Ina Garten’s New Cookbook, Cooking for Jeffrey, Dishes Up Delicious Devotion

If you’re familiar with Ina Garten’s hypnotic television series The Barefoot Contessa, you know Ina adores entertaining. Most of her shows center on a party or gathering of friends, for which Ina creates to-die-for menus, table settings, and culinary themes. But the best episodes, most fans will agree, are the ones in which Ina cooks solely for her doting husband, Jeffrey. These particular airings are infused with tenderness, a palpable devotion, and hand-selected comfort foods that express Ina’s love for a man who is, quite possibly, the most charmed husband alive.
Jeffrey, Ina’s ever-smiling spouse, not only gets to devour his wife’s greatest masterpieces (like Steakhouse Steaks with Roquefort Chive Butter, Bourbon Honey Cake, and Fried Oysters with Lemon Saffron Aioli) on the show to viewers’ immense envy, but he gets to eat them ALL THE TIME IN REAL LIFE. Now, in Ina’s just-released tenth cookbook, Cooking for Jeffrey, readers (and eaters!) are treated to a new compendium of dinners, drinks, and desserts—as well as sides, soups, and salads—that lucky duck Jeffrey has given five stars. On top of that, the cookbook features numerous photographs and anecdotes about Ina and Jeffrey’s nearly 50-year love affair.
Can’t wait until dinner to see what Cooking for Jeffrey has simmering? To whet your appetite, here’s a baker’s dozen of piping hot goodies the book serves up…
1. The story of how Ina and Jeffrey met. She was 15, walking past the Dartmouth library to visit her brother, when Jeffrey spied her from a window and demanded to know: “Who’s that girl?”
2. The recipes for the perfect appetizer combo: Parmesan & Chipotle Popcorn and a Limoncello Vodka Collins. How great is that?
3. Lentil & Kielbasa Salad. What? Come on, Ina! Sausage salad? Yes, please!
4. The romantic tale of Jeffrey and Ina camping their way through France as youngsters fresh from school, complete with a faded photo of Ina cooking for Jeffrey on a tiny gas stove in a little pink tent.
5. Scenes from Ina and Jeffrey’s disastrous first date, in which she has no fake ID.
6. How a simple tenderloin dinner at a friend’s house in Washington D.C. (way back when Ina worked at the White House writing nuclear policy papers!) changed the way Ina cooked forever.
7. A full-color centerfold of radishes. Food porn at its finest.
8. Lamb Stew with Spring Vegetables. (You’ll tear the page out and put it on your vision board.)
9. That story about when Ina bought a little catering shop in the Hamptons and achieved fame and fortune roasting broccolini.
10. How to make Kasha Varnishkes. What’s that you ask? Well, it starts with four tablespoons of duck fat, so does it really matter?
11. How to plan the perfect dinner party. You’ll need a 48″-round table, six chairs, and cheese. If you’re inviting investment bankers, serve hot fudge sundaes with M&M’s.
12. A recipe for Vanilla Cream Cheese Pound Cake. (Note: NOT paleo.)
13. And finally, four amazing lists for list lovers: Jeffrey’s All-Time Favorite Dinners, Ina’s Pantry (things you must keep on hand), Ina’s Starter Kitchen (tools of the trade for beginners), and Ina’s Professional Kitchen (tools of the trade for chef-level cooks).
Cooking for Jeffrey is available now.