 'Life of service' Harry said in a statement: 'As a father to young children, it breaks my heart to see innocent children still living and playing next to minefields,' Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond commented: 'I think this is precisely the sort of work that Harry should do. 'It is not only a hugely worth-while cause, but it also connects him with his mother, which is something he yearns for. 'I think he is coming to recognise that the LA celebrity world is one in which he is not especially comfortable. 'And he seems quite willing to let Meghan take the limelight over there. 'He speaks frequently about a life of service, and trips like this certainly serve a very good cause indeed.' Yet charity missions, while good for the soul, do not pay the bills. And the Sussexes' court in the Californian sunshine is not a cheap enterprise. Their home, a nine-bedroom, 16-bathroom mansion close to the Pacific in Montecito, is in America's fifth most expensive postcode. 8 Meghan and Harry's podcasting deal with Spotify was terminated in 2023, with senior Spotify executive Bill Simmons labelling the duo 'f***ing grifters' Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk 8 Harry's autobiography Spare became the fastest-selling non-fiction book ever They bought it for almost £11million after the drama of Megxit in 2020, and the following year Harry said in his tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey that his father has 'literally cut me off financially'. Without the money left to him by Diana — said to be £10million — Harry said 'we would not have been able to do this'. Harry's finances got a boost last September when he turned 40 and a fund set up by the late Queen Mother gave him access to around £8million. But while most people could live very well on that kind of cash, Harry and Meghan's lifestyle is not like most people's. They have more in common with the super-rich of California than your average couple. Indeed, they are said to have mortgage payments of around £350,000 a year, while staffing costs come to an estimated £180,000. Harry has also spent on court cases and could be in line for a £1.5million bill for his failed attempt to get the Home Office to pay for his security in the UK. Security is a very real worry for Prince Harry, who served two tours of Afghanistan. Former royal protection officer Simon Morgan estimated the Sussexes' protection costs come to at least £3million a year, adding: 'Security is not a fashion accessory, it's a need.' EYE-WATERING TAB It leaves the Sussexes with an eye-watering tab just to meet their estimated outgoings. Last month, royal financial expert Norman Baker told Channel 5 show Meghan And Harry: Where Did The Money Go? that the Sussexes' earning potential was on the wane. The former Liberal Democrat MP said: 'They've done the big hits that they could do. 'They've done the big Spotify event, they've done the big book, there is nothing else to come, nothing else to sell apart from themselves.' Harry's autobiography Spare became the fastest-selling non-fiction book ever and has gone on to sell more than six million copies worldwide. With their Netflix deal over, perhaps Meghan will feel the time is right for her to release her own blockbuster tome to get the cash registers ringing again. Both Netflix and Harry and Meghan are yet to comment. 8 The Sussexes' home is a nine-bedroom, 16-bathroom mansion close to the Pacific in Montecito, which is in America's fifth most expensive postcode Credit: Google Earth

The Pope's former private chef has opened a restaurant in SoHo
The Pope's former private chef has opened a restaurant in SoHo

Time Out

time5 hours ago

  • Time Out

The Pope's former private chef has opened a restaurant in SoHo

Chef Salvo Lo Castro's resume is truly a journey. The Italian-born chef has cooked all up and down the peninsula, from firing the burners at the three Michelin-starred Enoteca Pinchiorri to manning the kitchen of the five-star hotel San Domenico Palace in Sicily's Taormina region. But perhaps the most stunning of them all in this CV flex: For over a decade, chef Castro spent his time as a private chef for the Vatican, preparing meals for both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. As of 2022, the chef moved stateside to introduce New Yorkers to the way that coffee should be consumed with the opening of CASASALVO. Made the Italian way, his four cafes sell espressos, Americanos and cappuccinos at the low price of $2.51. Continuing to cater and work as a private chef on the side, Castro decided it was time to break out on his own, opening his first NYC restaurant in SoHo. As of July 20, chef Castro's restaurant, also named CASASALVO, is now open on 195 Spring Street. The restaurant reads like an elevated neighborhood find with a dining room marked by crisp white tablecloths, Italian walnut paneling and lemon and olive trees that frame the whole thing. The illuminated onyx bar comes fully stocked with over 350 wines for the choosing, sourced from the reaches of Italy and France to New Zealand. But if you are more of a cocktail stan, you can take to the terrace facing Spring Street, as the streetside bar is dedicated to the one and only Aperol Spritz. The menu explores Castro's Italian and Mediterranean influences with starters that include truffle-topped beef carpaccio and deconstructed Mediterranean salad with blocks of feta. However, the meatballs may be his most personal, as the dish takes a page from his mother's kitchen. Pastas and risottos travel all around Italy: Think bowls of paccheri with guanciale and pistachios, and Carnaroli rice with parmigiano crema and summer truffle. From the sea, Dover sole is cooked in a tomato sauce and garnished with mint, while the whole branzino comes with a touch of flair, getting deboned tableside. All meats are cooked over charcoal, including the filet mignon, Colorado lamb chop and house ossobuco. And on the sweet's menu alongside seasonal fruits, eclairs and gelatos, one dessert clearly

I know why desperate Meghan and Harry REALLY held peace talks – they'll be begging for handouts now, expert claims
I know why desperate Meghan and Harry REALLY held peace talks – they'll be begging for handouts now, expert claims

Scottish Sun

time6 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

I know why desperate Meghan and Harry REALLY held peace talks – they'll be begging for handouts now, expert claims

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A ROYAL expert has claimed the real reason why Meghan and Harry held peace talks, saying the Duke and Duchess will now be begging for handouts. Journalist and author Robert Jobson made the revealing comments whilst appearing on The Sun's latest Royal Exclusive show. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's $100m deal with Netflix will not be renewed leading to speculation over what the royals will now do for money Credit: Splash 5 Peace talks between King Charles and his son Prince Harry are being lined up Credit: Getty 5 Prince Harry's older brother Prince William, left, is understood not to be involved in any peace talks Credit: The Times His insights come after it was revealed that the couple's $100million deal with Netflix had been scrapped. Mr Jobson, talking to The Sun's Matt Wilkinson said: 'Well, the deal was always set about $100 million, wasn't it? 'And the talk of that figure sort of blew a lot of people's minds, but I think that was for productions and things that they're supposed to have done. 'Where does it leave them? Probably with a bit of a bowl out, looking for some handouts.' He added: 'Maybe that's why they were over with their staff, were over here having discussions with the King. I don't know. 'The reality is in the past they got support from the King and the late Queen, and they said they were going to go and make their way. 'They've lost Spotify, they've lost Netflix. 'They can't rely on the spare money forever, can they?' The show's other guest, Sky News' royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills also speculated what the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would now do for money. She said: 'It's just fascinating. They have this very expensive lifestyle. Meghan and Harry must need more money - their staff induction bill alone will be HUGE 'They have to pay for their security, pay for that big mansion. 'How do you kind of keep the money coming in?' Earlier this month it was revealed Netflix will not renew their contract when it expires in September. The Sussexes and Netflix have mutually decided not to make an official announcement. But streaming execs have quietly agreed to part ways. It comes after Harry's vanity project, Polo, about the sport, was watched by just 500,000 people. It was also understood that bosses were mildly infuriated by Meghan making her As Ever brand a priority. A source said streamer Paramount+ was thought to be keen to work with the couple, who would be open to it if the right project came along. Last month it was announced Netflix had signed a deal with King Charles and Idris Elba for a documentary exploring the impact of the King's Trust. And it was understood any deal with the Sussexes could be seen as a hindrance to that link-up. Netflix declined to comment. Harry is said to have 'given his blessing' for the peace talks involving two of his team plus the King and Queen's director of communications. They spoke about potential ways to end their family conflict, though a proposal for Harry to make a royal return was not on the agenda. Adding intrigue to the developments, Prince William's team were not involved in the London summit. California-based Harry is next due to visit the UK in September for the annual WellChild events. It opens up the prospect of meeting his father for the first time in 18 months. Buckingham Palace had also ­supported the proposals to 'open a channel of communication' — it has been claimed. 5 The loss of the Netflix deal comes after the couple lost their deal with Spotify Credit: AP

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store