Ina Garten, the American culinary icon, author of ten “New York Times” bestselling cookbooks and host of the popular Emmy and James Beard Award-winning “Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics” show on Food Network, returns to Segerstrom Center for the Arts on Wednesday, Dec. 5. Garten is celebrating her newest cookbook, “Cook Like A Pro.” She will share stories that bring you behind the scenes of filming her television show (now in its 13th season), writing bestselling cookbooks and enjoying food with friends and family. She will also take questions from the audience.
Tickets for Ina Garten start at $49.50 and are on sale now. They may be purchased online at SCFTA.org, the Box Office at 600 Town Center Dr. in Costa Mesa or by calling 714-755-0236.
From America’s favorite home cook: recipes, tips, and why-didn’t-I-think-of-that tricks for cooking your best. In her newest instant-classic cookbook, beloved author Ina Garten shares 85 never-before-published recipes that teach home cooks dependably delicious dishes along with the keys to achieving success and confidence in the kitchen. As seen on her latest television series “Cook Like A Pro,” each recipe focuses on techniques, tips, insights, make-ahead guidance, and kitchen efficiency that will turn you into a better and more intuitive cook. From Red Wine Braised Short Ribs to Blue Cheese Grits and a simplified Baked Alaska that will wow your friends, this collection represents Ina’s go-to recipes and techniques that every cook wants to know.
In 1978, Garten was working in The White House Office of Management and Budget and thinking that she had to do something more creative and fun than writing nuclear energy budgets! She came across an ad in “The New York Times” for a specialty food store for sale in the Hamptons and decided to investigate.
With her husband Jeffrey, she drove to Long Island the next day to see the store and it was love at first sight. She had no experience in the food business—or in any business—but knew that this was exactly what she wanted to do. Garden made the owner of the store a low offer, thinking she would go home and decide if she really wanted to make such a dramatic move. However, the owner called her the next day and said, “I accept your offer!”
After 18 years of perfecting baguettes and chicken salad, Barefoot Contessa was a hugely popular store celebrated both for its delicious food and its style. In 1996, Garten decided that it was time for a new challenge so she sold the store to the manager and the chef. At that point, with nothing to do, she built an office over the store and tried her hand at writing a cookbook.
The “Barefoot Contessa Cookbook” came out in 1999 and turned out to be the most exciting thing she had ever done professionally. Happily, that first cookbook was a surprise best-seller. By 2002, Garten had published two more cookbooks and started filming a show for Food Network, also called “Barefoot Contessa.”
By 2015, she had published nine cookbooks and filmed 14 years of television shows for Food Network. At the same time, she had written monthly columns for “Martha Stewart Living,” “Oprah” magazine, and “House Beautiful.” She continues to write a monthly column for “Food Network Magazine.” This past year marked the publication of Garten’s tenth book, “Cooking for Jeffrey,” which is not just a collection of recipes for dishes that Jeffrey adores, but it is also a bit of a love letter to her husband for always encouraging her to do what she loves most.
Williams Sonoma is proud to be the official bookseller of “Cook Like A Pro” for this exciting event. Ticket holders will be able to purchase autographed copies of Ina’s new book in advance of the event by visiting: https://www.williams-sonoma.com/cooklikeapro. Books purchased in advance through Williams Sonoma will be available for pick up at the event. Please note that event tickets and signed books are sold separately, and you must have an event ticket to pick up your preordered book. A limited supply of signed books will be available for purchase in the lobby on the evening of the event as well. Preordering books when purchasing a ticket is strongly recommended.
