“Pick something you love to do….if you love it, you’ll be really good at it.”
– Jeffrey Garten
I recently listened to Ina Garten’s wonderful memoir, “Be Ready When the Luck Happens.” It is narrated by the author herself, and includes a .pdf of the photos and a few of her classic recipes that are featured in the hard copy.
Who is Ina Garten?
Even if you’ve never watched her show on the Food Network (The Barefoot Contessa), you have no doubt seen her in the news or come across her cookbooks. She is a self-taught cook who presents beautiful meals that strike the perfect balance between elegant and casual. She breaks down the full meal preparation, cooking, and presentation process into manageable steps that her viewers and readers will easily understand.
Her Early Years
Like most memoirs, she discusses her childhood and how it impacted her decisions later in life. I was expecting to read about an early love of food and cooking. I thought she would recount happy food-related memories of holidays and gatherings with family. It is surprising how little food and cooking featured in her youth.
She describes the sadness she felt throughout her formative years, and explains her complicated relationship with her hard-to-please parents.
Of course, her husband Jeffrey is a feature of her narrative. If you are a fan of The Barefoot Contessa, then you are likely a fan of Jeffrey’s as well. #RelationshipGoals! They met and married when they were so young. She frankly discusses the joys and the challenges they experienced in the early years of marriage while they pursued their own ambitions.
It is after she was married that she begins to enjoy cooking and entertaining – although that did not immediately impact her career.
Her Career and Fame
“The only good thing about having a low threshold for boredom is that I’ve always been willing to take crazy risks just to get out of that miserable state.”
– Ina Garten
Ina Garten’s career is so interesting because she did not follow a linear path. After college, she worked for the US government in Washington D.C. Leaving a stable job and relocating by herself to run a food business on Long Island, New York was such a radical choice at that time.
Over the course of the book, you will learn about the challenges, stresses and surprises she encountered while building The Barefoot Contessa. Her brand is still constantly evolving – always embracing new ventures, from television to Instagram.
Final Thoughts
Ina Garten built The Barefoot Contessa empire while taking risks and remaining true to herself. Her memoir is a great read for her fans. But it’s also for people seeking inspiration. Ina Garten is a perfect example for living a life that wanders off the beaten path.
The Barefoot Contessa Cookbooks
Although there are thirteen cookbooks in The Barefoot Contessa’s catalogue, I have four at the moment (with more to come I am sure). I regularly reach for any one of these when I am cooking for others, or when I spend a Sunday afternoon preparing my meals for the upcoming work week.
- Foolproof: Recipes You Can Trust. This was my first Barefoot Contessa cookbook. The pumpkin cupcakes with maple frosting is my go-to when I am a dinner guest during the autumn months.
- Make It Ahead: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook. As the name suggests, this book is really helpful when you are trying to cook for a group while still enjoying their company!
- Barefoot Contessa at Home: Everyday Recipes You’ll Make Over and Over Again. The title says it all and does not disappoint!
- Barefoot in Paris: Easy French Food You Can Make at Home. I am drawn to anything Parisian-themed, although I have not traveled there yet! The Gartens have an apartment in Paris and I loved reading about their journey to become Parisian homeowners.
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