Synopsis -
Here, for the first time, Ina Garten presents an intimate, entertaining, and inspiring account of her remarkable journey. Ina’s gift is to make everything look easy, yet all her accomplishments have been the result of hard work, audacious choices, and exquisite attention to detail. In her unmistakable voice (no one tells a story like Ina), she brings her past and her process to life in a high-spirited and no-holds-barred memoir that chronicles decades of personal challenges, adventures (and misadventures) and unexpected career twists, all delivered with her signature combination of playfulness and purpose.
From a difficult childhood to meeting the love of her life, Jeffrey, and marrying him while still in college, from a boring bureaucratic job in Washington, D.C., to answering an ad for a specialty food store in the Hamptons, from the owner of one Barefoot Contessa shop to author of bestselling cookbooks and celebrated television host, Ina has blazed her own trail and, in the meantime, taught millions of people how to cook and entertain. Now, she invites them to come closer to experience her story in vivid detail and to share the important life lessons she learned along the way: do what you love because if you love it you’ll be really good at it, swing for the fences, and always Be Ready When the Luck Happens.
Review -
Memoirs are high on my must read list. I am always intrigued by unique journeys and Ina Garten definitely offered me that. While she had a tough childhood, she somehow managed to keep a strong sense of self, an unerring intuition that guided her, and a determination to follow it. Her marriage at a young age to husband Jeffrey was also key. Despite moments of doubt, he was her anchor and support - and she his. They always encouraged each other to reach for their dreams. They are a rare couple that were able to thrive even while living apart.
Interview on 60 Minutes
What stands out in her memoir is her courage. Always needing a challenge, she would leap into new projects with abandon. I have a tendency to do that too, but am often crippled by doubt as I deal with the fall-out. Garten, on the other hand, just dove in and worked hard, even through challenges that seemed daunting. And that determination is what has brought her to the success she has today.
Another thing that stands out is her passion to help others learn to cook and entertain easily without stress. Recipes she offers are chosen carefully - no long lists of hard to find and expensive ingredients - and each recipe is tested over and over to make sure home cooks will be successful. 14 successful cookbooks speak to her ability to achieve this. I now want to own at least one of her cookbooks - but need to look through them all carefully to see which to start with. A great read.
Buy the Book: Amazon US ~ Amazon CA
Meet the Author -
Ina Garten is a renowned American author, Food Network host of Barefoot Contessa, and former White House nuclear policy analyst. She pivoted from a government career to purchase a Hamptons food store in 1978, and published her first best-selling cookbook in 1999. Garten's culinary style focuses on high-quality ingredients and straightforward recipes designed for entertaining. She has written over 14 best-selling cookbooks, and her Emmy-winning show, Barefoot Contessa, has aired on Food Network since 2002. She currently live in East Hampton, New York, with Jeffrey Garten, who us a frequent guest on her show.
Buy the Book: Amazon US ~ Amazon CA
Meet the Author -
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