In a revealing interview with PBS, Ina Garten once candidly confessed, “Cooking’s hard for me.” This admission may come as a surprise to many of her followers, shedding light on the secret behind her preference for simple recipes and her approachable demeanor.
Despite any insecurities she may harbor as a cook, Garten’s recipes consistently deliver delicious results, endearing her to fans who appreciate her authenticity. By openly acknowledging her challenges in the kitchen, she allows others to see themselves in her, creating a genuine connection with her audience.
Yet, Garten’s culinary struggles are just one facet of her multi-faceted personality. Despite living in the public eye, she continues to captivate and intrigue with lesser-known aspects of her life. With a rich and varied career, there are undoubtedly numerous fascinating tidbits about the Contessa that may have slipped through the cracks. Thus, it’s worthwhile to delve deeper into some of these potential surprises, uncovering 12 remarkable facts about Garten that might astonish even her most devoted fans.
Ina Garten met her husband when she was 15
Ina Garten’s love story with her husband, Jeffrey, began at a young age when they met at 15 and married just five years later. Their enduring partnership has spanned over 50 years, marked by unwavering support and mutual inspiration. During a transformative trip through France, Ina’s passion for French cooking was ignited, setting the stage for her future career as the Barefoot Contessa.
Jeffrey played a pivotal role in her culinary journey, serving as her chief taste tester and later encouraging her to pursue her dream of owning a shop.
Their bond was tested when Ina opened her store, The Barefoot Contessa, leading to periods of separation as Jeffrey commuted between Washington, D.C., and the Hamptons to support her endeavors. Despite the challenges, their relationship remained steadfast, with Jeffrey making appearances on her show and becoming the central figure in her cookbook, “Cooking for Jeffrey.” Their story exemplifies a deep and enduring partnership built on love, encouragement, and shared dreams.
Her mom discouraged her from learning to cook
Contrary to the assumption that Ina Garten was born with a spatula in hand, her culinary journey began with reluctance from her dietician mother, who prioritized her daughter’s studies overcooking. Growing up, Ina’s family meals were far from the indulgent dishes she’s now famous for; her mother’s health-conscious approach meant delicious carbs and decadent desserts were off the menu.
Despite this upbringing, Ina’s passion for cooking blossomed after marriage, leading her to explore the culinary world without formal training. Inspired by Julia Child’s cookbooks, she embarked on a journey of self-discovery in the kitchen, finding her voice and purpose as a cook along the way. Beyond merely enjoying the taste of food, Ina cherishes the social connections it fosters.
For her, cooking is about more than just creating delicious dishes; it’s a means of nurturing relationships and fostering meaningful connections with others.
She began her career in nuclear energy policy
In the 1970s, Ina Garten embarked on her career journey, breaking traditional gender norms by working as a budgeting analyst in the White House under Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter. Her role at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission overseeing the budget for U.S. nuclear policy was unconventional for women of her time. In an era when female representation in sciences and big business was limited, Garten’s career path defied expectations, offering a glimpse into a shifting landscape for women in the workforce.
Reflecting on her early career experiences, Garten acknowledged the dearth of female role models in professional spheres, particularly in positions like hers at the White House. She recalled a prevailing societal notion that women aspired to emulate their husbands or fathers, with her own husband working in the State Department. Despite these challenges, Garten’s trailblazing journey underscores her resilience and determination to carve out her own path in a traditionally male-dominated field.
Her food career started with an ad
In a plot twist reminiscent of a fantasy novel, Ina Garten stumbled upon her dream shop, The Barefoot Contessa, while perusing ads in the New York Times. The advertisement offered her the opportunity to own her own “magic kingdom” — a 400-foot specialty food store in the Hamptons. With her husband Jeffrey’s support, they embarked on a journey to West Hampton, a place she had never visited before, to inspect the shop.
To Garten’s astonishment, her low offer to the shopkeeper was accepted on the spot, setting the stage for a new chapter in her life. With determination and enthusiasm, she immersed herself in learning every aspect of running the store, infusing it with the joyful and inviting atmosphere she envisioned. For nearly 20 years, Garten embraced the daily grind of baking, cleaning, and managing, honing her skills and laying the groundwork for her future endeavors.
Ultimately, her experience at The Barefoot Contessa proved to be invaluable training for her transition into becoming a successful cookbook writer.
She thought she could learn the food business in a month
Ina Garten’s optimism was put to the test when she purchased the specialty food store in the Hamptons. Despite making a deal with the previous owner to train for just a month, Garten soon realized the enormity of the task at hand. With no prior experience in the food industry or managing employees, she found herself in uncharted territory. However, her husband Jeffrey’s wise counsel served as a guiding light, reminding her that mastery takes time and persistence.
Recognizing the need to refocus her efforts, Garten embraced the challenge with determination and resilience. Although initially overwhelmed, she navigated the complexities of running the business, ultimately mastering its intricacies over time. Her journey underscores the power of optimism and perseverance in overcoming obstacles and achieving success.
Doing her TV show supports her cookbook-writing
For Ina Garten, her true passion lies in cookbook writing, a role she identifies with most strongly. While she hosted her cooking show, “The Barefoot Contessa,” for nearly two decades, it primarily served as a platform to showcase the recipes featured in her beloved cookbooks. All her TV appearances, monthly magazine columns—including those for celebrities like Oprah and Martha Stewart—and public engagements are essentially promotions for her cookbook business.
When it comes to crafting her books, Garten dedicates considerable time to recipe development. She starts by observing culinary trends and gathering ideas from acquaintances. From these inspirations, Garten innovates on traditional recipes, often refining them through as many as 25 iterations to ensure they reflect her unique style. After finalizing the recipes, she tasks an assistant with cooking them based on her instructions, meticulously refining the directions until they are clear and accessible to any reader. This meticulous process ensures that each recipe bears Garten’s distinctive touch, inviting readers to recreate her culinary creations with ease.
Ina Garten believed her work life was over at 50
Ina Garten’s story serves as a testament to the potential for reinvention and success in life’s second act. At the age of 50, feeling disillusioned with her career running The Barefoot Contessa store, Garten believed her best years were behind her. However, destiny had other plans for her.
After selling her store to two employees, Garten found herself with a year of leisure, but soon grew restless with idleness. Seeking a new purpose, she embarked on writing her first cookbook, driven by her vision of creating a cookbook she would personally love.
Over two years, Garten dedicated herself to testing recipes, writing, and photography, resulting in a collection of 75 recipes that would lay the foundation for her Barefoot Contessa cookbook series. This initial venture blossomed into a thriving industry and garnered a global following, including notable admirers like singer Taylor Swift. Garten’s journey exemplifies the power of embracing change and pursuing one’s passions, no matter the stage of life.
She treated her first cookbook like a business
Ina Garten’s entry into the cookbook business was bolstered by her MBA from George Washington University and nearly two decades of experience in the specialty food industry. However, despite her background, Garten initially hesitated to venture into cookbook writing. The overwhelming number of cookbooks already on the market seemed daunting, leading her to question her ability to stand out.
Nevertheless, Garten approached the project with a determination to excel, committing to give her best effort. Funding the endeavor largely from her own resources, she even hired her publicist and photographer, taking control of the promotional aspects herself. Following advice from Martha Stewart, Garten engaged in personal book signings at bookstores, a strategy that yielded promising results when she discovered her books had sold out on one such occasion in Newport, California.
This early success proved to be a turning point, as Garten’s debut cookbook sold over 100,000 copies in its first year, exceeding expectations and catapulting her into a new chapter of her career. Despite initial doubts, Garten’s dedication and entrepreneurial spirit paved the way for her remarkable success in the cookbook industry.
Fun and recreation requires a lot of planning for Ina Garten
Despite their busy schedules, planning vacations for Ina Garten and her husband requires at least a year of preparation. However, this doesn’t mean they haven’t spent significant time apart during their 50-plus-year marriage. Jeffrey’s military service led him to distant locations such as Thailand and Japan, necessitating periods of separation from their shared life. Additionally, Ina’s pursuit of her professional endeavors, including the opening of her store, required them to live apart temporarily.
Their early years together included a transformative camping trip in France during the 1970s, where they lived frugally on $5 a day and immersed themselves in French cuisine with fellow campers in Normandy. This experience ignited Ina’s passion for French meals and cooking. In later years, they traded camping tents for an apartment in Paris, lovingly refurbished by Ina during Jeffrey’s absences. This Parisian abode serves as a cherished retreat where they reconnect a few times each year, fostering creativity and providing inspiration for Ina’s future projects.
The Barefoot Contessa shoots her TV show in a renovated barn
Ina Garten faced a unique challenge during the early seasons of her show, “The Barefoot Contessa” on the Food Network: having a film crew invade her personal spaces for eight weeks at a time, twice a year. Eventually, she realized the need for her own studio space to reclaim her home’s privacy and functionality. The opportunity arose in 2006 when the property next door became available. Garten seized it, purchasing the property and establishing a dedicated studio space just steps away from her residence.
The studio, nestled across the back lawn from her home, boasts impressive features including an 18-foot marble countertop, a spacious dining table, and state-of-the-art cooking equipment that would delight any food enthusiast. Here, Garten collaborates with her assistants on new recipes, draws inspiration from her extensive cookbook collection, and dedicates time to writing. Additionally, the cooking barn serves as the nerve center for other aspects of her business, including planning and social media activities, allowing Garten to seamlessly integrate her passion for cooking with her professional endeavors.
The Food Network had to beg to get her to do a show
Contrary to what one might expect, having her TV show on the Food Network wasn’t initially Ina Garten’s dream. Despite the network’s persistent requests, she repeatedly turned down the opportunity, doubting anyone would want to watch her on TV. However, she eventually relented, and in 2002, “The Barefoot Contessa” show premiered, named after her beloved food store. The show quickly garnered a massive following, bolstering sales of her cookbooks and vice versa. Over the past two decades, Garten has become a household name, with 13 successful cookbooks to her credit.
She also has a pilot’s license
Ina Garten’s list of accomplishments is nothing short of extraordinary. Not only has she worked in the White House and built her own food empire, but she’s also a licensed pilot. The story of how she earned her pilot’s license is as remarkable as it is unexpected.
Back in the early years of her marriage to Jeffrey, they lived across from an airport. Intrigued by the idea of flying, Garten approached the airport staff to inquire about lessons. However, she was met with resistance as they claimed they didn’t teach women how to fly. Undeterred, Garten insisted, saying, “Well, then, find somebody.” Despite the initial setback, she persevered.
Her flying lessons were largely smooth, except for one incident where she inadvertently taxied onto the runway without permission and narrowly avoided being hit by a helicopter’s blades. The tower’s response? A simple “Student pilot!” comment. Despite the mishap, Garten earned her pilot’s license, adding another impressive feat to her already illustrious resume.