The Duchess made a surprise visit to the Hubb Community Kitchen, where the hugs were plenty upon her arrival. Meghan was visiting to learn how the money raised by the group’s beautiful project, Together: Our Community Cookbook, was being put to great use!
Meghan was greeted by co-coordinator Zaheera Sufyaan from the Hubb Community Kitchen, with whom she shared a joyful embrace. Zaheera was the one Meghan discussed the possibility of the cookbook with at the beginning.
Meghan was also greeted by Abdurahman Sayed, head of the Al Manaar Heritage Center.
A video from her arrival:
Meghan looked so happy as she entered the Hubb Community Kitchen’s stunning new space, which was redesigned with input from the women. The facility features a professional kitchen, where they continue to make food for their community, as well as a sitting area.
You can see the changes in the picture below
A clip showing us Meghan’s entrance:
For her first project as a member of the royal family, Meghan’s mission was both ambitious and clear: She wanted to help the women create a cookbook and sell enough to turn their twice-a-week project of providing food to the surrounding area and those affected by the devastating Grenfell Tower fire, into a full-time, permanent operation.
The women alongside Meghan really had a reason to celebrate today; selling more than 71,000 copies Together: Our Community Kitchen since its September launch, they’ve achieved their goal and more. It also helped the small community kitchen in London to raise vital funds for the organization.
A source revealed that “Meghan is delighted,” especially because “The book has been a huge success and its immediate impact is clear to see.”
HarperBazaar reported:
“With UK sales of over 39,000 copies raising more than $260,000 and U.S. sales of 32,880 (and counting!) adding to the total, Meghan and the Hubb Kitchen team took less than seven weeks to beat their target of 50,000 copies – even picking up a New York Times bestseller accolade along the way.”
And Kensington Palace also added: “Since the book was published in September, the inclusive ethos of Together has resonated all over the world, and inspired people not just to buy the book, but to cook, eat and gather in their own communities.”
On the 14th of June 2017, just before 01:00, a fire broke out in the kitchen of a fourth-floor flat at the 23-story tower block in North Kensington, West London. Within minutes, the fire had raced up the exterior of the building and then spread to all four sides. By 03:00, most of the upper floors were well alight.
72 people died in the fire. The youngest victim was a six-month-old girl named Leena Belkadi, who died in her mother’s arms as she tried to escape.
The fire was described as “one of the UK’s worst modern disasters.”
Many people were displaced following the fire, so some of the local women needed a place to cook fresh food for their families. They started to cook two days every week, preparing food and eating together. Word spread and more local women began to join in, embracing community and supporting their neighbors in their time of need.
During today’s visit, Meghan helped the women prepare 250 fresh meals, including roasted vegetables, Persian chicken, and barberry rice dishes. The meals will later be distributed to homeless people in the area. The kitchen works with several organizations in west London, including elderly care homes and women’s shelters.
Meghan was joined by Clare Smyth. Clare is both a friend and two-Michelin-stared chef. You’ll recall she was the one who catered the Frogmore House evening reception at Meghan’s wedding.
After the visit, Clare said: “If everyone took care of their community like this, there would be no issues in the world.”
When the cookbook launched back in September, Meghan described working on the book as a ‘tremendous labor of love.’ When recalling the first time the woman at the kitchen met Meghan, Alsaiegh said “All the women had been busy working and cutting the food, but she came and gave kisses to all of us and hugs to all of us. Everyone, whatever they had in their pocket or the rings they were wearing, they wanted to give it to her because they immediately felt the warmth.”
In addition to celebrating the book’s success, the women also got the opportunity to celebrate the news of Baby Sussex. The news wasn’t a complete surprise to everyone, though.
Alsaiegh continued: “Whenever she would visit, she hugged all the kids and always put the kids in her lap and sit down to hug them. She said, ‘I love kids,’ and I told her, ‘Because of what you did for us, Allah is going to give you the baby.’ Then my children called me last month like, ‘Mama, congratulations!’ and I said ‘What?’ and they said, ‘Meghan is pregnant!’
“We are so happy for her,” Alsaiegh added. “A good heart is going to be a good mum. She loves Harry very much. She has a good heart, and the people here need this. All the times she said she will come, she has. She said she’s going away for her wedding and visiting after one week. She came before she went on tour. She said, ‘I’m going to go for a long journey to New Zealand and Fiji, and then after that, I’m going to come and we’re going to celebrate.”
Meghan also sat down for a chat with the ladies
Meghan also posed for a group photo with the ladies
A nice video from the visit:
Meghan stayed 20 minutes longer than scheduled at the Hubb Community Kitchen.
Meghan looked glowing in Club Monaco’s “Sallyet” dress, complete with a cute velvet collar.
She teamed the look with the matching burgundy Daylina Coat, from the same brand.
She styled it with a pair of Givenchy Ankle Boots.
Finally, she accessorized with the “jamie love ring” designed by LA-based jeweler Meredith Hahn.
The piece is available in three different materials – 18K vermeil, 18K sterling silver, and 14K gold. Each material is available in yellow and rose gold options, and Meghan wore the piece in rose gold.
Wishing a very Happy Thanksgiving to all those celebrating! Enjoy
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