Here are some photos of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on Friday, following their trip to a public school in Harlem. The school trip was in the morning, and then they decided to do more good deeds for lunch. They went to Melba’s in Harlem – Melba’s is a Southern/soul food restaurant where you can find stuff like fried catfish, crabcakes, jumbo shrimp and Southern-style potato salad. I looked at the menu and it’s straight-up low-country fare, the kind of stuff people eat in South Carolina. Including chicken-and-waffles and collard greens, which is what Prince Harry ordered and LOVED.
Prince Harry dined on the beloved soul food dish chicken and waffles for the first time at famed Harlem eaterie Melba’s. Harry and wife Meghan Markle stopped by Melba’s — the 114th Street restaurant owned by Harlem legend Melba Wilson — on Friday after visiting elementary school PS 123.
A fellow diner at the restaurant said the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were served Southern fried chicken and eggnog waffles, spring rolls, catfish, collard greens and yams. The onlooker said, “Harry said it was the first time he’d ever tried chicken and waffles and remarked it was delicious.”
The onlooker added Harry also said collard greens were already a family favorite, because Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, often makes the dish for the couple.
The Sussexes also spent some time chatting with Melba about the non-profit City Harvest — New York City’s largest food rescue organization — which takes food that would otherwise go to waste from restaurants and distributes it to food programs in the city.
The owner of the restaurant, Melba Wilson, told The Post the couple was “so kind” and that she’s grateful they stopped by. “They’re shedding a light in our community of Harlem during a tough time,” Wilson said, noting the duo heard about the restaurant through “word of mouth.”
Sometimes, I wonder what it’s been like for Harry, eating all of that bland food in castles and palaces and then being introduced to people who saute in bacon fat and properly season their food. There’s part of me that believes Harry first fell for Meghan because she’s a good cook who seasons her food properly. I can’t believe this is the first time he’s ever had chicken-and-waffles! I bet he’d love a low-country boil. And gumbo!! He would f–king love gumbo.
Anyway, in addition to the good food, Harry and Meghan made a donation to Melba’s fund to offer financial relief to the restaurant’s hourly employees who have been affected by the pandemic. The Sussexes donated $25,000, and the fund’s goal is to raise $250K. I bet with all of the global attention on this restaurant, more people will donate and/or Melba’s will be packed for months.
It was such an honor to officially welcome Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to Melba’s! I am so thankful for their commitment to donate $25k and hope to welcome them back soon. Thank you for dining with us! 🙏🏽
📸 Matt Sayles #dukeofsussex #duchessofSussex pic.twitter.com/UN0taeOmOu— Melba's Restaurant (@MelbasHarlem) September 24, 2021
This was truly a dream come true for this girl who was Born, Bred and Buttered in Harlem!
I am forever grateful! 🙏🏽🎥 @_duchess_of_sussex #princeharry #dukeofsussex #MeghanAndHarry #duchessofsussex #honor #welcome #melbasharlem #MeetMeAtMelbas #harlem pic.twitter.com/OSLyxp3MzX
— Melba's Restaurant (@MelbasHarlem) September 25, 2021
Photos courtesy of Backgrid.
The Sussexes came, saw and conquered. Plague island can continue to cry itself to sleep.
Is it true that the BBC channel carrying the GlobalLive broadcast didn’t air Meghan and Harry’s live presentation? If so, how petty can you be. That’s censorship.
They didn’t but it’s to be expected. The government, tabloids and the BRF are against the channel so the powers that be in the organisation are rolling over and playing nice. To show the Sussexes being well received is not in their playbook. They can’t let the nation see how dull, uninspiring and ineffectual the ones left behind are.
OMG!!! I’ve been reading celebitchy for at least a decade and would consider myself up on the BR and BM machinations. Typically, I’d say nothing ( for the most part ) surprises me as to how petty they can be, but for the BBC to go dark on M and H’s tour is NEXT LEVEL!
In addition to it being soo small it’s a clear admission that the “other couple” will tolerate zero competition….pitiful and hilarious all rolled into one…
I could understand if they NEVER discussed issues related to M & H but what little I hear of the BBC, they don’t usually shy away from that so…
anniefannie is right about it being VERY unusual for the BBC to go dark/cut the segment. which just drives in the truth of what Elizabeth Regina said. i know there’s no constitutional right to free speech or anything in the UK but the BBC has been very vocal about how it wishes to remain open and non-partisan in its reporting and how the conservatives have been pressuring it for some time now. UK is already preparing to LARP out V for Vendetta.
@AnnieFannie I had the same exact reaction. I could not *believe* that, and I hope they’re getting enormous backlash. The BBC used to be so highly respected, and idk how it deteriorated into…this kind of behavior.
The haters are so bitter! There were a few copies of Time Magazine with Harry and Meghan on the cover and somebody turn the magazines on their backs so I organise & tidied them up.
I don’t like seeing kkeen and tob but I certainly wouldn’t waste my energy on doing something like that whenever I see their photos on magazine covers.
Edna, I was searching for them to see if BBC would show them but no, as expected they don’t want to rock the boat. They have lost any veneer of impartiality for me, I really hate having to pay the tv tax for them.
I agree. The best way is to not buy the magazines and walk away.
Too bad for the bbc Harry and Meghan are doing just fine without them and the rest of the British media. F——-Ing idiots all of them in the uk media
unlike with the DM, Sun, etc I don’t think the BBC’s actions are likely to be out of willful malice.
@ observer, I do not agree with you. The of BBC to eliminate showing Harry and Meghan if it was disrespectful and unwarranted. You can’t skirt the fact that they were intentionally cut, as the BBC did it and they should face the music for it. It was intentionally done and it was an incredibly disrespectful action. The BBC want to show the public that they are willing to change or be unbiased. Yet, they are biased by their actions.
Agreed, BothSidesNow. There is no other way to interpret it. They cut PRINCE HARRY out of their broadcast…in the U.K.? Yeah, that’s an intentional move, and not a remotely subtle one.
The Keen and Kween of the Keendom of Doolittle should take notes.
The active hate and sabotage is something I don’t get. I say plenty about the Cambridges on here, but I never comment negatively on their IG. I don’t wage online wars to make sure no one buys Hold Still (in fact, even those of us who are harsh Kate critics said it was a good project). I’m not going to turn around the People Royals when Kate is on the cover. I’m just not going to buy it.
But the anti-Sussex brigade operates differently.
I think Harry and Meghan are just fine that they are not the subject of news in the U.K.
I clicked on a Daily Mail article (sorry) that was published THE MORNING they arrived and it was “NETFLIX acquires ROALD DAHL’S ENTIRE IP, *BUT HE WAS A KNOWN ANTI-SEMITE and MISOGYNIST*….HOW WILL MEGHAN AND HARRY ANSWER???”
(side note: i clicked on this because i’m a huge Roald Dahl nerd and all of this is true, but lol @them weaponizing this NOW when you know they’d be TOTALLY fine with ALL of those things and sweep them under the rug if they couldn’t make such a ludicrous headline out of it.)
seriously there’s just. layers to that.
@Observer, what the actual…? Why are they putting an expectation out there for the Sussexes to make a statement? They have a deal with Netflix but so do the Obamas and tons of other people, but absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with this. The reporters over there have really and truly lost their minds. Jesus Christ
Richard Kay is so irrelevant he probably thought he had to shoehorn Harry’s and Meghan’s names in there to make sure it would get clicks.
Ironically, the topic of the article is interesting enough (to me, at least!) that I would have read it anyway. (Not in the Fail, obviously, I’d find coverage somewhere else.)
ETA @Becks ditto to everything you said. I don’t like Kim Kardashian, but I’m not going to take the time to go to Barnes & Noble and turn over every magazine with her on the cover.
What is WRONG with these people? It’s become a dangerously warped obsession.
Holy sh*t, observer! This is a Master’s Class in gaslighting.
Apparently, some members of the BRF love poached salmon, no garlic or spices. Their tastebuds have been sorely under developed for years.
Imagine the whole world being looted in you and your family’s name yet not knowing what spices and seasoning are.
I take such joy in knowing that they are fuming about H&M being given the proper reception they deserve while eating bland awful food.
Colonizer food is very bland. When I lived in England, I found Indian and African/Caribbean shops. I never bought “British” food again.
I have to stick up for fish and chips with malt vinegar, and scones!
No wonder they can mantain such lean physiques they dont know what they are missing.
What’s amazing to me is they been nothing by colonizers for centuries and never bothered with the spices.
English food, in general, is known to be bland. But in today’s global food culture, royal chefs definitely mix it up with takes on spicy East Indian fare, etc. There’s a fun food show on the Royalty channel, which features some interesting recipes and discusses historical dishes, in addition to fave foods of modern-day royals, including Diana, Harry, and the Queen.
For sure, the royals stay away from onions and garlic, which cause gas and bad breath, especially if over-indulged. I eliminated both from my diet for awhile to ease my digestive track. Now, I tend to use garlic and onions in moderation. Or, I substitute chives and the green parts of scallions instead of onions.
I don’t applaud the Royal family’s racism, nor the colonialism they’ve benefited from arguably more than anyone else, but I really, really dislike this characterizing people who don’t like spiced or spicy food as “underdeveloped.” Different strokes, folks.
No, I agree. People like different foods, just like they prefer different clothes and everything else. It’s just personal choice.
I also don’t like the stereotyping. You’d think by now people would have leant that they’re rarely true. I roll my eyes as much at those who say they’ve been to the UK and the food really is bland, as I do at those who say they’ve been to the US and it’s all fast food and enormous portions. You are just seeing what you want to see, all while showing your prejudice.
Part of this is just messing and jokes. It’s not that serious. I think sometimes our food vocabulary is fairly limited. Food can be well seasoned without being spicy. Also, English food has a reputation for being bland and underseasoned, and roasted and boiled. There is delicious English food if well prepared with fresh ingredients , but it’s not particularly spicy nor have a huge flavor profile like Mediterranean cuisine. To outsiders, we stereotypically think fish and chips, high tea, and roast beef and Yorkshire pudding ( all very delicious btw). Also, it seems it suffered the same fate as mid century American cuisine with a lot of processed and canned food, and lots of sugary and fast food. I think herbs like rosemary, sage, parsley in English cooking, mustard for kick. No one talks about British haute cuisine or regional cuisine the way we speak of French and Italian cooking.
For people with such bland palates, they certainly are salty.
@TigerMcQueen: 👏😂
Er, I honestly don’t think you need to worry that Harry’s never eaten good food. Its a bit if a reach to criticise the BRF for not enabling him to eat well. Have you never heard the expression ‘to eat like a king?’
Some haters on the daily fail were saying Harry mentioned that the Queen bought Archie a waffle maker so he is fibbing ,not understanding waffles and chicken etc are a famous combo within soul food.
How obnoxious! Knowing some thing exists doesn’t mean that you’ve had it… Plus, once you’ve made waffles, I think it’s really hard to say, “Let’s go fry chicken, too!” For me, it is a restaurant dish! I will never make it at home.
Same. Cooking is my therapy, and I make waffles weekly, and also fried chicken, occasionally, but the combo is too much for me to do at home. It becomes less therapy and more big giant mess.
Right @Noki, I’m certain Harry has eaten chicken separately and waffles separately, but never together until @Melba’s! Ages ago, I ate at the famous Sylvia’s soul food restaurant in Harlem. I don’t know if it still exists.
The Sussexes’ visit provides needed attention to Melba’s restaurant, and generous financial assistance too! How kind of M&H.
When I was younger, I could indulge in eating bacon. I stay away from pork, beef and lamb now. Bacon fat is particularly unhealthy, though of course, it tastes delicious. I season collards these days with coconut oil and a bit of olive oil, lemon juice, chopped red onions or scallions, fresh or ground garlic, ground pepper, and a combo of spices such as chives, oregano, parsley, some turmeric, and Italian seasoning. I’ve heard that chefs for the royals never use onion and garlic because the odor leads to bad breath.
I have previously read that Meghan indulges in her fave foods generally during the week (such as french fries), then she observes a cleaner diet on weekends. She probably fasts regularly too. It’s been so cool seeing M&H out and about again! 🥰 Thanks for the coverage @Kaiser! 👍
Sylvia’s is still there going strong and is often a stop for dignitaries visiting Harlem. But Melba’s has recently done a lot of work towards vaccinating the community against covid, so along with good food gives an extra reason for H&M to eat there instead. It’s right in line with the theme of their trip.
aftershocks, thank you so much for sharing your culinary insights. I am allergic to kitchens. I am the most creative person I know, but lost in the kitchen, and now having to do more preparing of my own meals. So thanks! Please share more.
I think it would be nice if once in a while CB asks for people to posts their favorite recipes. What do you think?
I love that idea, Sarah!
@Angelica, do we know if Melba’s was closed to the public while they were there? If so, that might be *part* of their reasoning for donating money; to make up for whatever business they might have lost.
I don’t think that’s the only reason for the donation by any means; they would have given something anyway because that’s just who they are, and restaurants were hit so hardly by the pandemic. The amount they gave is above and beyond, so generous. (I don’t even know if that was a factor, it’s totally speculation but I’m wondering if any other celebrities would even think to do that if a shop or restaurant closes down for them. Thinking not for most of them!) Meghan is one of the most thoughtful people…she just consistently gets every detail right.
@Lorelei- I’m honestly not sure. On the news they showed a clip of them heading into the restaurant to be seated inside, but it wasn’t clear if other diners were eating at the time. I’ll see if I can find the clip online and pay attention to the setup.
@Lorelei
Melba’s was not closed to the public, as a matter of fact they paid for the other diners lunch, a diner there post his lunch.
@Noki.
Considering who the haters are, they’ve probably never had it either. It’s possible to have only had waffles as a sweet breakfast food. My husband has eaten waffles his whole life and until he moved down to the south with me, he’s never seen chicken and waffles before or tried it.
This girl has been eating chicken and waffles her whole life but never together until a few years ago. And I’m 60-ish. I always thought it was an odd combo until a restaurant here in Detroit started carrying it and I tried it. So yeah, I can believe Harry never tried it before either.
I know plenty of people who have waffle makers and still do not know the joy of chicken & waffles together
I can’t eat gluten, so I wouldn’t be eating chicken & waffles together. Also due to IBS, no garlic.
@Purplehazeforever Grilled chicken is also really good with waffles, so the next time you grill, grill some extra chicken and pop it in the freezer so it’s ready when you make GF waffles (even non-GF people should make GF waffles and pancakes because they’re much more tender). Then if you take whatever spices you want to use (we use different dried peppers a lot) and put them in a teabag or muslin bag and infuse your maple or sorghum syrup so no solids remain when you take out the bag, your IBS should be OK (my mom’s is at least), and you still get some spice.
Purplehazeforever, long boring story short, my son was gluten/dairy/sugar free for a year, and I found the Bob’s Red Mill all-purpose and 1:1 baking flour work perfectly in every one of my recipes. I still have it on hand because it makes better waffles, for whatever reason.
What is this hard, desperate game of Gotcha getting them?
Perhaps he simply makes waffles for breakfast with sausages and maple syrup. I imagine Archie loves it.
I have four different waffle makers, we make all kinds of waffles from belgian to egg bubble to savoury chaffles, but I have never had waffles and chicken. That is a very American thing we don‘t have here in Europe. My neighbour saw the dish on a US documentary and couldn’t believe it, so No, that is not a known thing over here. But we also do not really put syrup on bacon.
You sound like a great cook. I have never heard of egg bubble or chuffles. Now I must try them.
Chicken with waffles is a fabulous Southern dish, not found everywhere in US.
Americans don’t usually put syrup on bacon either.
English breakfasts are great!
As to syrup on bacon: the bacon is usually on the plate with the waffles or pancakes so the syrup is usually just spillage. And it’s good!
Chicken and Waffles are a Soul Food, not Southern, dish. It stems from the kitchens of black Americans, so while some people outside of the community gentrified the dish, it’s not commonly found everywhere in the U.S.
I love chicken and waffles but it’s something I’ve never made at home because I think both elements have to be top notch and I have not mastered the art of fried chicken at home. I’m in Maryland so some places here have it, some don’t, and some are a lot better than others.
Becks, Carla Hall’s fried chicken recipe is awesome. It’s my son’s first day of school special dinner, it’s that good. I combined her recipe with Ina Garten’s fry the chicken and let it chill in the oven for 30 minutes to cook it all the way through.
This one, I haven’t tried her hot chicken recipe. Yet.
https://www.gardenandtable.net/carla-halls-amazing-fried-chicken/
@Christine thank you for the rec! I will bookmark that. I feel like fried chicken should be relatively simple but it is tricky for me for some reason.
I’ve had waffles as a child. I’ve never had the dish Chicken & Waffles either. Ah those crack wits at the Daily Fail. There they go again, solving a mystery that doesn’t exist.
For people (Ha!) who disapprove of M&H, they sure spend an inordinate amount of time watching everything they do and say — even if reading comprehension is not their thing.
Melba talked about it being a dream come true that they came to her restaurant & how they could have gone anywhere but came to Harlem. Joy Reid nominated her as the winner of the week. Was interested to read about how much Melba’s does in the community, hosting mobile vaccination, providing meals to staff who were furloughed last year etc.
Hope this attention helps their fundraising and I will definitely go when I visit NYC next.
Probably quite unique for royals to provide practical support/resource when visiting an org. I wonder if things like Meghan making banana bread in Oz or bringing baby clothes to that mothers group in South Africa was type of thing she did that courtiers didn’t like. Anyway look forward to seeing if publicly funded royals will start doing similar more.
BET had a funny take about Harry swapping tea & crumpets for soul food!
Basic diplomacy understands the basics of not visiting the home of your hosts empty handed. I suppose when you’ve always taken it is something you never have to think about.
Agreed. The Royals have never given anything in good faith in their lives. Their whole existence is about taking from others. What Meghan and Harry are doing upsets them because M&H are doing exactly what the other royals don’t want to do – actually care about people and causes.
And for whatever reason, it’s protocol to gift royals whenever they visit somewhere. I’ve never understood that. They show up at your place & you give them something? And if ever there were anyone who don’t need freebies, it’s royals, even flowers for heaven’s sake.
@Abritguest said:
“Was interested to read about how much Melba’s does in the community, hosting mobile vaccination, providing meals to staff who were furloughed last year etc.”
That’s cool. I’m quite sure Melba’s active support for the community is why M&H took the time to visit. M&H are so intentional in everything they do.
Meghan has always been on point and hands-on in her advance research when she was single, and as a working royal immediately after marrying Harry. Now, I’m sure the Sussexes have a skilled and devoted staff to assist with research. Plus, the word-of-mouth about @Melba’s probably came from Meg’s NYC-based friends.
Between Melba’s and the other NYC food destinations, was the true reason Meghan wore loose/covered up clothing was that she just wanted to wear her eatin’ pants? I guess I’m just thinking what I would want to order…
“I wonder if things like Meghan making banana bread in Oz or bringing baby clothes to that mothers group in South Africa was type of thing she did that courtiers didn’t like.”
It was probably precisely this sort of thing that they turned their nose up at–sincerity. Sincerity is for the middle-class, not for posh people. Posh people don’t go around baking things for people they think are beneath them. You don’t spare feelings for the lower classes. For them, hospitality means buying a ridiculously expensive bottle of wine for the rich couple hosting your weekend shoot in their country pile, and writing a thank you note after the weekend is over that doesn’t mention the drafty, poorly heated homes, or the cold hospitality, or the strictly enforced seating chart for dinner (couples can’t sit beside each other). And god help you if you forget to mail the thank you card promptly after the visit is over!!! That’s basically like giving them permission to ice you out of their in-group forever.
These people are unused to genuine kindness. Either giving it, or receiving it. That, in some part, explains how they so completely lose their minds with Meghan. Being raised in such insincere environments in and of itself harms you growing up. Inflicting the same onto others hurts you too. The result is you wind up getting bitter, angry people who can’t spare any decency for anyone else, including themselves. It’d be sad, really, if it weren’t actually so harmful and infuriating for others.
This was the same reason that Diana was also appalling to their systems. You don’t just go around hugging AIDS patients. You stand at a distance and smile in a forced, polite way, and get on with your day. That’s it.
I love their full speech…..the reception they got was insane!!! people have been paying attention, more than I would have expected
on a shallow note, her face is perfect! she just had a baby and I am glad to see some women comfortable enough to not hide until the baby weight is all gone…she did the same thing with Archie; she really does slowly lose the weight.
Some women are able to lose it all in a few days/weeks but that’s not the case for all and it is good to have all types visible!
wrong article….i intended this for the other article
I agree with your comment anyway.
I’m so glad they donated. It’a a change from other royal tours where the vibe is “Our presence is a gift to you. Tangible effort and help? We don’t do that.”*
*And before someone goes “Awareness is important too Sofia!”, I know that but if you go beyond awareness than that’s great. Better even.
Yes, this is what struck me with the school visit, too – they do their homework. It’s not “let us shine our glory on you while the paps take pictures” – it’s “tell us what you need so we can help.”
@sofia: yes awareness is important but let’s be honest the royals don’t even achieve that. Charles and Camilla support important causes but they are a little too old and too dull to pull a big audience for their causes (also, a lot of people still hate them for diana)
William is too dull.
Kate is the only one who could manage to pull attention but even then people simply don’t care about her work. People just care about what she wears and as long as she shows up with a smile they’ll be like “omg our amazing future queen”.
While the charities struggle
Exactly. If some of them understood this maybe their charities won’t be closing left right and centre. I must say that cycling, abseiling and playing tennis was the most physical activity we’ve seen for a while. They must need another holiday soon.
Kate has to do work for people to care about it.
Kate’s “work” and William’s consists a lot of sports related “fun events.”
Not only do people not care about Kate’s “work.” Kate herself doesn’t even seem to care about her own work. Seriously, how many of the charities she’s patron of have shut down? Remember that time she hadn’t visited one of her own patronages in *checks receipt*… eight years? What she gets away with as “work” is shocking.
If anything, I hope this opens up stories about where that foundation money is going. For real, tentpole after tentpole of ‘foundations’ and charities are closing left and right under their watch.
When Meghan was still living in the UK, she help produce a cookbook that allowed the kitchen to open all week for years on end.
That is how you are suppose to do it.
@Tiffany: unfortunately, i don’t think it ever will. Just as much as the british public doesn’t care about their work, they also don’t care enough about the royals in general to get angry at them.
The stories about Charles’ shady foundation business barely garnered attention, except for maybe 1.
The UK is currently dealing with a fuel problem, but mister and misses Earthshot take the helicopter like its an uber. There. Is. No. Outrage.
I think a big difference in the “awareness” part is that Harry and Megan are focusing on organizations/people that have been historically marginalized (mostly for the color of their skin) and even in awareness times, don’t get a lot of press. And then they top it off with donations.
I’m waiting for the saltine cult to complain that they should have donated the entire $250K goal (because, don’cha know, they have like 42 bathrooms in their expensive Montecito home)
Yes! Not only do they read their briefing materials, they research how they can help! Here are appliances and garden boxes and $$ for your garden. I adore the fashion, but what I really adore is the intent to make an impact.
Yes just this past week we were made aware of the British winner of the US Open and of former footie star Peter Crouch. Because clearly those athletes needed Royal attention.
OMG, what is not to love with a menu like that. And I busted out laughing about the properly seasoned food comment @Kaiser, good one.
They look great together and are doing good things together. Long may they continue their good work and may their haters choke on their bitter salty tears.
Made me laugh too 😂. A lady I follow on Insta who’s a Sussex fan posted Harry’s collard comments and said “He’s really trying to get that cookout invitation!” 😂😂
I will say, my hubs is from Maine and his family eats their food with no seasoning or flavor. His grandfather was in an orphanage in the depression that didn’t waste salt on orphans, and now no one in the family uses seasoning. Maine food I’ve had elsewhere is ok, I do like lobster, but I’m from Texas and can’t wait to get back to my food after we’ve been there a few days.
The food is as bland and “unspiced” as they are 😄 Compare H&M tucking into “Local” cuisines, and TOC™ (That Other Couple) refusing to even TRY foods on tours and visits.
Another note of interest: H&M made a $25K DONATION to the restaurant’s Covid Relief fund!
I looked up what a Low Country Boil is as I’d never heard of it (No.East/So,West Coast girl here) and this is interesting!
Why is it called a Low Country Boil?
Its origin is credited to Richard Gay, a National Guardsman who had the challenging job to cook a meal for over 100 soldiers and made the decision to utilize an old family recipe. The dish was named *Frogmore* (!!! HOW appropriate and on the nose is THAT!!) for the town that he grew up in – as the soldiers would tease him about his hometown’s name. Eventually, when the postal service eliminated the name Frogmore, the dish was renamed Low Country Boil.
Frogmore Stew is named after a Lowcountry community on St. Helena Island
Growning up in South Carolina, we always called it a Low Country Boil (the low country is the southeastern part of the state). Traditionally, it’s shrimp, kielbasa or some other sausage, corn on the cob & potatoes boiled with Old Bay seasoning & bay leaves, then tossed on a table covered in newspaper for everyone to grab & eat by hand.
The dish originated from Gullah Geechee culture from Black communities along the Atlantic coast from the Carolinas to Georgia. It’s also very much in the tradition of seafood boils from other parts of the US, including New England & the Gulf Coast.
This is the Low Country Boil I’m familiar with (although they used linguica instead of kielbasa, and crawdads instead of shrimp). And I remember seeing references to the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor in Charleston, fascinating culture & history.
Yes to the seafood boils in New England. I have childhood memories of gathering with family, friends during childhood vacations and someone dumping out a pot of varied shellfish onto a table, covered in newspaper or some other scrap paper, along with corn on the cob, boiled potatoes … and of course there was plenty of butter. Melted butter to dip the steamers and mussels and lobster in, and sticks of butter for the corn and potatoes. Though the mark of the best ears of corn was that it was delicious even without butter.
Beer figured into it somewhere, whether in the boil water, or just for the adults to wash everything down with.
Those were much more common for me than a clambake, because the clambake (as I saw them done) required that someone had hours-long access to a beach somewhere where you could gather, and you could make a fire to heat the rocks, embers, etc to bury with the food and seaweed. With the boil, you just needed a stove, water, big pots and somewhere to eat, along with someone who could go get the ingredients.
A Low Country Boil sounds delicious.
I really enjoyed these details, Jan.
Padma Lakshmi did a series focusing on different food across the US and one of the episodes focused on this. It looked really delicious.
I’m reading Isabel wilkerson’s first book, The Warmth of Other Suns, about the great migration of black people from the south to the north in the first half of the 20th century – it’s an excellent book, I like it better than Caste to be honest – so I recommend it – but one of the things that keeps coming up is the importance of food and how the migrants brought their food with them for tastes of home (not unlike European or Asian immigrants) and what it meant for the culture. It’s really interesting. Reading these comments made me think of that.
I like southern food but in low doses just because my stomach doesn’t do well with rich, fried food in large portions. I am not crazy about chicken and waffles (I’ve seen the dish in Korean dramas too that I watch, so it looks it migrated to Asia somehow?), tried it once and figured it wasn’t for me. What’s great about NYC is the diversity of our restaurants, you can pretty much find any kind of food if you look hard enough! So great to see Harry and Meghan helping a local business this way in Harlem.
Flip it. Koreans learned how to fry chicken from Black soldiers who were stationed there during the Koreans War. They also learned of chicken and waffles as well.
I never picked up on the fried chicken! American soldiers have been in South Korea for 50 years. So there is a lot of ‘borrowed’ English phrases in Korean and hip hop and rap are popular music genres there. It’s a really interesting cultural blend.
Interesting! I didn’t know it was black American soldiers who had introduced it to Koreans but it makes sense as I know we have US military bases in South Korea (my friend who was formerly in the military was stationed out there for a few years!). Learned something new.
Harry’s getting a bit of a dad bod. That’s love and good eatin’ for ya. Harry has spent so much of his life in Africa and Central Asia, not to mention two years stationed in SoCal on the Mexican border, that I doubt he’s a stranger to seasoned food. He was never like the rest of the RF staying sequestered in their own world.
I agree….I think H midsection is slightly thicker….he had that baby with Meghan LOL
Betty rose . So surprised at you. Montecito is about 204 miles from the Mexican Border, otherwise known as Tijuana.
@Marjorie I think she’s talking about his time in military training north of San Diego.
I just love that they are helping others. This is why I don’t view their visit to NY as a royal tour. Royals don’t lift a finger to help others and they believe that paying visits to places is charity work.
If that too pic is of them leaving, then it seems Harry enjoyed his meal. Looks like a small post meal bump. 💕 it!!
Yup…definitely a food baby there!
As Charles Dickens wrote, Just a bit of undigested mutton.
LOL!!!
I love Meghan’s outfit even more in these pictures in the sunshine. The color is so rich, so beautiful. An entirely red outfit head to toe is great, Ive been enjoying her monochromatic looks. The oversized jacket, it’s like elevated street wear which is perfect for NYC.
Me too. Earlier article said it’s cashmere, just making it even better.
She owns that color. She should wear it all the time.
Agreed! I didn’t really love the trousers, but she is absolutely luminous in burgundy. She is breath-takingly lovely.
I’ve eaten at Melba’s a few times. Straight up damn good food and (just barely) walking distance from my apartment. They made a good choice!
It warms my Southern heart that Harry is getting good home cooked food, including collard greens and cornbread. Shout out to Meghan and mama Doria for feeding him well. I’ll need to check out Melba’s next time I’m in New York. On a superficial note, they both look amazing!!
One thing I don’t get is how they have rescue chickens in their backyard, and they eat chicken in restaurants? Maybe they eat the rescue chickens too. Maybe they’re confused what a rescue chicken is.
You do know that farmers eat chicken too. See also: pork and beef.
Rescue refers to the chickens being removed from deplorable living conditions.
Don’t be so alarmist and crass to suggest M&H slaughter and eat their rescue hens.
Laying hens are slaughtered at 72 weeks when their commercial egg production decreases. They are not the same breed as meat chickens and so they are just slaughtered and turned into dog food, cat food or even baby food, despite being able to still lay eggs.
I know people who keep chickens, and they don’t kill them, they collect and eat the fresh eggs. They love those chickens and they are pets.
They’re keeping them for the eggs and chickens actually make good pets — a friend of mine has 5 or 6 and they’re adorable, they’ll sit in your lap. But I still eat chicken.
Bland food in castles? So pleased to be with Meghan as she can cook? lol. The queen employs some of the best chefs in the world. I’m sure Harry was just fine, the brits have heard of flavour too you know.
See i will respectfully disagree with you on this. Those people in that palace probably think black pepper is a spice. It ain’t . They don’t eat flavor. Doesn’t matter who they employ as chefs, the chef tend to cook to suit their clients taste and the clients in those palaces taste is all bland just like them, their only salt is in their attitude towards the successful, beautiful black woman.
Agreed. They cater to the Queen’s taste and she’s very particular. She won’t even eat garlic.
It is. Equally respectfully, I’ve discovered after years of stomach trouble (upper endoscopy, dozens of lesions) that I can’t tolerate black pepper. It just hurts. I’m aware that my low-spice lifestyle isn’t for everyone, but I have learned to enjoy tasting the actual food when I can’t add spices. I don’t begrudge anyone else their *actually* spiced or spicy food, but I do not care for the insults about bland food meaning a bland person.
Betsy, I don’t think people who can’t eat spicy food are bland people. I think the British family are bland people in everything they do and it includes their food because they put no care into anything. It’s just there. And it comes across that way
I doubt it’s that bland, but I’ll bet it’s lukewarm after being wheeled through miles of corridor on a trolley between kitchen and dining room.
Have they? I recently watched a video of a palace chef preparing a meal, and dude seriously tossed a little salt on the chicken and called it a day. Insisted that nothing else was needed.
You should really watch some of the episodes where the chefs who worked in the palaces talk about what they serve. Its all about presentation, but the actually dish is super bland.
Lmao what where have you heard that? The Queen employs provincial “good cooks” who make food to suit unsophisticated and bland palates. There are no master chefs and Michelin star chefs working for the royals. Royalty doesn’t automatically mean quality as we’ve seen from the terrible PR yes men they surround themselves with
No one will see this so late, but I read am article last year about the Queen’s New fav soup being callalloo soup, because of her new chef from the West Indies, don’t remember which island. Callalloo is like spinach (except they use a different leaf) and the soup is amazingly delicious. When I heard about this I was shocked!
Harry looks like he gives the best hugs. And I am with Kaiser, Harry definitely fell for all of Meghan spice and flavors.lol. The bland English racist can suck it.
How long before W&K start visiting bearing gifts also? I am not a fan of H& M either, I like them for leaving the royals which are an obsolete unfair( the rest of you are lower than us because of birth and not accomplishments???) . But H&M are supporting themselves now which I approve of. I also see work being done so good for them. I also see copying across the ocean both big and small which is humorous and helpful but I doubt is going to be enough to save the monarchy cause I think if H& M do this why do the rest of them need to be supported ? When are countries around the world going to end monarchy?
Although they seem to copy H&M, I’m betting being generous is one thing they won’t copy. The rf bestowing their presence and ‘awareness’ is as generous as they will get.
I will be happy to be proved wrong though.
Willnot and Won’t’s “gifts” consisted of a bag of pasta to shut-in seniors during Covid (delivered by the kids), and a Go-Pro delivered bag of a couple of cookies delivered to an embassy (don’t remember which one, but they didn’t even bring it themselves…and just a *couple* of cookies for the whole embassy lol). THIS is their level of “contribution/donation”.
Oh but Kate gave some honey to pre-schoolers from her very own hive!! My God the generosity!!!
@ jaded didn’t Meghan hand out bananas?
@Jolie – yes, and her home-cooked banana bread. And raised a ton of money for the Hubb Kitchen. And raised a ton of money for Smart Works. And mobilized almost $2 million to buy COVID-19 vaccines for the world’s most vulnerable people. And raised money for Jose Andres’ World Central Kitchen. Other charities they support and raise money for are: Mayhew Animal Rescue; Girls Inc., which serves underprivileged girls ages 5-18 in more than 350 cities across the U.S. and Canada; Harvest Home, a Los Angeles-based organization aiding pregnant homeless women; CAMFED, a pan-African girls’ education nonprofit; and the Myna Mahila Foundation, which works to address women’s health needs in India. I’m sure there are more but you only remember bananas.
I won’t be surprised if Meghan goes back to California pregnant after the way those two are with each other.
Melbas is so good. Love their collard greens. I only live a few blocks from the restaurant so I order from there when I want something comforting. There are a bunch of great restaurants near that location. There’s also a newish restaurant (been around for a couple of years at least) a few blocks away called BLVD bistro for anyone looking to visit. Great food and cocktails!
What’s southern potato salad? I live in the south and our potato salad is the same as I’ve had every where else. Do they mean they use Duke’s?
There are all different kinds of potato salad. Some use mustard, some use mayo. Some use pickle relish, some just use celery. Some use red potatoes, some use white. I don’t know what the “official” Southern style is though, I just make it the way my grandmother made it and she grew up in the south.
And some potato salads are ‘wet’ while others are less so.
The difference is mustard.
Along with, or instead of mayonnaise or Ranch dressing?
There is also German potato salad. It has an oil/vinegar dressing, applied while the potato pieces are still warm. It’s really good.
That mustard is used or not used? I grew up in Midwest, but have lived in Texas in 30+ years, and I couldn’t tell you which is which. Folks up north have no-mustard pot salad (all white), but I think it’s mostly Mayo and mustard. Sometimes rarely you see German potato salad which has no Mayo.
The most important thing is to make it the day ahead so the flavors can meld.
I’m not a big fan of potatoes or pot salad, but I do like back-country BBQ’s here in dallas — it has both mustard and Mayo but they also mostly mash their potatoes and i love that texture. it’s so delicious
And that’s all I have to say about that.
@Lady D – I love German potato salad and prefer it to the mayo/mustard version. I also make a Greek one with black olives, green pepper, red onion, oregano and feta cheese.
I cannot see hear any reference to potato salad without immediately thinking of Chadwick Boseman and his appearance as T’Challa on SNL in Black Jeopardy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzMzFGgmQOc
My friends and I always say “no paprika!” But my favorite line is “And she would probably add something unnecessary, like raisins.”
Yeah no. All potato salads are not equal nor do they taste the same.
I’m sorry but you can’t be calm about gumbo. But you can calm down lol it is a blog.
Making gumbo gives me the excites. Mr. Jaded too.
I mean chicken and waffles and gumbo are now on an upcoming menu for sure now!
@ Jaded
Ditto myself and MerlinsDad.
Gumbo is life!!!
Chickens no longer laying eggs also peck, scratch and poo on the ground, ie, aerate and fertilize the soil.
I love this because whenever the Cambridges eventually make it to New York like they were speaking about, it will be compared to this trip of the Sussexes and will be found wanting, at least in the US. Will and Kate always look like they’ve got sticks up their ass, like they’d rather be elsewhere. People notice that shit and it matters. Sure the politicians in the city might like them, but the actual people in New York won’t.
I kinda doubt they’ll ever go to NYC again.
They spread generosity and love wherever they go. May it always come back to them ten fold.
I love that Harry loves Doria’s collard greens. I wonder how she preps them? I put smoked turkey leg or wing into my greens instead of bacon fat or a ham hock. I bet Doria lives with them.
@Aquarius – last year I think she was teaching in a local community college, but I wouldn’t be surprised if at this point she is living with them. She probably has 4 or 5 bathrooms to herself, LOL.
Or they could have given her the guest house. That gives her her own space but protected on their estate with full access to the Sussexes. I guess her own wing would give her the same thing.
We have seen no pictures of Doria going back and forth between Montecito and LA and you KNOW the paps are stalking her, so that makes me think she is there with them.
With the ongoing BM/RF hateful smear campaign, Doria must be living there, to be under the protection of the security team. And to be with the grandbabies.
@ Aquarius
My granny used to put bacon fat in hers. Of course this was waaaaaay back in the day when you never ever tossed your bacon fat. you brought back lots of great memories for me.
Thank you
At my great big age I have never eaten chicken and waffles. Something about it just seems so weird to me. I like chicken, I like waffles but putting it together?Nope . Will have to give it a try I guess. That seemed like a really nice visit, the food looks delicious. The restaurant does a lot for the community, like having vaccine drives and voter registration drives. The City Harvest connection is really nice too because it harkens back to when Meghan had food donated from the Suits set when she worked in Toronto.
I’m so happy they ate at Melba’s and loved it! Every time I go to NYC, we eat there. The chicken and waffles and the fried catfish are standouts, but everything I’ve had there is delicious. Melba was on Beat Bobby Flay and beat him with those same chicken and waffles, so it’s pretty much already a Harlem institution and is packed most days. This publicity from H&M is going to make the wait even longer now lol.
I’m so envious of the opportunity to eat there. One of my lockdown hobbies was trying to perfect various styles of fried chicken, but I’m in NZ so there’s no homegrown tradition unless you count how weird we are about KFC, and I have to rely on the internet for instructions.
Have a waffle iron, but also have not tried deploying it with anything other than butter, berries and syrup.
I am not Royal eating castle food, but I have vivid memories of coming back from London from my honeymoon and driving with my husband straight to Chipotle for some fiber and spices. Everywhere we went we were served chicken and potatoes or beef and potatoes. I don’t mean a baked potato I mean fries, baked potatoes and peas or mashed potatoes. We ate at some wonderful Indian and other restaurants with spicy food, but the everyday food was sooo …calm. We NEEDED VEGETABLES. I am sure if you live there you are buying veggies at the store….but I would have devoted some greens even if they were served on a waffle
I read this post and the delicious comments while eating shrimp and grits 😍
@Maria yessss shrimp and grits are the best. I love grits in general though. With lots of butter. Some salt. Maybe some cheese.
Once I went to a restaurant and they gave me instant grits and I complained so much they comped the grits lol. My college years in Atlanta taught me about real grits TYVM.
@ Maria and Becks1
Love Love LOVE grits. With lots of butter. ALL of the butter. I make it for myself cuz MerlinsDad ain’t a fan. More for meeeeee
Someone asked about other patrons in the restaurant, I saw a Twitter post from some one who was eating at the restaurant. He said they offered to pay for Harry and Meghan meal but they didn’t them up on it.
Dear Harry and Meghan
Come to San Antonio and I will be happy to take you both to this little hole in the wall, known only to locals, taco house my whole family frequents. The tacos are KILLER
and if you want entertainment with your meal, come on Saturday morning and watch the good folk have menudo to clear out the Friday night shenanigans 😆
Also I am a HUGE fan of Low Country food. My cousin is married to a Cajun/Creole and lordgodamercy her cooking is off the charts!!!