Although Ina Garten and Jeffrey have been blissfully married for almost 54 years, their first date was not that romantic. She joked on Wednesday’s episode of “The Drew Barrymore Show” that “it was a disaster.”
Ina revealed that she first connected with Jeffrey through a friend while both were still in high school and both were enrolled at Hanover, New Hampshire’s Dartmouth College.
Ina Garten and Jeffrey’s First Date
Ina stated, “(Jeffrey) had seen me going around the Dartmouth campus and he asked the friend if he could phone me. So, when he called, Ina had no idea who he was; all she knew was that he was a buddy of a friend.
Since he is a Dartmouth student, she reasoned that he probably wanted to go out to a bar or something. Since she had never been to a bar before, Garten suggested going to Hilltop as if she had done so frequently.
Ina said she was able to maintain a “completely cool” under pressure attitude until the couple needed to enter the building. Nevertheless, her attempt to play it cool backfired when she got asked for her ID.
As they entered there were two large men at the door. They were speaking in a language she couldn’t understand, so when Jeffrey eventually said, “They want your ID,” she asked him, “What’s that?”
When she was 16 years old, she had no knowledge that a person needed a fake ID to enter a bar.
They turned around and went, leaving Ina probably feeling embarrassed. Yet, Jeffrey’s response to the incident was charming. Yet, their first date ended happily.
Ina said that on their first date, Jeffrey initiated contact and they had their first kiss “in front of her house, in the car, when Ina thought he was never going to see him again.”
When they first met, Ina recalled asking Jeffrey, “What did you think, like why did you want to take me out again?” Many years later. Barrymore called Ina back. “I assumed you needed taking care of,” Jeffrey remarked.
Ina and Jeffrey’s Marriage
Ina and Jeffrey got married in 1968, and Ina claims that their 1971 European road trip strengthened their relationship. They have been connected for more than 50 years, and it only gets stronger.
Ina wrote to Jeffrey in a birthday Instagram post last year, “I’ve loved you for more than 50 years, and I’m just getting started.
Over the years, Jeffrey and Ina have shared many adorable moments together, as well as some weird ones when Jeffrey mistakenly sent a steamy message to Ina’s publicist instead of her.
Ina’s 2016 book “Cooking for Jeffrey” featured some of her favorite dishes she’s prepared for her partner.