Is Meghan Markle Writing a Cookbook?

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Howdy cookbook fans!

And hi from rainy Austin. In today’s issue: Meghan Markle teases a culinary brand, including cookbooks. The Wall Street Journal asks “why don’t women grill?” when I kind of think the question is more “why do men grill?” And a new book series on indigenous foodways of Texas and Northern Mexico is coming, which I am very excited about! And a couple book deals. Let’s gooooo!

Is Meghan Markle Planning on Writing a Cookbook?

My Google alerts certainly seem to think Meghan Markle has a cookbook (or recipe book) in her future. About a week ago, she launched an Instagram account and a website for something called American Riviera Orchard, and too many internet detectives to name shortly discovered that she has applied for a trademark for that name that covers, among other things, both digital and print cookbooks (and recipe books, I am not sure the difference but sure).

Now, I have been down this road before to no avail (Rihanna cookbook WHEN), but I think this is a more likely future for MM. First, she’s already had a lifestyle brand, and second, she’s already contributed recipes to cookbook. Additionally, a source told the Daily Mail (sorry) that a cooking show is in the works, saying “Meghan is starting to film her Netflix show in a few weeks’ time. It will tie in with the American Riviera Orchard brand.” And another source gave additional details:

More details as I get them! RIP my Google alerts.

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Why Don’t Women Grill? Asks the Wall Street Journal

A piece in the Wall Street Journal (gift link) asks some weirdly-framed questions about why men are more likely to grill than women. I know this one! It’s because grilling and smoking have historically been marketed to men. The piece is pegged to the release of Gaby Dalkin’s new cookbook, What’s Gaby Cooking: Grilling All the Things, which I am sure is as great as her previous books have been (and not just because it was edited by Holly Dolce, who was the editor of my Austin Cookbook).

Anyway, go read it if you like—come for the lede “Guys, they’re coming for your tongs,” stay for grilling author Steven Raichlen being asked, apparently with a straight face, if he’s “worried about women taking his spot at the grill.” (He’s not, women buy books, too, obviously.) But! I did want to list some great grilling and barbecue books by women here, because the piece oddly claims there aren’t really any. So:

• Asada: The Art of Mexican-Style Grilling by Bricia Lopez and Javier Cabral

• Food52 Any Night Grilling by Paula Disbrowe

• Seared and Scorched by Genevieve Taylor

• Around the Fire by Gabi Quiñónez Denton and Greg Denton, with Stacey Adimando

• Korean BBQ by Bill Kim with Chandra Ram

• Live Fire by Helen Graves

• Hardcore Carnivore by Jess Pryles

I’m sure I’m missing a ton. Martha Stewart has one. Surely a lot of the Chez Panisse books have grilling recipes. I have been known to dabble in the art of live fire as well. Drop ‘em in the comments!

Writers Wanted for New Series on Indigenous Foodways

Well this is exciting! University of Texas at San Antonio is teaming up with Texas Tech University Press to publish a series on indigenous foodways of Texas and Northern Mexico, called, appropriately, Indigenous Foodways of Texas and Northern Mexico. The series will be edited by acclaimed food scholar, writer, and filmmaker Adán Medrano. And they’re looking for writers!!!

Head on over to their website for details, but largely: they’re looking for pitches about the foodways Texas and the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas. It sounds like eventually the series might reprint some of the books from UTSA’s large Mexican historical cookbooks collection. As a Texan, very excited about this.

Coming Attractions: Dorie Greenspan! NAACP!

• Just two books today but they’re big ones! First, baking legend Dorie Greenspan will write Kitchen Cakes, full of simple sweet and savory cakes. Harvest, Fall 2025.

• And second! The NAACP has signed a four book deal with Harper Collins imprint Amistad, one of which will be a cookbook "featuring recipes from celebrities across film, television, and the stage. No word on pub date; also, for this kind of thing, I assume it will have a big name attached as an “edited by.” 

• A new exhibit honoring the legacy of Julia Child has opened at the Museum of History and Culture in Richmond, Virginia. Julia Child: A Recipe for Life runs until September 2. [NorthernVirginiaMag]

• An interview with Paige Lipari, owner of Archestratus, a culinary bookstore in Brooklyn. [Gastro Obscura]

• A look at Marcella Hazan’s Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking. [Eater]

• Cookbook review: Small Fires by Ryan Riley. [The Caterer]

• Remember when I threw a fit last time about the need for more critical book reviews? Here’s one that pulls no punches. [IA]

Okay that’s all for today! Have a great week and see ya soon.