The Reasons We’re Grateful for Jeffrey and Ina Garten’s Delectable Love Story
When the seller called and surprisingly accepted her “very low” offer, Ina said, laughing, on PBS Newshour in 2017, “I just remember going, ‘Oh, s–t’. What have I done?!”
Although Ina had a background in business, this was her first venture in the food industry, with prior experience limited to being a home cook. However, Ina shared on Sunday Sitdown that Jeffrey gave her invaluable advice: “If you love it, you’ll be really good at it.” She loved it, so she pursued it.
Looking back, Ina noted, “It was incredibly brave of him to put everything we had behind it. Worked out OK.”
In 1996, Ina sold the store (which had been relocated to a larger location in East Hampton), attributing its success to the lively atmosphere she created from the beginning with lively music, free coffee, and plenty of samples for customers. With a loyal clientele, positive word-of-mouth, and a skilled publicist, her first book, The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook in 1999, was a success.