Famous chef and cookbook author, Ina Garten, talks about her recent cookbook, her recipes during the pandemic, building her food empire, her journey from the White House to her own cooking show, her recipe creation process, meeting her husband, and her latest show on the Food Network.
Ina Garten's 'Go to Dinners' cookbook showcases her approachability and dedication to creating accessible and enjoyable meals.
During the pandemic, Garten simplified her meals, introducing breakfast and lunch for dinner and experimenting with hearty soups and readily available ingredients.
Deep dives
Ina Garten's latest book, 'Go to Dinners' focuses on easy and crowd-pleasing recipes
Ina Garten's 13th book, 'Go to Dinners,' offers a collection of recipes that she considers her go-to meals. These recipes are ones that Garten has made repeatedly for their great taste and appeal to a wide range of people. The book includes dishes that are both delicious and easy to make, with some surprising flavor combinations. Garten shares that even after writing numerous cookbooks, there are certain recipes she continues to go back to, like her apple tart and roast chicken. 'Go to Dinners' highlights Garten's approachability and dedication to creating accessible and enjoyable meals.
The pandemic changed Ina Garten's philosophy of cooking and entertaining
During the pandemic, Ina Garten found herself reevaluating her approach to cooking and entertaining. As she worked on a new cookbook and helped others figure out what to do with pantry staples on Instagram, she realized the need to simplify her own meals. Garten introduced a section in her book dedicated to breakfast and lunch for dinner, emphasizing simple yet satisfying dishes. She also experimented with recipes that focused on hearty soups and utilized readily available ingredients. This change in philosophy reveals Garten's adaptability and willingness to cater to the changing needs of her audience.
Ina Garten's cooking style revolves around using real ingredients and finding the perfect balance of flavors
One of the defining characteristics of Ina Garten's cooking style is her insistence on using real ingredients. According to Garten, cooking and serving real food is healthier and provides a more satisfying dining experience. She believes in offering choices and allowing individuals to decide what kind of meals they prefer, whether it's lighter dishes like fish and vegetables or heartier options like burgers and baked potatoes. Garten's recipes are developed with attention to flavor, texture, and seasoning. She aims to create layered dishes that balance various tastes, and she is not satisfied until a recipe matches her impeccable flavor memory.
Ina Garten, also known as “Barefoot Contessa” talks to Chris about her most recent cookbook, how her recipes have evolved since the pandemic, how she has built her “food empire,” her jump from working in the White House to having her own cooking show, her process in creating recipes, how she met her husband, and her latest show on the Food Network.