5 Surprising Facts About the Beloved ‘Barefoot Contessa’ Chef

Ina Garten, the celebrity chef, cookbook author, and host of the Food Network hit Barefoot Contessa from 2002 to 2021, is revered for her delicious recipes and welcoming screen presence. While she’s known for her culinary expertise, her life outside of the kitchen is just as fascinating.

Here are five intriguing facts you may not have known about Ina Garten.

Long before she was a chef, Ina Garten worked at the White House, holding positions in the Federal Power Commission and Office of Management and Budget from 1974 to 1978. During this time, she was responsible for writing nuclear energy budget and policy papers. However, she eventually grew tired of her prestigious job. “When I worked at the White House, all I wanted to do is have a job where nobody told me what to do and I could wear sneakers to work,” Garten revealed.

While working at the White House, Garten was also nurturing a passion for cooking. She left her job in 1978 and bought a specialty grocery store in Westhampton, New York. The store was named Barefoot Contessa by its previous owner, after the 1954 film starring Humphrey Bogart and Ava Gardner. Though Garten considered changing the name, she ultimately decided against it as the store’s success grew and people started calling her the Contessa.

If you’ve watched Barefoot Contessa, you know how important Garten’s husband, Jeffrey, is to her. She’s even written a whole cookbook devoted to his favorite recipes. What you might not realize is just how long Ina and Jeffrey have been together.

Ina met Jeffrey as a teenager, and they married in 1968. Jeffrey has had a long and accomplished career as an economist, and he too has worked in the political realm. After 56 years, Ina and Jeffrey are still going strong. Ina has said, “I got very lucky, I really did. A friend of mine says that in any good marriage, each person feels like they get a better deal than the other one. And I think we do feel that.”

The Barefoot Contessa can fly! As a young woman, Garten earned her pilot’s license. Despite facing sexism and difficulty finding an instructor willing to train her, she ultimately succeeded. Her inspiration? “My roommate in college was an aerospace engineer. She had a pilot’s license. So I always thought it was very cool,” Garten explained.

Barefoot Contessa is a Food Network staple with millions of viewers, but Garten herself says she has never watched it. “I never watch cooking shows, certainly not mine. Not a chance . . . I think I’m terrible! I’m glad other people like it, that’s all I can say,” she admitted. Despite her own reservations, fans continue to enjoy her show.

Read on for more about Ina Garten!