Ina Garten facts for kids

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Ina Garten

Garten in 2024
Born	Ina Rosenberg (1948-02-02) February 2, 1948 (age 77) New York City, U.S.
Education	Syracuse University George Washington University School of Business
Spouse	Jeffrey Garten ​ (m. 1968)​
Television show(s) Barefoot Contessa Be My Guest

Ina Rosenberg Garten, born on February 2, 1948, is a famous American TV cook and author. She is well-known for hosting the Food Network show Barefoot Contessa. Before becoming a cooking star, she even worked for the United States government!

Ina is loved for her delicious recipes like Perfect Roast Chicken and French Apple Tart. Her journey into cooking began with her own gourmet food store called Barefoot Contessa. From there, she became a best-selling author of cookbooks, wrote for magazines, and hosted her popular TV show.

Ina's Early Life

Ina Rosenberg was born in Brooklyn, New York City, into a Jewish family. Her grandparents came to the United States from Russia. She grew up in Stamford, Connecticut, with her parents and an older sibling. Her father, Charles H. Rosenberg, was a surgeon, and her mother, Florence, was a dietitian.

Ina's mother encouraged her to focus on schoolwork instead of cooking. However, Ina found that her scientific way of thinking, which helped her in school, also helped her experiment with recipes. Both her parents were surprised when she decided to work in food, but they later supported her.

When she was 15, Ina met her future husband, Jeffrey Garten, during a trip to Dartmouth College. After high school, she studied economics at Syracuse University and later earned her MBA from George Washington University School of Business.

Ina's Career Journey

Ina and Jeffrey Garten got married on December 22, 1968. They soon moved to Fort Bragg, North Carolina. While Jeffrey served in the military during the Vietnam War, Ina started cooking and entertaining to pass the time. She even earned her pilot's license!

After Jeffrey's military service, they took a four-month camping trip in Europe. This trip, especially their time in France, made Ina fall in love with French cuisine. She discovered open-air markets and fresh ingredients. When they returned to the U.S., she improved her cooking skills by studying famous cookbooks like Mastering the Art of French Cooking.

In 1972, Ina and Jeffrey moved to Washington, D.C.. Ina worked for the government, first at the Federal Power Commission and then at the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). She even helped write important papers about nuclear energy for presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter.

While working at OMB, Ina also taught herself more about cooking and entertaining. She bought and fixed up old houses in Washington, D.C. She used the money she made from selling these houses to buy her next big adventure: a specialty food store.

The Barefoot Contessa Store

In 1978, Ina decided to leave her government job. She saw an advertisement for a small specialty food store called Barefoot Contessa in Westhampton Beach, New York. She felt her government job wasn't truly "her."

She bought the store and moved to New York, often working 12-hour days. The store was named by its first owner after a 1954 movie starring Ava Gardner. Ina kept the name because it fit her idea of an "elegant but earthy" lifestyle.

Three years later, Ina moved Barefoot Contessa to a bigger location. In 1985, she opened a second store in East Hampton. This new location was much larger, growing from 400 square feet to over 3,000 square feet. The store became famous for its delicious foods like lobster Cobb salad and imported cheeses.

Many famous people, like Steven Spielberg, loved the shop. In 1996, after running Barefoot Contessa for two decades, Ina sold the store to two of her employees. She kept ownership of the building.

After selling the store, Ina took a year off to think about her next steps. She built an office above the store and explored new business ideas. Her website, Barefoot Contessa, also became popular, selling coffee and other items online.

The Barefoot Contessa store became a famous spot in East Hampton. In 2003, director Nancy Meyers even used it as a set for the movie Something's Gotta Give. The store closed permanently in 2003 when its lease ended.

Barefoot Contessa Cookbooks

Garten at a book signing

In 1999, Ina Garten started a new chapter: publishing. Her first cookbook, The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, became a huge success. It contained the recipes that made her store so popular. She sold over 100,000 copies in the first year!

She followed up with Barefoot Contessa Parties! in 2001 and Barefoot Contessa Family Style in 2002. Both books were very popular. Her first two cookbooks were even nominated for prestigious James Beard Awards.

Ina's cookbooks are known for their many colorful photos, with a full-page picture for almost every recipe. As of 2023, Ina Garten has published thirteen cookbooks, selling more than 14 million copies. Her book Barefoot Contessa, Go-To Dinners became a number one bestseller in 2023.

Some groups have pointed out that her recipes often use rich ingredients like butter and cream. However, many people love her food for its delicious flavors.

Barefoot Contessa on Food Network

After the success of her cookbooks, Ina was asked to host her own TV cooking show on Food Network. She had tried filming a show before, but it didn't feel right with a big crew. However, when a London-based company offered a show with a smaller, more relaxed setup, she agreed.

The show, Barefoot Contessa, premiered in 2002 and was a big hit. It often features her husband, Jeffrey, and their friends. The show has about one million viewers per episode and is one of Food Network's most popular programs.

In 2009, Ina won her first Daytime Emmy Award for Best Culinary Host. She signed a new contract with Food Network to continue her show and release more cookbooks. Ina has been offered many other business opportunities, like her own magazine or furniture line, but she has chosen to keep her life simpler.

In 2022, Ina launched a new show called Be My Guest on Discovery+ and Food Network. On this show, she invites celebrities to visit her.

Barefoot Contessa Pantry

In 2006, Ina Garten launched her own line of packaged foods called Barefoot Contessa Pantry. This included cake mixes, marinades, sauces, and preserves. These convenient foods were based on her most popular recipes, like coconut cupcakes and maple oatmeal scones. These products were sold in fancy cooking and gourmet stores.

Other Publications

Ina has written several columns for magazines. She wrote "Entertaining." for O, The Oprah Magazine and "Ask the Barefoot Contessa." for House Beautiful. In these columns, she shared cooking, entertaining, and lifestyle tips with her readers.

Her recipes have been featured in other cookbooks, too. For Thanksgiving 2010, Google even featured her recipes on their homepage! In June 2012, she started a Facebook blog and quickly gained over 100,000 followers. In 2019, she shared her potato latke recipe for a children's book called Goodnight Bubbala.

Awards and Honors

In 2021, Ina Garten was recognized by Forbes magazine on their "50 Over 50" list. This list celebrates successful entrepreneurs, leaders, scientists, and creators who are over 50 years old.

Ina's Personal Life

Ina's husband, Jeffrey Garten, held important government positions. He was the Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade from 1993 to 1995. He also served as the dean of the Yale School of Management from 1995 to 2005. Jeffrey often appears on Ina's cooking show, helping her or tasting her dishes. They split their time living in Manhattan, East Hampton, and Paris.

Ina has generally kept her political views private. She has contributed to the presidential campaigns of several politicians.

Ina also served on the Design Review Board for East Hampton. This group helps decide on building permits and approves how buildings look in the village. Their goal is to protect the historic areas and keep the village looking beautiful.

Ina Garten wrote a memoir with Deborah Davis called Be Ready When the Luck Happens, which was published in October 2024.

Ina's Works

Books

• The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook (1999)
• Barefoot Contessa Parties! Ideas and Recipes For Easy Parties That Are Really Fun (2001)
• Barefoot Contessa Family Style: Easy Ideas and Recipes That Make Everyone Feel Like Family (2002)
• Barefoot in Paris: Easy French Food You Can Make at Home (2004)
• Barefoot Contessa at Home: Everyday Recipes You'll Make Over and Over Again (2006)
• Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics: Fabulous Flavor from Simple Ingredients (2008)
• Barefoot Contessa: How Easy Is That? (2010)

Magazine Columns

• "Entertaining is Fun!" (Martha Stewart Living 1999–present)
• "Entertaining." (O, The Oprah Magazine 2003–present)
• "Ask the Barefoot Contessa." (House Beautiful 2006–present)

Television

• From Martha's Kitchen: Ina Garten's Kitchen Clambake (2000)
• Barefoot Contessa (2002–2021)
• Chefography (2006-2010)
• 30 Rock (2010-2011)
• Be My Guest (2022–present)

See also

In Spanish: Ina Garten para niños