Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Someone's in the kitchen with Ina...


I like Ina Garten. If you aren't familiar with Ina, aka The Barefoot Contessa, she hosts a show on Food Network. Yes, some of us watch TV about food. A surprisingly large number of folks actually. Check out Ina's baked applesauce recipe here for an introduction to her recipes.

But her food isn't why I like her. In this age of chef-turned-celebrity, Ina isn't slick, she isn't cozy, she isn't down-home or prone to shouting "Bam". No, she is a plump woman who uses liberal amounts of cream, butter and vodka in her cooking, and unashamedly so. She adores her husband and her life - and why wouldn't she? She lives in a gorgeous town in a gorgeous house and she has tons of cash. What's not to love? But even with all that, her style is comfortable and easy-going. If I could somehow arrange a visit to her house, I imagine that she'd serve some coffee and scones, with maybe a nip of something stronger. If I tried the same thing at Martha Stewart's place, at best I would have to slip on protective booties on my shoes and at worst I'd be hauled off to the clink.

I like chefs that are approachable and real. Not skinny Italian babes that serve their breasts up like jello molds or Southern belles so heavy on the hunny that I could wind up in a diabetic coma. I don't dig guys that yell at the TV or measure each ingredient out with tweezers. I don't like pseudo-chefs that sell their merchandising with their yum-o faces plastered on cracker boxes rather than make good food. I don't like "food porn" as it has been labeled; food that is good to watch but not something that people really make.

So I guess that leaves Ina. Frumpy, fabulous Ina. Ina with the gorgeous house and the loving husband. Ina with the amazing recipes and rich friends. Ina who never shows a recipe for a single drink, but for the whole pitcher. She's the kind of chef that turns me on. She's got a great laugh and her food is real, so keep on rocking it, Ina. And pass me another cheddar dill scone.

8 comments:

Seattle Coffee Girl said...

I love all the shopkeepers she frequents on her show. They're all superfantastic all by themselves!

Ina's kitchen looks cozy without being fussy, and her fridge is always stocked with good-looking stuff. I'd eat at her house in a heartbeat!

Anonymous said...

I concur! I love me some Ina…there would be no intimidation factor with her…unlike Martha. And then I would be intimidated that Martha would tell me not to be intimidated by her...thus making the intimidation factor even worse. Oye-Vay Martha wears me out just thinking about her!

-Oh and along with the great house and all the cash…Ina and Geoffrey have an apartment in Paris AND Manhattan. Must be grand to be loaded!

Heather said...

I agree entirely and about the skinny Italian chef- is it me or is her head really big? I'm not saying that in a snarky way - I really want some opinions on that. hehe

Kimberly Ann said...

Yep, I think her head is big! Though the camera doesn't stay off her chest for very long so you can even tell.

Lorraine said...

Count me in with the Ina lovers. Also a big fan of Nigella Lawson, for a lot of the same reasons.

Jenn Maruska said...

I love Ina, too! Even though she is leading a life that most people can only dream about - she really does come across as being "real". For a long time I thought that she and her husband were newlyweds... and recently discovered that they've been together for a long time. I find their relationship to be so youthful and refreshing... and I love that.

And about that certain pretty Italian chef... my husband calls her "Princess Amidala". Ha!

Br. Jonathan said...

Amen, sister! Especially what you said about the Italian babe and her breasts. (Wanna bet she doesn't eat ANYTHING she makes?)

I absolutely cannot stand Emeril Lagasse. Why, oh why, does he have scream the entire time?

Like Lorraine, I have been a Nigella lover for a long time. And certainly not because of her boobies.

more cowbell said...

Bwa-ha-ha on the breasts served up like jello-O molds. Likewise ended up in the clink via Martha. You'd definitely need the protective booties in that case.

I am food-show ignorant, I only know Teen Demon LOVES Ace of Cakes. It's one of her favorite shows. Oh, and that one that's like Survivor for Chefs or something? Top Chef? I'm clueless, but she likes it.