The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is less than two months away and the "official details" are finally starting to come out—beginning with what kind of wedding cake the royal lovebirds will serve at their reception on May 19th. Their choice of pastry chef reveals just how influential the former actress and lifestyle blogger's tastes will be over the proceedings. The traditional frosted tower of fruitcake—a favorite at royal weddings—will not be served. In its place, the couple chose a distinctly American-inspired cake by an American-born chef.
Kensington Palace just announced in a tweet that Meghan and Harry have chosen California native Claire Ptak to make the cake for their special day. Ptak was interviewed by Meghan for her now-defunct lifestyle website, The Tig, and previously worked as a pastry chef for chef Alice Waters at Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California.
The pastry chef owns London's Violet Cakes in Hackney, which specializes in using seasonal and organic ingredients in their cakes. According to a follow-up tweet: "Prince Harry and Ms. Markle have asked Claire to create a lemon elderflower cake that will incorporate the bright flavours of spring. It will be covered with buttercream and decorated with fresh flowers."
Ptak started her own business as a stall in Broadway Market in east London before opening her organic bakery.
An avowed foodie, Markle wrote extensively about her favorite flavors and recipes on The Tig and even appeared on The Today show to talk about her culinary obsessions. "I love food. Unapologetically so," she wrote on the show's website. "With long shooting hours for season two of USA's Suits, it's important to balance the decadent treats that make my heart go pitter pat, and the nourishment that fuels my body. My favorite foods run the gamut from healthy to indulgent, but rest assured, they are always delicious. Just like my character, Rachel Zane, I'm a foodie, so if I'm going to eat it, it has to be good."
Meghan's other favorite foods, according to the post, might mean there are big changes in store for the kinds of appetizers served at the couple's reception. The health-conscious former actress wrote she loves turkey meatballs, kale chips, hummus, seasoned veggie quinoa, and fish tacos. Quite a far cry from the Bubble and Squeak,confit shoulder of lamb, smoked haddock fishcake, and miniature Yorkshire pudding with roast beef that was served at Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding.
Luckily for Queen Elizabeth II and the rest of the royal family, Meghan loves her wine. "At the end of a long day, there is nothing I enjoy more than a glass of wine," she wrote. "I used to be of the 'It doesn't matter, so long as it's red' persuasion, but then I grew up, and so did my palate." She revealed that she had "campervanned" through New Zealand with her first husband, producer Trevor Engelson, where they "fell in love with so many off-the-beaten-path wineries."
Perhaps Meghan and Harry will serve a cheeky Tanzanian red from South Africa in honor of their love for the continent. And for more on Meghan and Harry's upcoming nuptials, read up on how Markle wants to honor Princess Diana on her big day.
Diane Clehane is a New York-based journalist and author of Imagining Diana and Diana: The Secrets of Her Style.
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