Kitchen

[VaBelle35]

Ina posted today on Facebook that her new cookbook will be out in October. It is a book of make-ahead meals.

I have all of her cookbooks. Every recipe comes out perfect. While some I wouldn't make again (her apple pie had orange zest in it and I wasn't a fan of it), they always come out perfect and her seasonings are always spot on. I never adjust anything in her recipes.

[D Oro]

On 4/22/2014 glitzandglam said:

On 4/22/2014 JeanLouiseFinch said:

On 4/22/2014 faeriemoon said:

On 4/22/2014 BeckiWV said:

On 4/22/2014 JeanLouiseFinch said:

I enjoy watching her cook, but the set-ups are always so contrived and scripted that it's a bit ridiculous. I'm not doubting that they love one another and enjoy their lives together, but that's also made me wonder how scripted the sweetness between Ina and Jeffrey might be. I was also disappointed when I read in this forum that she refused to grant a "Make a Wish" request to a sick child a few years ago. That has altered my opinion of her as a person.

I believe I heard that Ms. Garten did not refuse the child and that she didn't even know about the request.

Yes, and when she heard about it she tried to rearrange her schedule to accomodate the request, but the family had already chosen a different "wish" to fulfill.

When I did a little research, just now, it seems that the boy made the request twice and both times was denied. Once it reached the public and there seemed to be a bit of a kerfuffle because it seemed he was being turned down while Ina had plenty of time to host some of the hoity toity set from The Hamptons. In the end, Ina contacted the family, willing to meet with them and their son, but the parents decided against it because they didn't want to put anymore stress on their son, and opted for a different wish. It might not be as bad as it sounds, but for the two refusals. Yes, Ina may have tried to mend things, but all the circumstances surrounding the controversy were unfortunate.

This is what I heard, as well. She is really not as nice of a person as she would like viewers to think. I stopped watching her after I read about this.

I completely disagree with your assessment. I did have the opportunity to work with her and if anything, she is nicer in person than on camera. Her staff and crew really enjoy working with her. The leftovers are wonderful. I found her to be calm, methodical, and very focused. Very easy to work with.

[Carole22]

That "Make A Wish" thing a couple of years ago was a no-win situation for Ina. If she had granted that wish, how do you turn down the next request? I also thought it was probably more of the parent thinking it up than being an actual wish of a child. No one ever SAID that, and I could very well be wrong...just the vibe I got.

[sidsmom]

I love it when people make these grand statements of, "I will NEVER (fill in the blank)" without getting all the facts. SMH.

[Jaspersmom]

Ina Garten is my idol and I have no idols - LOL. I have seen some famous people in public and have never been one to gush or ask for autographs. However, I love Ina and her cooking shows. If I could have dinner with one famous person it would be her. I'd love to visit her home on eastern LI just to see the beautiful gardens and of course, her kitchen. I only live about forty five minutes from her neck of the woods, but she lives in a very different world from mine.

I have read she is a very private person and makes very few public appearances. I believe I also read she was initially hesitant to do the shows for FN. When the brouhaha hit the news about her refusal to grant the Make A Wish for little Enzo, it was explained that she did not do those types of things. I don't think she was excluding him personally. I guess it's better to say no to all then to have to decide to whom to say yes.

She seems mighty intelligent and very accomplished in many areas of her life. Obviously, she is business savvy and quite successful.

I don't know if this has been mentioned in a previous post, but her husband is quite accomplished as well. He is, among other things, a professor at Yale and the chairman of a global consulting firm.

[JeanLouiseFinch]

As I stated in my first post, my opinion of IG was altered after reading here about the Make-a-Wish thing. It was not my intention to resurrect anything, but just stating my opinion, that's all. Based on some additional comments, perhaps I need to reconsider.

[Sooner]

On 4/24/2014 JeanLouiseFinch said:

As I stated in my first post, my opinion of IG was altered after reading here about the Make-a-Wish thing. It was not my intention to resurrect anything, but just stating my opinion, that's all. Based on some additional comments, perhaps I need to reconsider.

I suppose famous people must get these requests every week. I think it is a slippery slope, sometimes things like this are a scam and how would you possibly have time to verify every one unless you had a really big staff. . . I know if I were in her shoes, I would want to keep a very low profile. As far as giving and charity and good works, some people keep that to themselves and feel it is wrong to do something with a photo op.

I'm not one to judge things like that. She just seems like a pleasant person and open to the degree she wants to be. I'm like that too. . . WAY more private than my hubby.

[sidsmom]

On 4/24/2014 JeanLouiseFinch said:

As I stated in my first post, my opinion of IG was altered after reading here about the Make-a-Wish thing. It was not my intention to resurrect anything, but just stating my opinion, that's all. Based on some additional comments, perhaps I need to reconsider.

That was nice of you to circle back. You're cool!

[VaBelle35]

The whole Make a Wish thing was a TMZ spin. Enzo was 6 at the time of the second request, so he was like 5 at the first request. What 5 year old wants to cook with Ina Garten? It was reported that it was more the mother's wish than the kid's.

The whole thing was just odd from beginning to end and the protests and denials from Enzo's family said more about them than Ina.

Honestly, it could have been any celebrity inserted here. It made a good news story.

[faeriemoon]

sidsmom, was that blog from 2001 or 2010? You wrote 2001, but it doesn't seem that long ago.