ENTERTAINING-BAREFOOT CONTESSA'S CASUAL ELEGANCE

 Town and Country

I'm a huge fan of Ina Garten, aka The Barefoot Contessa, who started her brilliant culinary career with a popular food shop in East Hampton.  We were weekend regulars there, loading up on her curry chicken salad and decadent brownies for lunches on the beach. With the introduction of her cookbook, The Barefoot Contessa in 1999, I became a lifelong fan. Her recipes feature seasonal local ingredients in delicious, interesting recipes, and best of all, she isn't afraid to use butter!

Garten is featured in this months Town & Country magazine where she reveals secrets to the Barefoot Contessa's unpretentious, elegant style.

Her Words To Live By: "It's not about the food: it's about the friends."

Photo from House Beautiful

Her favorite piece of furniture is the long, narrow dining table in her new barn which comfortably seats sixteen.  The wooden table from Bloom in Sag Harbor, is pure rustic charm, which Garten sets for dinner with a mix of casual Crate and Barrel white Maison plates topped with delicate antique gold-rimmed plates from the Paris antique shop Au Bain Marie. The result is a laid-back elegance;  a table where lively conversation and delicious food takes center stage.

Restoration Hardware carries a salvaged 108" Trestle table that is a close cousin to Garten's prized table.

Trestle table from Restoration Hardware is made from reclaimed wood.

Her favorite flowers are hot-pink peonies and orange parrot tulips. Photo from Garten's Paris apartment.

 

Biggest professional influence was Julia Child-of course!

Gotta love a girl whose favorite drink is a Whiskey Sour.