the "Gourmet" prompt...
Feeling the urge to do something "more creative" while working in the Office of Management and Budget in the White House in 1978, Garten and her husband Jeffrey drove to the Hamptons to checko ut a specialty food store that she saw listed for sale in the New York Times. The next day her "I'll think about it low offer" was accepted...and the rest, as they say, is history. Thus began her adventure into food.
In '96, she sold Barefoot Contessa (that specialty store) to two employees, built herself an office over the store, and commenced her cookbook writing ventures. Seven cookbooks and numerous television episodes later, she found what she loved to do. She also launched a line of baking mixes called Barefoot Contessa Pantry with her business partner, Frank Newbold. She still lives in East Hampton with Jeffrey. For more on Ina, check out the Barefoot Contessa website.
