Ina Garten Facts: 5 Things You Might Not Have Known About the Beloved ‘Barefoot Contessa’ Chef
The celebrity chef behind many of our favorite recipes has had a fascinating life both in and out of the kitchen
Ina Garten, the celebrity chef, cookbook author and host of the Food Network hit Barefoot Contessa from 2002 to 2021, is revered for her delicious recipes and welcoming screen presence. While she’s known for her food, her life outside of the kitchen is almost as interesting as what she does inside it.
Here are five fascinating facts you may not have known about Ina Garten.
1. Ina Garten worked in the White House
Long before she was a chef, Garten worked at the White House and held positions in the Federal Power Commission and Office of Management and Budget from 1974 to 1978. During this time, she was in charge of writing nuclear energy budget and policy papers.
After a few years, Garten grew tired of her prestigious job, saying, “When I worked at the White House, all I wanted to do is have a job where nobody told me what to do and I could wear sneakers to work.”
2. She didn’t come up with the Barefoot Contessa name
At the same time she was working in the White House, Garten was also developing a passion for cooking. When she left her job in 1978, she bought a specialty grocery store in Westhampton, New York.
The store had been named Barefoot Contessa, after the 1954 film of the same name starring Humphrey Bogart and Ava Gardner, by its previous owner. While Garten considered changing the name, she ultimately decided not to, as the store became a success and people started calling Garten the Contessa. The rest is history!
3. Ina Garten has been married for over 50 years
If you’ve watched Barefoot Contessa, you know how important Garten’s husband, Jeffrey, is to her. She’s even written a whole cookbook devoted to his favorite recipes. What you might not realize is just how long Ina and Jeffrey have been together.
Ina met Jeffrey as a teenager, and they married in 1968. Jeffrey has had a long and accomplished career as an economist, and he too has worked in the political realm.
After 56 years, Ina and Jeffrey are still going strong, and Ina has said, “I got very lucky, I really did. A friend of mine says that in any good marriage, each person feels like they get a better deal than the other one. And I think we do feel that.”
4. She has a pilot’s license
The Barefoot Contessa can fly! As a young woman, Garten earned her pilot’s license. At the time, she faced sexism and ran into difficulty finding an instructor who would work with her, but she ultimately prevailed and learned how to fly a plane. As for what motivated her to pursue the license in the first place? Garten said, “My roommate in college was an aerospace engineer. She had a pilot’s license. So I always thought it was very cool.”
5. Ina Garten has never watched her own show
Barefoot Contessa is a Food Network staple that’s had millions of viewers and countless reruns, but Garten herself says she’s never actually watched it. In an interview, she said, “I never watch cooking shows, certainly not mine. Not a chance . . . I think I’m terrible! I’m glad other people like it, that’s all I can say.” We’ll keep watching even if the hostess herself doesn’t!
Read on for more about Ina Garten!
Ina Garten’s Easy Hash Browns Hack Makes ‘Em Fluffy and Crispy Every Time
Ina Garten Adds This Surprising Ingredient to Her Fruit Salad
4 Kitchen Mistakes Ina Garten Says Home Cooks Need to Correct Right Away
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