What You Need to Know About Barefoot Contessa’s New Show ‘Be My Guest with Ina Garten’
Ina Garten is one of Food Network’s most famous chefs. The culinary star has been with the network since the early 2000s and garnered an impressive following. Many fans and fellow chefs praise her easy recipes and calming demeanor.
Over the years, Garten has hosted several shows on the network. The 74-year-old’s new show, Be My Guest With Ina Garten, speaks further about who the Barefoot Contessa is. That said, here are four things to know about Garten’s new show.
Ina Garten cooked for years before appearing on the Food Network
Before she became a world-renowned chef, Garten held a job at the White House. Feeling unfulfilled, she left in 1978 to start a specialty food store in the Hamptons. Garten had no experience with cooking before teaching herself using Julia Child’s cookbooks. Within a year of buying the store, the chef moved it to a larger property, which it soon outgrew.
Garten responded to the business’s growth by hiring local bakers and chefs. In 1996, she sold the business but retained ownership of the building. Then, in 1999, Garten released h er first cookbook, which was a hit. The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook sold more than 100,000 copies in its first year.
The Food Network decided to tap into Garten’s growing popularity. They approached her for a show, but she refused the offer. After reconsidering the decision, she decided to take on a 13-episode season named after her bestselling cookbook. Barefoot Contessa aired its first episode in 2002.
Since then, the show has gained a substantial following, recording impressive ratings at every turn of the season. Barefoot Contessa is one of the network’s most popular and highly-rated shows.
More on her new Food Network show ‘Be My Guest With Ina Garten’
Garten has proven to be a rating juggernaut. It is no wonder why Food Network thought it best to add a new cooking show to her already impressive lineup. Her new show Be My Guest with Ina Garten is a multi-platform TV show that sees the talented chef invite her friends over for lunch.
Garten invites the friends to talk in the barn where her popular show Barefoot Contessa is filmed before they hit the town to explore. According to Distractify, Garten’s house is in the East Hamptons, where she resides with her husband, Jeffrey. Renowned architect Frank Greenwald designed her home, which was “inspired by the simple country buildings of Belgium.”
Speaking about her new show, Garten revealed that her hosting experience helped prepare her to take on the role. She told The Hollywood Reporter she wanted to give her audience a feel of what it means to come to her house for “a little dinner.”
While a considerable portion of Garten’s new show revolves around cooking, there is an interview portion where the chef has a one-on-one chat with her guests. Garten revealed that she prepares intensely for those sessions and has somebody doing the research for her. This person will assign Garten things to read and watch.
Be My Guest with Ina Garten debuted on March 26, 2022. You can watch it on Discovery+ or catch the shorter versions of the show on Food Network.
Ina Garten’s other cooking shows
Garten is famous for her Food Network show, Barefoot Contessa, which has been on the air for two decades. She has also appeared on Food Network Thanksgiving, Barefoot Contessa: Cook Like a Pro, and recently Be My Guest with Ina Garten.
The beloved chef has another cookbook on the way. Go-To Dinners is scheduled for an October 2022 release.
