Latest news with #Ever
Eater
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
‘The Bear' Season 4 Trailer Counts Down Toward Chaos
This morning, the Season 4 trailer for The Bear dropped, whetting fans' appetites for dramatic scenes of table setting, sauce tasting, and mental breakdowns in the walk-in. All 10 episodes will be released on Hulu on Wednesday, June 25. Here are our first impressions. Suffice to say, spoilers? A digital clock ticks down from 1,339 days, 59 minutes, and 59 seconds, with Uncle James 'Cicero' Kalinowski warning that when the time reaches zero, they'll have run out of money and the restaurant will 'need to cease operations.' Translation? Unless an angel investor emerges or something else leads to a turnaround, the Bear has a little more than 59 days before it lands on the shutter report. In TV time, that's 10 episodes. Speaking of an investor, it appears some sort of tasting is going on with the staff serving a meal to a pair of gentlemen that they badly need to impress. A few of the workers from the fictionalized version of Ever, which closed in Season 3, return. Jessica (Sarah Ramos) and Garrett (Andrew Lopez) appear to have found new jobs at the Bear. Carmy Berzatto reaches for the handle to the walk-in, bringing fans back to the end of Season 2, where he was trapped in his cavalcade of emotions. His sister, Natalie Berzatto, tells him, 'I don't want you to hide from things.' The trailer focuses on chaos as a theme with Carmy battling his demons with Sydney telling him: 'I get it — chaos and turmoil — but it's a problem when you let it fuel you and fuel the food.' Perhaps Chaos Cooking isn't so cool anymore? Carmy seemingly takes Sydney's words to heart: 'I don't want this place to be chaos. You know that, right?' Characters take turns reading a restaurant review (presumably the Chicago Tribune's, teased in Season 3), and it doesn't sound positive as 'consistency seems to be the weak link.' Brutal. Maybe Carmy will take the Thomas Keller (who appears in Season 3) approach to dining critics. Instead of bong soup, Malört could play a role! Talk about cultural appropriation, chef. teased in Season 3), and it doesn't sound positive as 'consistency seems to be the weak link.' Brutal. Maybe Carmy will take the Thomas Keller (who appears in Season 3) approach to dining critics. Instead of bong soup, Malört could play a role! Talk about cultural appropriation, chef. The review complains that the menu is always changing. Sounds a little like how Michelin reacted to Next before giving and awarding Grant Achatz's restaurant a star in 2020. A glimpse of a menu shows nine courses, including two desserts (so-hot-right-now princess cake and chocolate velouté). Beef tenderloin comes with cherry jus, perhaps a nod to the Italian beef. Or just a coincidence. We get a shot of Natalie and Pete's baby in bed. There's a wedding. We don't know whose wedding. Mama Berzotto (Jamie Lee Curtis) shows up, too! Will she ruin the celebration? And though there's still no official word that Season 4 will be the finale, weddings are often used as TV bookends. The trailer is free of cameos, including celebrity chefs or Chicago restaurants. The CTA gets plenty of love, which is ironic because locals are fed up with the transit system's woes. There's zero mention of Chicago's very own Pope Leo XIV. Perhaps there's an opportunity for reshoots. And what of Chicago's own Steve Urkel? I guess we'll all find out in June. Sign up for our newsletter.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Without Taylor Frankie Paul, there might not be a 'Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.' She has no regrets.
If you've been glued to the Hulu reality show The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, you have Taylor Frankie Paul to thank. It was Paul who propelled #MomTok, a group of Mormon mom creators, into the spotlight when she revealed that some members of the group were involved in intimate relationships with each other. Drama exploded, marriages — including her own, with ex-husband Tate Paul, with whom she shares daughter Indy and son Ocean — ended and reality TV gold was struck. The first season of Secret Lives followed the fallout of the "soft swinging" scandal and Paul's tumultuous relationship with on-again-off-again boyfriend Dakota Mortensen and the birth of their son, Ever. What will she get up to in Season 2, which premieres on Thursday? Paul says she hasn't watched it yet, but she isn't nervous. After all, she's been through worse. While Paul had her hair done for the Season 2 promotional events she has ahead of her, we talked about co-parenting, giving birth on camera and holding on to her Mormon identity. A big part of the reality star's journey onscreen has been documenting her co-parenting journeys with both Paul and Mortensen — with different results. 'With my first baby daddy, my ex [Paul], we've always got along great,' Paul says. 'He does prefer not to do anything on camera, so that has never [been] seen. But that relationship has always been great.' As for Mortensen? Well, that's a little more complicated. 'Obviously, [it's] harder. … I mean, you see it in the show, how our dynamic is. So that just speaks for itself.' Despite the show centering around a group of moms, the stars' kids are rarely shown on camera. 'There's that balance where we want to have them to show our motherhood, but also we want to give our kids some privacy and not to always be on camera. It's nice to not always have to be on camera,' Paul explains. Though her children have mostly stayed offscreen, Paul hasn't hesitated to let the cameras film some of the most intimate moments of her life — like when she gave birth to son Ever, who is now 1. 'Honestly, I don't think I thought too much of it until after, and I was like, Oh shoot, I gave birth on camera,' Paul says with a laugh. 'It's emotional to watch it. But I didn't think too much of it — not until after the fact, but hey, it's too late now." The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives revolves around a cast of Mormon women, all of whom seem to be at different points in their faith journey. There are two groups: the Saints, who more strictly adhere to the pillars of Mormonism, and the Sinners, who are more lax about the rules of their religion. Though Paul (a Sinner, in case you were wondering) may not be the poster child for Mormonism, she still considers herself to be of the faith. 'I am not by the book, obviously,' she says. 'I think that goes without saying. But I don't go and be like, Oh, I'm a good Mormon girl. No. But it's there when I want to go to church. Church is for the sinners. I would hate for someone to go into church and feel bad for what they've done. That's where they're going because they want to feel better — or I would think that's why they're going, right? That's where I go. And that's that.' Plus, Paul goes to church for her own reasons — and it's not to please other people. 'I also have the mindset, I'm not here for you; I'm here for myself and the man above. That is it.' When Paul came out with the shocking "soft swinging" scandal, her life — and the lives of many people around her — changed dramatically. Would she take it back? 'No,' she says. 'Do I regret anything? No, because I am where I am today. But if I could have something be different and do things differently to hurt someone less, I would.' That's not to say that she wouldn't change anything. 'If I could go back and not hurt my ex-husband like that, I would take that back in a heartbeat. But also, it got him where he's at today with his wife and his baby. So, no; my answer would be no, because it got us all where we're at today. And as hard as it was at that time, I think all of us could say that we're in better places.' As Paul gets ready for Season 2 to premiere, she's ready for the world to learn more about her. Despite watching her onscreen (both on TV and on TikTok, where she has more than 5 million followers), there's still so much she wants to show people. 'Over the course of the years, I might have looked crazy or not the best mom or any of these things,' she tells me. 'And there might be truth to that. But now, I'm in a much better place. I've learned so much, and I've been given so many tools. You can learn from that and become a better person.'
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Without Taylor Frankie Paul, there might not be a 'Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.' She has no regrets.
If you've been glued to the Hulu reality show The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, you have Taylor Frankie Paul to thank. It was Paul who propelled #MomTok, a group of Mormon mom creators, into the spotlight when she revealed that some members of the group were involved in intimate relationships with each other. Drama exploded, marriages — including her own, with ex-husband Tate Paul, with whom she shares daughter Indy and son Ocean — ended and reality TV gold was struck. The first season of Secret Lives followed the fallout of the "soft swinging" scandal and Paul's tumultuous relationship with on-again-off-again boyfriend Dakota Mortensen and the birth of their son, Ever. What will she get up to in Season 2, which premieres on Thursday? Paul says she hasn't watched it yet, but she isn't nervous. After all, she's been through worse. While Paul had her hair done for the Season 2 promotional events she has ahead of her, we talked about co-parenting, giving birth on camera and holding on to her Mormon identity. A big part of the reality star's journey onscreen has been documenting her co-parenting journeys with both Paul and Mortensen — with different results. 'With my first baby daddy, my ex [Paul], we've always got along great,' Paul says. 'He does prefer not to do anything on camera, so that has never [been] seen. But that relationship has always been great.' As for Mortensen? Well, that's a little more complicated. 'Obviously, [it's] harder. … I mean, you see it in the show, how our dynamic is. So that just speaks for itself.' Despite the show centering around a group of moms, the stars' kids are rarely shown on camera. 'There's that balance where we want to have them to show our motherhood, but also we want to give our kids some privacy and not to always be on camera. It's nice to not always have to be on camera,' Paul explains. Though her children have mostly stayed offscreen, Paul hasn't hesitated to let the cameras film some of the most intimate moments of her life — like when she gave birth to son Ever, who is now 1. 'Honestly, I don't think I thought too much of it until after, and I was like, Oh shoot, I gave birth on camera,' Paul says with a laugh. 'It's emotional to watch it. But I didn't think too much of it — not until after the fact, but hey, it's too late now." The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives revolves around a cast of Mormon women, all of whom seem to be at different points in their faith journey. There are two groups: the Saints, who more strictly adhere to the pillars of Mormonism, and the Sinners, who are more lax about the rules of their religion. Though Paul (a Sinner, in case you were wondering) may not be the poster child for Mormonism, she still considers herself to be of the faith. 'I am not by the book, obviously,' she says. 'I think that goes without saying. But I don't go and be like, Oh, I'm a good Mormon girl. No. But it's there when I want to go to church. Church is for the sinners. I would hate for someone to go into church and feel bad for what they've done. That's where they're going because they want to feel better — or I would think that's why they're going, right? That's where I go. And that's that.' Plus, Paul goes to church for her own reasons — and it's not to please other people. 'I also have the mindset, I'm not here for you; I'm here for myself and the man above. That is it.' When Paul came out with the shocking "soft swinging" scandal, her life — and the lives of many people around her — changed dramatically. Would she take it back? 'No,' she says. 'Do I regret anything? No, because I am where I am today. But if I could have something be different and do things differently to hurt someone less, I would.' That's not to say that she wouldn't change anything. 'If I could go back and not hurt my ex-husband like that, I would take that back in a heartbeat. But also, it got him where he's at today with his wife and his baby. So, no; my answer would be no, because it got us all where we're at today. And as hard as it was at that time, I think all of us could say that we're in better places.' As Paul gets ready for Season 2 to premiere, she's ready for the world to learn more about her. Despite watching her onscreen (both on TV and on TikTok, where she has more than 5 million followers), there's still so much she wants to show people. 'Over the course of the years, I might have looked crazy or not the best mom or any of these things,' she tells me. 'And there might be truth to that. But now, I'm in a much better place. I've learned so much, and I've been given so many tools. You can learn from that and become a better person.'
The Independent
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
25 best restaurants in the USA ranked (and an eatery in Disney World makes the cut)
It's a mouthwatering US restaurant ranking – a league table of the finest fine-dining experiences in the land rustled up by renowned foodie website Each year, the site analyzes thousands of publications, hundreds of guidebooks and millions of online reviews to produce a ranked compendium of the very best restaurants, with each assigned a score out of 100. Philippe Faure, Founder and CEO, said: "Like a drone flying over the gastronomic planet, La Liste draws on the methods of artificial intelligence to synthesize opinions and reviews." Here, we present the 25 highest-placed American eateries that make the global, 1,000-strong list for 2025. If you want to know where to book to celebrate a birthday, wedding anniversary or simply to discover out-of-this-world cooking, look no further, with the top entries listed in reverse order. Jont, Washington, DC. Score – 92 Here guests are taken on "a journey through flavors and textures", with head chef Ryan Ratino and his team "showcasing the beauty of luxurious ingredients from around the world… with a special nod to the elegance of Japanese cuisine". The restaurant has held two Michelin stars since 2021, with the guide describing eating a meal here as "an experience like nothing else in the city". Tasting menu - $375 per person. Atera, New York. Score – 92 This two-Michelin-star gem on Worth St offers a counter dining experience that the guide's visiting inspector describes as "immersive", with guests treated to "beguiling courses with global accents". Tripadvisor plaudits? There's positive feedback by the bucketload, with one recent diner gushing that it's a "complete gem". Tasting Menu – $298. Ever, Chicago. Score – 92.5 There's plenty of hype about Ever on its website, which tells guests-in-waiting that they're in for an "epic dining experience" at chef Curtis Duffy's "creative obsession". Does Curtis deliver? You betcha. Ever has two Michelin stars and unrelenting praise on Yelp, with reviewer "Albert K" describing his experience there as "luxurious dining". He adds that it makes his top five restaurants list – from over 1,000 places he's eaten at. Tasting menu - $325. Per Se, New York. Score – 92.5 This three-Michelin-star New York fine-dining haven by legendary chef Thomas Keller is a must for any self-respecting foodie. Located in the Deutsche Bank Center, it offers "spectacular" views of Columbus Circle and Central Park. But the Michelin Guide stresses that "your attention won't stray from the plate". Oriole, Chicago. Score – 92.5 Housed in a former warehouse, guests enter Oriole through a converted freight elevator, then enjoy the fruits of chef Noah Sandoval's industry, which is worthy of two Michelin stars and prompts undiluted outpourings of praise on Tripadvisor. Almost every rating is five-star and one recent visitor said they fly to Chicago just to eat at Oriole. Tasting menu - $325. Gabriel Kreuther, New York. Score – 93 Chef Gabriel, we're told, "blends his Alsatian heritage with innovative twists". The result? A two-Michelin-star menu that includes the likes of "cashew mushroom parfait" and "sturgeon tart". Menu options from $190. Victoria & Albert's, Walt Disney World Resort, Florida. Score – 93.5 Walt Disney Resort? Yes, you read that right. At Victoria & Albert's in Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa an 'epicurean odyssey awaits', according to the restaurant's website, with diners enjoying dishes such as venison carpaccio and red cabbage "sandwiches" and "cherry-cola" sauces in an elegant dining room with a garden theme. Sceptical? Believe the hype. The restaurant has earned a Michelin star and wide-ranging plaudits on social media. Tasting menu - $375. Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Tarrytown, New York. Score – 93.5 Chef Dan Barber's operation here has two Michelin stars and a "dramatically presented" menu drawn from produce supplied by 64 local farms and day boat fishermen off Long Island. Tasting menu - $350. Jungsik, New York. Score – 94.5 This three-star Korean restaurant drew breathless superlatives from the Michelin inspector, who describes the cooking as "impeccably executed". Dishes? Think dry-aged Arctic char in a kimchi and red curry sauce, and chilled fish bone broth. Signature menu - $295. Jean-Georges, New York. Score – 95 Jean-Georges Vongerichten runs 60 restaurants worldwide – but this eatery, at 1 Central Park West, is the crème de la crème of his culinary empire, with two Michelin stars and four stars from the New York Times. A true bucket-list entry on Tasting menu - $298. Guy Savoy, Las Vegas. Score – 95 An "artful blend of French gastronomy and contemporary flair" awaits guests at Restaurant Guy Savoy in Las Vegas, which used to hold two Michelin stars when the guide ranked Vegas eateries. Guy Savoy also claims a silver medal spot in the global list, with Restaurant Guy Savoy in Paris earning an incredible score of 99.5. Tasting menu - $555. Alinea, Chicago. Score – 95 Novelty is the name of the game at this three-Michelin-starred temple of dining, where Chef Grant Achatz conjures up liquid-nitrogen-frozen blocks of chocolate mousse, fish eggs suspended in smoke gel and edible helium balloons. Tasting menu from $210. Smyth, Chicago. Score – 95.5 Over to Yelp reviewer Elizabeth H for a summation of the food at three-star Smyth – "explosions of flavor, texture and creativity". And the service? "Perfection". Tasting menu - $420. Harbor House Inn, Elk, California. Score – 95.5 This Mendocino County two-star restaurant is in a Pacific coast setting to die for (behold the incredible ocean rock formations) and offers food that's heavenly. The Michelin Guide describes the cooking by head chef Matthew Kammerer as "highly original", noting that the ingredients are often harvested from the immediate surrounds. Seaweed, for instance, comes from the nearby shoreline, while lace lichen is plucked from overhanging neighborhood trees. Tasting menu - $325. Benu, San Francisco. Score – 95.5 At three-star Benu, Chef Corey Lee and his team relentlessly pursue excellence, declares the Michelin Guide, with diners offered a tasting menu "as ambitious as any in the country". Tasting menu - $390. Addison, San Diego. Score – 95.5 Diners can expect "playful but polished" food at this three-star Southern Californian oasis, according to the Michelin Guide, with the inspector delighted by Chef William Bradley's "riff on chips and dips" and the "Kumamoto oysters with pickled green strawberry". Tripadvisor's reviewers are impressed, too, with one recalling being "pampered like royalty". Tasting menu - $385. Saison, San Francisco. Score – 96 Saison Head Chef Richard Lee is "inspired by the culinary diversity of Northern California and is dedicated to purity and innovation", we're told, with a spokesperson for the two-Michelin-star restaurant adding: "His approach to cooking with live fire is personal and intuitive. And each course rotates with the seasons. 'A few favorites include wild antelope from Broken Arrow ranch in south Texas and rabbit from Pescadero." Tasting menu - $328. Joel Robuchon, Las Vegas. Score – 96 Eating at Joel Robuchon in Las Vegas is no gamble, with Tripadvisor reviewers describing the food here as "sensational" and the service "perfection". Tasting menu - $225. Atomix, New York. Score - 96 A reservation at this Korean restaurant is one of New York's most coveted, according to the Michelin Guide, which awarded it two stars. What can diners expect? "Korean traditions prepared with finesse and flair." Tasting menu - $395. The Inn at Little Washington, Virginia. Score – 96.5 The Inn at Little Washington was once a humble garage and is now, states its website, a "world-renowned culinary destination" with three Michelin stars. What can you expect? The restaurant says: "A dream you don't want to wake up from." Tasting menu - $265. The French Laundry, Yountville, California. Score – 97 Thomas Keller's three-star Napa Valley restaurant is the "perfect storm of restaurant greatness", according to the Michelin Guide, which strongly intimates that diners will be blown away by every course they try. Good luck getting a reservation! Tasting menu - $425. Atelier Crenn, San Francisco. Score – 97 The dairy-free, pescatarian tasting menu by Atelier Crenn head chef Dominique Crenn gets three stars from the Michelin inspectors and a plethora of social media plaudits. One Tripadvisor reviewer describes the menu as "poetic" and "created to inspire your senses". Tasting menu - $475. Daniel, New York. Score – 98.5 This one-star Upper East Side restaurant has been a hotspot for over 30 years, with diners arriving to celebrate special occasions and broker deals, notes the Michelin Guide. What to expect on the food and beverage front? Classic French cuisine and "impressive" wine. Tasting menu - $295. Joint first - SingleThread in Healdsburg, California. Score – 99.5 SingleThread offers three different 10-course menu options - vegetarian, pescatarian and omnivore, which are "tailored to guests' preferences, the season and what is being harvested from the SingleThread farm", the restaurant tells The Independent. Michelin stars? Of course – three of them. The famous guide describes the cooking as "impeccable" and the Sonoma Wine Country location as "bucolic loveliness". It'll take as long to read through the accolades for Le Bernardin and its French head chef, Eric Ripert, as it does to enjoy a meal there. The bite-sized summary for this iconic seafood specialist? It has three Michelin stars, four stars from The New York Times and 75 per cent of Tripadvisor reviews are five-star.
Forbes
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Meghan Markle's Brand Is Already Sold Out—And It's Not Just About Jam
Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex just launched a collection of spreads, teas, and baking mixes that have already sold out—but how people are connecting with her in the kitchen might be the bigger story. Markle's new food and lifestyle brand, As Ever, made its debut this week with the first drop of eight signature products—think raspberry jam in keepsake jars, herbal teas, floral baking mixes, and wildflower honey. Less than a day after the launch was announced, everything on sold out. But this isn't just another high-profile product drop. It's part of her shift into lifestyle through the Netflix series With Love, Meghan, which blends soft-focus cooking, hosting rituals, and warm-toned storytelling. What's more interesting is how people are showing up for it—trying the recipes, baking along with the show, and sharing the results in real-time. This isn't just about merch. The show, which blends slow-living rituals with intentional cooking and gentle storytelling, isn't just giving viewers something to watch—it's giving them permission to slow down and make something. What Markle's doing here isn't just a pivot or a lesson in elegance. For some viewers, it's suggesting that maybe you already have it. The tone of As Ever is notably quiet. No press tour. No massive influencer unboxings (yet). Just a soft rollout: muted pastels, delicate florals, and pantry items that feel like they belong in an actual kitchen, not just a curated flat lay. That's intentional. While it's backed by Netflix's consumer products arm and arrives alongside a glossy new series, the brand's real power is in its emotional pitch. As Ever isn't selling prestige—it's selling a feeling. A moment. Something calm. Something yours. In that way, it's a sharp departure from the royal branding machine Markle left behind. Where the monarchy traffics in duty and distance, this leans all the way into intimacy. It says: come in, have some tea, let's bake. And that's resonating. If you browse the IMDb reviews for With Love, Meghan, the reactions are… mixed. Some viewers find the show overly curated, even 'bland.' Others call it comforting, beautifully shot, and—above all—relatable. One reviewer wrote, 'It's like a Pinterest board, but in the best way.' That's the line Markle seems to be walking. For every criticism about polish, there's someone quietly empowered by what they're seeing. The message isn't 'do it perfectly'—it's 'do it anyway.' Make the thing. Light the candle. Try the focaccia. See what happens. It's a familiar arc. In her early years, Martha Stewart was often knocked for being 'too perfect' or 'too privileged'—a woman selling an aspirational lifestyle that felt out of reach. But over time, her brand became about something else entirely: clarity, consistency, and confidence in the kitchen. She wasn't just showing people how to bake bread. She was giving them permission to try. That's what's happening here. As Ever doesn't land like a prestige product drop—it lands like an invitation. And the fact that everything on sold out in less than 24 hours? That says something. Not just about brand power—but about where we are, culturally, when it comes to food, influence, and what we want from the people who make both. Early adopters aren't just buying the jam—they're watching her show, making her recipes, talking about it, and connecting over it. On Threads, YouTuber and podcast host Tabitha Banks (@TabithaSpeaksPolitics) shared a post about baking her first-ever loaf of focaccia after watching With Love, Meghan: That post has racked up over 17,000 views—and it's not alone. From Twitter to Threads to IMDb, you'll find people talking less about the product and more about the feeling it sparked. Not just 'this looks good,' but 'I could do this too.' It's not a lifestyle brand that's telling people what elegance looks like. It's suggesting that maybe you already have it. When the Duchess of Sussex launched her $14 jar of jam, the internet noticed. The product sold out within hours—prompting admiration, side-eyes, and curiosity in equal measure. But in a country where 1 in 3 Americans lives paycheck to paycheck, it begs the question: who's buying this, and why? It turns out the timing may be exactly right. According to Tastewise, a generative AI consumer insight platform, Meghan's jam taps into a broader cultural moment known as the 'little treat economy.' Tastewise reports a 71% year-over-year increase in mentions of small indulgences, with interest in artisan jams specifically rising by nearly 48%. This isn't just a blip: they predict an 18% growth in these kinds of purchases over the next year. The pattern goes beyond spreads. Gen Z and younger millennials are gravitating toward small, joyful luxuries—matcha lattes (+63%), gourmet chocolates (+31%), artisan coffees (+52%), and mini desserts (+38%)—as ways to create moments of comfort without breaking the bank. Tastewise CEO Alon Chen explains it like this: 'Products like Meghan Markle's jam are part of a larger shift where small indulgences are seen as a cost-effective way to enjoy life's little pleasures, especially in times of economic uncertainty.' But it's not just about the food. It's about what it represents. 'These tiny luxuries,' Chen adds, 'are fueling a special kind of comfort and connection. From afternoon snacks paired with tea and toast to indulgent self-care rituals, they're creating emotionally resonant experiences that feel deeply personal—and deeply needed.' In that way, As Ever isn't just selling jam. It's selling a cultural reset. Of course, not everyone's on board. Reviews of With Love, Meghan on IMDb range from warm to wary, with some critics calling the show overly curated or leaning too far into lifestyle fantasy. But that tension is part of what makes this launch fascinating. Because for every comment about 'Pinterest-core,' there's someone finding the courage to bake something for the first time. There's someone building a Sunday ritual around tea, jam, and stillness. And for a brand like As Ever, that kind of soft engagement—small, sincere, and intentional—might be more powerful than a viral moment. It's not the first time a woman entering the lifestyle space has been met with scrutiny. Martha Stewart faced early critiques for being too polished, too aspirational, too perfect. Yet, over time, she transformed that perception—building trust through consistency, clarity, and a kind of elevated practicality. As Ever may be facing its own set of cultural biases, but the tension is familiar: how do you balance aspiration with relatability without inviting backlash? Whether it's a keepsake jar of jam or a shortbread cookie mix with flower sprinkles, what both women seem to understand is that lifestyle branding isn't just about products—it's about how people feel engaging with them. As Ever isn't selling just raspberry spread or floral shortbread. It's selling a feeling. A way of being. A moment in the day when you pause and do something kind for yourself—or someone else. And in a culture that often asks women to go faster, do more, and present themselves perfectly, the act of cooking something small and lovely—just because—is its own quiet form of resistance. It's not just about jam. It's about how people are showing up for themselves. Like Julia, Nigella, and Martha before her, Markle is showing people they can make something beautiful—even when the world tells them otherwise.
