Ina Garten, the beloved host of 'Barefoot Contessa,' reflects on her culinary journey, emphasizing her preference for cooking in solitude despite her warm public persona. She shares insights from her memoir 'Be Ready When the Luck Happens,' detailing her early kitchen experiences and the personal joys of cooking. Meanwhile, Alex Barasch explores the alluring world of erotic thrillers, inspired by the film 'Baby Girl,' discussing themes of power and desire while examining the genre's evolution and cultural significance.
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Dreaded Dinners
Ina Garten dreaded dinnertime growing up because her mother, a dietician, wasn't interested in food.
Meals lacked joy, featuring plain dishes like broiled chicken and canned vegetables, especially the dreaded Harvard beets.
question_answer ANECDOTE
A Lonely Childhood
Garten wasn't allowed to cook as a child; her mother wanted her to study.
This isolation led to her current love for cooking for others and connecting with people.
insights INSIGHT
Solo Cooking
Despite enjoying company, Garten prefers to cook alone.
She finds cooking challenging and needs space to concentrate to ensure good results.
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In 'Be Ready When the Luck Happens,' Ina Garten shares her life story, from a challenging childhood to her marriage with Jeffrey and her journey to becoming the Barefoot Contessa. The memoir details her transition from a job in the White House to owning a specialty food store in the Hamptons, and eventually becoming a bestselling cookbook author and celebrated television host. Garten's story is filled with advice on relationships, business partnerships, and pursuing one's dreams, emphasizing the importance of hard work, tenacity, and doing what you love[1][2][3].
Mastering the Art of French Cooking
Julia Child
Louisette Bertholle
Simone Beck
This groundbreaking cookbook, written by Julia Child, Simone Beck, and Louisette Bertholle, is a definitive guide to French cuisine for American readers. Published in two volumes, the first in 1961 and the second in 1970, it includes 781 recipes that range from historic Gallic masterpieces to simple dishes like spring-green peas. The book emphasizes accurate instructions, measurements, and authenticity, with over 100 instructive illustrations to guide readers. It breaks down French cooking into logical sequences of themes and variations, making it accessible to both beginners and seasoned cooks. The success of this book led to Julia Child's television career and significantly influenced American culinary culture[2][4][5].
The New York Times Menu Cook Book
Craig Claiborne
First published in 1961, 'The New York Times Cook Book' is a classic cookbook that has sold nearly three million copies. It includes a wide range of recipes using fresh herbs, food processor techniques, and dishes from twenty countries. The book covers sauces, salad dressings, relishes, preserves, and numerous desserts. The recipes are clearly presented and suitable for family meals as well as formal dinner parties.
With the Food Network program “Barefoot Contessa,” Ina Garten became a beloved household name. An essential element of her success is her confiding, authentic warmth—her encouragement for even the most novice home cook. Garten is “the real deal,” in the opinion of David Remnick, who has known her and her husband for many years. Although she is a gregarious teacher and presence on television, Garten prefers to do her actual cooking alone. “Cooking’s hard for me. I mean, I do it a lot, but it’s really hard and I just love having the space to concentrate on what I’m doing, so I make sure it comes out well,” she says. Garten joins Remnick to reflect on her early days in the kitchen, and to answer listener questions about holiday meals and more. Her latest book is “Be Ready When the Luck Happens,” a memoir.
This segment originally aired on December 16, 2022.
Plus, Alex Barasch picks three of the best erotic thrillers after being inspired to study the genre by his recent Profile of the director of the new film, “Babygirl.”
The New Yorker Radio Hour 
