All the Things You Didn’t Know About the Ina Garten

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All About Ina

The Barefoot Contessa shares her favorite meal to make, her cooking philosophy and more.

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She Cooks Only from Her Cookbooks

“I trust them,” she says. And after all these years, she still prefers a recipe over winging it. “I’m a science person. I measure everything.”

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FNS7 Episode 8 Guest Judge Ina Garten at "You in a Cupcake" Camera Challenge.

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She’s Never Watched Herself on TV

"I couldn’t possibly. If I watched a show, I don’t think I’d ever do it again," she says, laughing. "Filming is still the most-frightening thing I’ve done. It’s just sheer terror. I haven’t gotten used to it yet."

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She Doesn't Like Cilantro

I just don’t like it at all. I actually can almost taste it when somebody else has it on their plate. I find it so strong it overpowers everything else. As a flavor, I just don't like the flavor. But I think what I taste is different from somebody else tastes for some reason.

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She Eats Irish Oatmeal Every Day for Breakfast

If she had to eat one dish for the rest of her life it would be oatmeal. “I use McCann's Irish Oatmeal. I cook it with water in a microwave—it's perfectly great. I like it with lots of salt and milk. Really simple ... Every once in a while, I think, maybe I'll have some toast instead, and I regret it." Try her Sunday Morning Oatmeal, "It's what I make when I'm off duty ... Instead of mac & cheese, for me, comfort food is oatmeal."

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She Is More Pop-Savvy Than You'd Think

“I’m a huge Taylor Swift fan,” she admits.

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She Eschews Fancy Foods

“When I did fancy things in the store, nobody really bought them. People wanted roast chicken and roasted carrots. I’m inspired by specialty food-store recipes as opposed to restaurants.”

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Her Go-To Dinner Party Dish Is Rack of Lamb

For dinner parties, Ina keeps the menu simple: whiskey sours, rack of lamb, and orzo with roasted vegetables. "Everyone loves it," she says. "It never fails."

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Ina Garten and guest star Giada De Laurentiis as seen on Food Network’s The Barefoot Contessa, Season 9.

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She Works Only with Friends

"A lot of people have asked to be guests, but I really keep it to friends. I don’t think you can fake a party," she says. A new and notable favorite: Tina Fey. "She’s wonderful. She’s everything you think she is and gorgeous to boot."

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She Doesn’t Cook for Herself

"Cooking is a sharing thing; it’s not about the cooking itself," she says. "If I’m by myself, I’ll have fruit, yogurt and granola, or [I'll] get soup from somewhere nearby, like Loaves & Fishes."

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Host Ina Garten on set as seen on Food Network's Thanksgiving Live.

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She's Happily Type A

"I’m satisfied when something is done very well. I feel I need to have my hands in it. My publisher will tell you that there isn’t a font or color or recipe or ingredient I haven’t been involved with," she says. "I don’t have a lot of people around me; I do it all myself, so that limits what I can do. But for me, I find that very satisfying."

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She Admires Bobby Flay

"How does he do it? He blows me away. He has restaurants all over the world, cookbooks, television shows. I can’t imagine how he does it, and he does them all well," she says.

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She Loves Thanksgiving

"It’s my favorite meal to make each year," she says. On this year’s menu: Accidental Turkey, from her cookbook Barefoot Contessa Foolproof, spinach gratin, truffle mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie with rum.

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Booze Is Her Surprise Ingredient

Ina knows that sometimes a touch of liquor is the perfect way to add extra flavor to a dish, like her pumpkin mousse parfait which she spikes with dark rum. "Booze is always my secret weapon!" she jokes.

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She Loves Serial Drama Shows

The show Homeland is at the top of her must-watch list.

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She Refuses to Endorse Products

"I’ve been asked to do everything from dining tables to clothing — who would want me to do their clothing? — to soy sauce," she says. "I was asked to do something with the United Nations. I mean, solve the problems of the world? Yeah, I’ll make everyone chicken pot pie and they’ll be happy!" Ina says, laughing.

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She Owns Property in Paris

Ina first fell in love with Paris when she and Jeffrey visited as a young couple. They went camping outside the city, and Jeffrey promised that one day he would take her back. Now, they own a pied-a-terre in the 7th Arrondissement and visit several times a year.

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She's Won Two James Beard Awards

Ina received the prestigious medal for Outstanding Personality/Host two years in a row for her show Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics.

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She Used to Work in the White House

Before she was the Barefoot Contessa, Ina worked in the White House as a budget analyst focusing on nuclear energy policy. She began her culinary career in 1978, when she and Jeffrey bought Barefoot Contessa, a specialty food shop in the Hamptons on Long Island. They eventually sold the store, but her nickname stuck.