Ina-Garten

Ina Gardner is the writer of many well-known American cookbooks on cooking. Ina also hosts Barefoot Contessa on Food Network, which began in 2002. Ina began her writing career by with nuclear energy policy and budgets of the White House. While she found it to be stimulating intellectually, eventually she stopped her pursuit and decided to purchase a smaller specialty food store - Barefoot Contessa. Her store was extremely successful over the course of 18 years until she decided to let it go. She then began her first cookbook. The other cookbooks came out, as were magazine articles. Between them, her Food Network show was also successful. Her range of items spans from kitchen equipment to ingredients as well as storage containers. Ina did not go to a cooking institute and hasn't worked in restaurants. She is self-taught. She is known as a simple cook and for her entertaining style. Her most well-known recipes are Skillet - Roasted Lemon Chicken Mac and Cheese, Mac, Beef Bourguignon and cheese, Beatty's Chocolate Cake, and Lemon Bars.