Be Ready When the Luck Happens
Let me start by saying that after cooking for a family of 8 for decades I lost my desire to make dinners interesting, or honestly, to make dinner at all. So why recommend a memoir by a woman made famous by fabulous cooking that includes delicious sounding recipes? One word: curiosity. I have never seen Ina Garten on TV nor even looked at any of her 12 books and only knew she was famous for both. I love finding out what makes some people tick and their paths in life. Ask my kids and they will tell you I am the type of person that loves getting to know strangers by “asking 20 questions”. “So embarrassing mom…” This book was right up my alley. I ignored the fact that she might share recipes and attempt to lure me back to the kitchen with her delicious sounding recipes. Or I thought I could…
Ina Garten is not only famous for her cooking abilities but also because she has an ingratiating personality and “that thing” that makes you feel welcome. It surely helped her establish a fabulous business that started with a small (600 sf) food shop in the Hamptons. This was done on a whim after years of working in the White House – yes, I said White House – writing nuclear energy policy (insert yawnnnnn…). How could this woman be both a science geek AND a woman famous for everything about cooking great meals?? I asked myself. Her background growing up didn’t even include learning to cook at home. She literally was not allowed in the kitchen while her mother cooked. She is totally self taught with only a few cooking classes taken after she was well on her way to success.
Ina Garten’s story is very different than I expected and I literally could not put this one down. I love a good self made success story and this was not only well written but it was warm and inviting. I felt like the proverbial fly on the wall. I enjoyed it so much that I am now awaiting her very first cookbook’s arrival here at Belmont Library via Interlibrary Loan. Hopefully my family won’t see it in my reading pile at home and get any ideas, but who knows…maybe Ina is the person to finally inspire me once again to cook an interesting meal for dinner. Dave will certainly love it. Stay tuned folks.