Bookish
When Barefoot in the Park Meets Barefoot in Paris (A Book Review) |
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Written on February 2, 2005 9:24 AM
Damn that Ina Garten, that addictive Barefoot Contessa. Her show is a grateful habit. It’s easy to get lost in her Hamptons, BMW, specialty market, seaside world. Thank the food gods for her cookbooks because sometimes it’s not as easy to get lost in my Brooklyn, subway, bodega, East riverside world.
The newest in her hard-backed comfort manuals, Barefoot in Paris is a beautiful, elegant, accessible tome to cooking simple French meals. To many, simple and French may seem like an oxymoron, but Ina’s not one to go outlandishly complicated. Filled with just enough recipes for everything from appetizer to dessert, the book is proof on very good paper that cooking French bistro food can be done quite easily by anyone. And I mean anyone.
For example: I recently moved in with a dear friend bringing little aside from books to the place. I love dinner parties, and after a few years of unspeakable kitchens, finally having a place that could support such a passion without serious injury (physical or mental), I decided to invite a few friends over to sample a recipe from the book: Chicken with Forty Cloves of Garlic. Sounds deadly, but it really is brilliant. I cooked the entire meal using my roommates destroyed saucepans and still managed to impress. It takes a really great meal to make your guests forget that they’re eating cramped around the coffee table, but, stiff backs aside, no one noticed, as soothed as their palates were by mellow garlic, perfect chicken and a sauce rich with wine, cognac and cream.
Other standouts include the Salmon with Lentils, Salad with Warm Goat Cheese, Boeuf Bourguignon, Lentil Sausage Soup (can you tell I have a thing for lentils?), Baba au Rhum…the list goes on. Sprinkled throughout are short essays on French wine, cheese, cookware, flowers, cooking classes, and table settings. With plenty for carnivores and herbivores alike, it’s a perfect way to bring a little France into your pad.
Comments
comment by kissmyknitz on February 2, 2005 9:42 AM:
Wow....never been a fan of th countessa or Frech cuisine, but my tummy is grumbling, it sounds so good....
comment by joyce on February 2, 2005 10:24 AM:
i like watching ina g. but i've yet to try her recipes...
i was told is it her cupcake recipe that martha
stewart has on her site (she used to work for the food part of the magazine before) -- you have to try it, it's soooo good...especially when they're warm and of course w/ the cream cheese frosting!!
i do need to buy the book and try the chicken w/ 40 cloves of garlic ---sounds so yummy!!!!
comment by belleepoque on February 2, 2005 12:25 PM:
ooooh, i love her show, and my friend who hosts the BEST parties swears by all of her books for entertaining. i'll have to put this one on my wishlist!
comment by leCandypopRock on February 2, 2005 1:33 PM:
oooh! i like your writing style! :) this book sounds wonderful! i watch her show quite often. next time i'm in a book store, i'm certainly going to check this out. thanx for sharing!
comment by Knits4Fun on February 2, 2005 1:59 PM:
Ya! Love Barefoot Contessa! Such an escape and her recipes come off as do-able although I haven't tried any yet . . .
I started a discussion over in the forums (consuming pleasures) about her, I love the show so much!
comment by caitlin on February 2, 2005 4:10 PM:
I feel sorry for her husband Jeffery. She's always having parties without him, as well as having all those cute guys over...!!! ( I know, I know, he only comes home on the weekends...and yes, I'm sure she spoils him, too.)
comment by jkaymac on February 2, 2005 6:56 PM:
I adore her show. Her tequila lime chicken is a staple for us in the summer. Thanks for the review, I'll be checking out this book.
comment by CANDICEGILL on February 17, 2005 5:55 PM:
WOW, WHAT A REVIEW! I CAN TASTE IT ALL NOW! I DON'T THINK I'D MIND THE STIFF BACK IF IT WAS AS GOOD AS YOU SAY... ESPECIALLY IF IT WAS PREPARED BY MY BEST FRIEND (JESSICA??) WHAT A WELL WRITTEN AND ENJOYABLE ARTICLE. THANK YOU THANK YOU! XXOOXX
comment by the wire whisk on August 14, 2005 1:06 PM:
i am on a tight budget and have few options (meaning to say i could afford only 1 cookbook). does anyone know how ina garten compare to patricia wells? the latter is also into french bistro cooking.
i haven't really made up my mind about ina garten because of my experience when i went to her food shop in the hamptons to buy a sandwich. now, still have to confirm if that shop is hers, i just assume that it's hers since the name is barefoot contessa. it's in southampton where i did some prep work for a cook. ANYWAY, the sandwich had some napa cabbage which is also known as chinese cabbage. it is a native of asia, where i come from, and we don't normally it it raw. it is always blanched. so my sandwich tasted really weird. it i couldn't help associate that single sandwich with my impression of ina garten.
comment by W Van Pelt on August 23, 2005 2:56 AM:
Ina is fabulous!!!! Obviously I am a bit late on this blog.... while looking for unique gifts & fun ideas, I randomly ran across this Barefoot Contessa review. First & foremost I have yet to indulge on "blogs", "forums" and such. Ina is one of the most wonderful culinary classics.... well prepared and beyond her entertaining successes. Ina worked for the interior of the White House and was mystified by the science of boiled water. Upon a visit to the Hamptons, Ina decided to purchase a delicatessen. Ina, not the most familiar to baking nor cooking, embarked on a culinary journey of flavor, simplicity and friendship. While Jeffery continues his line of work, Ina continues to support local organic farmers, traditional flavors and the art of everything that embodies entertaining. A classic heart whose soul understands the meaning of friendship along with the quality of time well spent beside those who appreciate a true heart and a timeless celebration of life.
