The Barefoot Contessa and I did not get off to a great start. It was many years ago, shortly after Ina Garten launched Barefoot Contessa on the Food Network. My girlfriend Lori was raving about her, her show and her new cookbook (pictured above). I had never seen the show or the book; it's odd, given that I'm such a foodie, but I really had never heard of her. Lori explained a bit about who she was and that she was a friend of Martha Stewart. Somehow that equated in my brain to a show I had watched a few times that aired in the morning before Martha came on. I really disliked that show, thought the woman hosting was pretentious and phony-casual. And I thought she was Ina Garten. I couldn't understand why my friend liked her so much.
Fast forward a few weeks and I discovered I'd made a big error. The woman in question, the one I disliked, was not Ina Garten. I hunted down the proper show, watched one episode of it, and was hooked. The next time I was at Lori's, I had a look at The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, which Lori had and loved. Hooked again.
Fast forward to now. I have all six of Ina Garten's cookbooks, I believe I have seen every episode of her show, I have her web site bookmarked, and I count many of her recipes as personal favourites, including Rum Raisin Rice Pudding and Broccoli & Bow Ties.
So for this week's A-Z Wednesday Challenge over at Reading at the Beach, how could I not say that B is for Barefoot?
Fast forward a few weeks and I discovered I'd made a big error. The woman in question, the one I disliked, was not Ina Garten. I hunted down the proper show, watched one episode of it, and was hooked. The next time I was at Lori's, I had a look at The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, which Lori had and loved. Hooked again.
Fast forward to now. I have all six of Ina Garten's cookbooks, I believe I have seen every episode of her show, I have her web site bookmarked, and I count many of her recipes as personal favourites, including Rum Raisin Rice Pudding and Broccoli & Bow Ties.
So for this week's A-Z Wednesday Challenge over at Reading at the Beach, how could I not say that B is for Barefoot?
4 comments:
Ina also has an apartment in Paris. I tried to spot her every day, as we were actually in her neighborhood. I have never tried an "Ina" recipe that didn't work. Love that woman!
Now you're making me hungry! Rice Pudding!!!!
Love that woman too. My son always says she must be good, look at the size of her.
I've watched her show a few times and liked her recipes. I might have to get her book!!
Thanks for joining A-Z Wednesday
My husband and I just started watching the Food Network. Ina is one of my favorite shows on there.
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