Ina Garten's Book Tour

It’s always so exciting when Ina Garten releases a new Barefoot Contessa cookbook and we are just thrilled that Cook Like A Pro features so many of our Cassandra’s Kitchen products. But the icing on the Chocolate Chevron Cake is that I got to attend Ina’s book tour speaking series. I traveled down to Bethesda, Maryland for a lovely evening with Ina in the company of her adoring fans and fellow cooking enthusiasts. 

The beautiful Strathmore theatre in Bethesda hosted the event and New York Times’ Washington bureau chief Elisabeth Bumiller moderated (I was especially lucky to sit next to her husband, Steve Weisman who is lovely). 

Everyone that attends these event with Ina is really very lucky. She's a wonderful chef but she is also funny and witty, and her events are always so entertaining! I love listening to her stories about life and cooking - she just makes everything about it seem so fun. 

They talked a lot about the Red Wine-Braised Short Ribs from Cook Like A Pro. Ina spent lots of time trying to get the flavor exactly right. She mentioned that she would serve it over Blue Cheese Grits, which got a great response from the crowd. I like grits, but I wasn't so sure when I saw the blue cheese version in Cook Like A Pro but now I've got to try them for myself! 

Ina also mentioned that she generally sticks with the same holiday dishes every year. She and Jeffrey always spend Christmas and New Years in Paris. How amazing, right?? Their New Years Eve tradition is to celebrate early and then when they come home, they will whip up something easy but special for a late dinner. Lemon Capellini with Caviar is one of her favorites. You can make it your tradition too, find the recipe here.

Ina has talked before about working at the White House Office of Management and Budget when she decided to buy and open her Barefoot Contessa culinary shop in East Hampton. It’s wild to think about how it would have been so different if she had decided to stay working in DC and continue writing nuclear energy budgets!!  

So thankful for the chance to be a part of Ina’s journey and so glad I got to share another special night with my sister and cousin. 

--Cassandra