No really. She is. The post title sounds like it’s a crazy big deal…like Santa’s coming to town. Ina is bigger than Santa. She is coming to town. It is a Crazy BIG deal. Listen, if Santa needed to throw party you know Mrs. Claus would be all over her Ina cookbooks looking for easy, crowd pleasing recipes for her North Pole entertaining. Mrs. Claus probably packs Santa’s Christmas Eve road trip, bento box with Ina’s Roasted Shrimp Orzo Salad and a slice of Betty’s chocolate cake.
Listen up local foodies, Ina will be visiting the local Berks County area on November 13th AND it gets better… I have 2 tickets to giveaway! (I may have other tricks up my sleeve. Be sure to “never miss a recipe or event” and “sign up for my blog posts”… on my home page, top left column)
I grew up on Ina, early in my adulthood. She gave this first generation Greek girl the reassurance that mastering uncomplicated recipes can be the highlight of a quiet dinner or celebration meal. We embraced local foods before it became a trend. I remember her 1st cookbook and can still see it on the table in the small midwest gift shop. I was a college student and didn’t have the cash to buy it but dreamed of owning it one day. Oddly, it’s the one cookbook of hers I still don’t own.
My Aunt Margie could throw dinner parties to make her proud and lit a fire in me as a young girl. Little did I know Ina was also an inspiration to my Aunt. My Aunt-in-Law, Lonna, is a member of a Contessa Cookbook Club, which I think is so cute. (we already bought our tickets…we’re going together) So, like many, there is lots of Ina in my life.
Much more than the kitchen-spiration is her story as a woman redefining her career. It was about 8 years ago, with the support of my most darling Dan, that I made the leap into Phoebe’s Pure Food.
This is my favorite Ina cookbook for two reasons. First, it was a gift from my Aunt Margie. Second, for the basic but lovely recipes hand marked with successes or adaptions. I saved the card my Aunt sent with the book.
Ticket Giveaway
WE HAVE A WINNER : Glenna Seelig!! Yeah for you. Please email me and let me know how you would like your tickets sent.
DON’T be discouraged if you didn’t win (this time) just stay tuned I’ve got other Ina tricks up my sleeves! This was a fun dialogue and I loved hearing your thoughts about Barefoot Contessa. Thank you for taking the time to visit and chit chat!
Here are the details on the event
Ina Garten
Date: Wednesday Nov 13, 2013
Time: 07:30 pm
Venue: Sovereign Performing Arts Center
Tickets: $59.75 & $49.75
(Additional Fees may Apply)
Ina Garten’s first book, The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, was published in 1999 and was one of the best selling cookbooks of the year. She has since gone on to write several phenomenally successful cookbooks, including Barefoot Contessa Parties!, Barefoot Contessa Family Style, Barefoot in Paris, Barefoot Contessa at Home, and Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics. Her current book, Barefoot Contessa, How Easy is That?, was published in the fall of 2010 and became an instant bestseller.
Garten has been a monthly columnist at House Beautiful and in prior years at Martha Stewart Living, and O, the Oprah magazine. Her latest book is Foolproof (Fall 2012).
Tickets are available at the VF Outlet Box Office at the Sovereign Center, all Ticketmaster Outlets, charge by phone at 800.745.3000 or at Ticketmaster.com
Danelle Kriest-Reifsneider says
Okay how to eat healthy and with zero allergens for Eric on a budget. He has so many allergies it is so hard to find great things to make without putting something in he can not eat.
Sabrina says
Ina: If there was one place on earth you could live forever, where would it be and why?
Hannah Cerynik says
When I need inspiration to cook near dinner time, I like to turn on the Food Network to catch Ina’s show. Ina Garten, where do you get YOUR inspiration to cook?
karen says
with a big family we are allways looking of ways to eat healthy and save money,, And Because we have a few family members that are over weight i love some new tips on how to eat things that are better for us,,
Sandy Bird says
What inspires me about Ina is her philosophy of cooking is realtime cooking techniques that i can relate to as a working mom with otstanding ingredients.
Tracy Beaky says
I can remember when I learned the trick for seeding tomatoes without cutting them up – it was a huge culinary ah-ha moment for me! Would love to know Ina’s best culinary ah-ha moment – either one she experienced or one she shares that makes people go “oh yea! good to know!”
Janet Hurlbrink says
My favorite recipe is the Pasta with Bolognese sauce. It really is so easy, you will never open a jar of pasta sauce again after trying this recipe. Even my son is now making it, it’s so simple, but more importantly so much healthier and better tasting than any prepared sauce in the grocery store.
Lonna says
Does Jeffrey have an eligible brother??? (I already have my ticket )
Phoebe says
oh my … you are nuts, Aunt-in-Law, Lonna!!! we’ll have to uncover that
Penmerry says
I couldn’t pick just one recipe, but what inspires me about Ina is how welcoming she is. I love that she gives you an eye into her home and what she puts into every thought and detail in preparing a meal from the heart.
Diana McCoy says
I’d like to know time-saving tips to make great meals for my busy family. I never seem to have much time to shop and cook dinner. My favorite go-to recipe is her Panzanella which I tore out of a magazine years back. Love it in the summer! It just tastes and looks like summer–fresh, vibrant and full of flavor!
Gretchen maser says
I’d ask what prompted her to write her first cook book. As foodies, on all different levels, what was it that tripped her trigger to put it in a book.
My fav Ina recipe is her Lemon Curd. Simple, easy, elegant, good on its own or as an ingredient in something amazing.
Emily says
Ina: Your home is so beautiful! Would you consider cooking on TV from another spot (secret vacation home?) and if so where? I like seeing the interplay between Ina and Jeffery, its so light-hearted and without any irony!
Linda L. Seidel says
The best chicken recipe in the whole world is Ina’s roasted chicken with lemon and garlic. Wow! In all fairness, I’ve never made a recipe of her’s that wasn’t great. I’d like to know what is her favorite comfort food recipe?
Christine Petrow says
I would ask Ina how to incorporate veggies into dishes that even picky children will eat!
azeiders says
My favorite recipe is a toss up between her roasted rack of lamb and her perfect roast chicken.
Like the above post, I would also love some of her input on cooking well rounded and balanced meals for a family with food allergies!
sarah says
Ins: if you could have anyone cook a meal for you, who would it be?
Kristen Lefever-Schuller says
While I use mostly local seasonal ingredients, I often find myself cooking those ingredients the same way over and over again, how do you break out of a cooking “rut”?
Missy yanchuck says
I love Ina, because of all the celebrity foodies, she cooks food that is delicious yet simple-you never feel that her recipes cross over to frou-frou, or strange…”just ” delicious!!
Lucine Mackow says
Ina, if you were on iron chef, who would you want your contender to be?!
Heather S says
Ina, my husband is always telling me he wishes that he was your husband Jeffrey, what is your secret to a long marriage and a full, happy life?
lisa genoese-fulmer says
As an unemployed chef, I always use you recipes as inspiration to create delicious meals for my family friends and clients. You are such an inspiration!
Phoebe says
That is so kind! thank you for your inspiration!
Tamara King says
I would like to know if making delicious simple dishes has always come easy to her or if its something that she has had to work on and who her inspiration is.
Wray Sargent says
My favorite recipe by Ina is the Panna cotta with balsamic berries. What I’m really wondering is, does Ina really go around barefoot? I ask this because I rarely wear shoes and find it very liberating!!! Creativity flows so much better when our feet are free!!!
My son is a third year culinary student and modeled his signature dish after the panna cotta recipe! It would be his dream to be at this event!!!!
Glenna Seelig says
Everything I cook has Ina inspiration in it. I have been watching her for years…long before I even knew her name (I just called her the Contessa). She inspires me every time I watch her to try new things. Different vegetables and protein sources, different ways to prepare, and even making me think I could actually have green thumbs to grow my own herbs, all the while making it seem as if I really could do it all in my own kitchen! We all know how much she loves cooking, and I love the interaction with Jeffrey; but I would love to know what Ina does on her own time for Ina. <3
Chris Gromlowicz says
Congratulations, Glenna!! I know you will love seeing the Contessa..
Suzanne Graul says
Love all her books but fave recipe is Coconut Macaroons –always a huge hit!!! Ina always makes cooking look so easy and her recipes reflect that simplicity while being elegant at the same time.
Jaime Trupp says
Ina, who is your favorite chef and why?
1770 House mealoaf, crispy English potatoes and juice of a few flowers drink – delicious!
3D cakes in Pune says
Good work, I love your book and also your all recipe…thanks for sharing such a wonderful post with us..
Regina Rinehimer says
I would love to know what Ina would recommend to a person that loves to cook (it is relaxing!) but works “away from the kitchen” (in an office) and would really appreciate how to make it easier to “get back in” the kitchen. Being in the kitchen is kind of like my safety zone too…so any ideas that she has to make it easier for those with the “want” but not the time. Thank you!