A Love Letter to Ina
Monday, May 5, 2008
I read cookbooks. Like cover to cover.
This is a shock to me. I had no idea that I was going to grow up and be a cookbook reader.
This evening I came home from work and my Amazon.com shipment had arrived. It contained three books:
1. How'd You Score That Gig - a book that was promoted in my "Daily Cents" email and I just couldn't resist given my influx of career thoughts these days.
2. Colin Cowie's Chic- I recently bought this for a close friend for her birthday and it was nearly impossible not to keep it for myself. So I did the next best thing and bought myself one too. How do you resist a book with PERFECT advice on home, entertaining, travel, and work from one of the most fabulous gay men alive???
3. The Barefoot Contessa at Home- which brings me to this post. You know how Sesame Street is brought to you by a letter? Like the letter Q. or R. or any of the other 24 letters. This post is brought to you by the Barefoot Contessa.
When I opened the package, I stared at all three and contemplated - but I was immediately drawn to Ina. And I didn't just turn to the recipes. I wanted to read her introduction. I WANTED to. Ummmmm...I am a cookbook introduction reading 32 year old woman. AND I LOVE IT.
I'm only 40 pages into her 249 pages of delectable delights but I'm already dreaming of dinner parties with perfect margaritas (no margarita mix!!!!) and pan-fried french onion dip (made ENTIRELY from scratch) and most importantly lots and lots of laughing. And warmth. Ina talks about a home filled with warmth. Where people walk in and they feel like family. And that's why I love Ina. Sure, her recipes are amaaaaazing. Next level. Truly my favorites. I know if I cook Barefoot, I'm cooking a good meal. But the Ina's philosophy rings true for me even more:
"A good home should gather you up in its arms like a warm cashmere blanket, soothe your hurt feelings, and prepare you to go back out into that big bad world tomorrow all ready to fight the dragons....Sure it has to make (myself and my husband) feel comfortable, but equally important, it has to make my friends want to drop by."
This. This is the philosophy I want to live by. This is what life is about. Having a home that feels like a home to each and every person that comes here. With chairs that they can sink their bodies into and food they can sink their teeth into and conversation they can sink their souls into. This is what life is about.
I'm 32 and I read cookbooks. Excuse me now. I have to go finish...
Posted byMeesh-elle my Belle at 8:48 PM
Labels: family, food and drink, friends, introspection, musings on life, whilst drinking
1. I adore all of Ina's cookbooks. It's funny, I really can't stand her show, but the recipes in the books are amazing.
2. I was a Food Studies major in college and one of the things we learned about was Gastro Porn, where people collect and read food magazines and cookbooks for the way it makes them feel. Not that you're describing this, haha, but I thought I'd share.
3. Wow, what a great philosophy. That's the type of environment I want to cultivate too. Now I just need to live in a place long enough to do it...
I love cookbooks. I just bought Jamie Oliver's new one for a friend and I'm secretly trying to justify keeping it for myself.
Every time I read your blog I say to myself, "Me too!!!" I love to watch Ina every day at 5 and on Saturday mornings along with a lineup of Giada and Nigela. I love reading Barefoot Contessa Parties, Savuer (I recently read a whole issue devoted to butter) and epicurious.com just for how it makes me feel!
i need to get some tips from you on these books. i dont cook enough!