Ina Garten Opens Up to Hoda Kotb About Her Childhood, Marriage, and Revealing Memoir
By Rachel Askinasi
For Ina Garten, the beloved culinary icon behind the Food Network’s Barefoot Contessa, “store-bought is fine”—even when she’s hosting Hoda Kotb for lunch. The two sat down in Garten’s Upper East Side apartment to discuss her new memoir, Be Ready When the Luck Happens, a deeply personal reflection on her life. At 76, Garten is finally peeling back the layers on her past, her relationship with husband Jeffrey, and her journey to finding happiness.
A “Scary” Childhood Without Comfort
Though Garten now shares her love for food with millions, her childhood meals were anything but comforting. Born Ina Rosenberg in 1948, she grew up in Brooklyn and Connecticut with parents Florence and Charles Rosenberg. She describes her childhood mealtimes as functional at best, lacking the warmth and joy she would later build her life around. “It was broiled chicken, canned peas—it was never about flavor or feeling good,” she explains.
Garten’s mother, a trained dietitian, strictly forbade carbohydrates and fats from their meals, believing they were unhealthy. Small pleasures like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were “forbidden.” Life with her grandparents, however, provided a sharp contrast. Her grandmother Bessie was constantly cooking, filling their home with warmth, love, and generosity. Garten describes her as happiest when surrounded by people and food, a dynamic she would later replicate in her professional life, especially with her show Be My Guest.
Her childhood, however, wasn’t just devoid of culinary joy—it was emotionally cold, even scary. There were no hugs or affection in her home. Garten recalls how her mother’s fear of germs kept her from caring for Ina even when she was sick. More troubling were her memories of her father’s strict, often abusive, parenting. Garten admits, “I was terrified that he was going to kill me.” Yet, despite the fear, she never fought back; she just tried to disappear.
Finding Love and Herself Through Jeffrey
Everything changed when Garten met her husband, Jeffrey, at Dartmouth College in 1963. “That’s when my life started,” she tells Hoda. Jeffrey, whom she married while still in college, became her biggest supporter. From the beginning, he encouraged her to find her own path, telling her, “If you don’t, you won’t be happy.”
Jeffrey’s unconditional love transformed how Garten saw herself. “He just took total delight in me,” she reflects with a smile. His belief in her laid the foundation for her confidence, allowing her to eventually pursue a career that has taken surprising turns, from running a specialty food store, Barefoot Contessa, to becoming a bestselling author and TV star.
Her relationship with Jeffrey wasn’t without challenges. Early in their marriage, they had to redefine their roles, especially when Garten bought her store and left her Washington, D.C. government job. After a brief separation and open conversations, they grew closer. “I’m falling in love with somebody who happens to be my husband,” Garten says, marveling at the renewed sense of partnership they found.
A Marriage of Equals—Without Kids
Choosing not to have children was a significant decision for Garten and Jeffrey. In her early 20s, Garten realized she didn’t want to re-create the cold home she grew up in. At 25, she made the decision final. “I just don’t know if I would have been a good parent, and I love my life the way it is now,” she tells Hoda, with no regrets.
Together, they’ve crafted a marriage that suits them, focusing on each other and the life they’ve built. “Turns out, I love making dinner,” she says with a laugh. “I just didn’t want somebody to expect me to make dinner.”
Healing and Humor
Although Garten’s childhood was marked by trauma, she has managed to find healing through her work and her relationships. When her father apologized to her later in life, it meant everything to her. It marked a shift in their relationship, one that allowed her to see herself through Jeffrey’s loving eyes.
Hoda is visibly moved when Garten shares how her father once told her no one would ever love her. But, in a delightful twist, Garten now revels in the love she receives from fans daily. “I love walking up Madison Avenue, and every other block, somebody leans in and says, ‘I love you.’” She laughs, calling it “the great cosmic joke” of her life: her father was wrong.
A Life Full of Love
As Garten reflects on her journey—from a scary childhood to the incredible love story with Jeffrey—it’s clear that she has found peace. Her new memoir is more than just a look back; it’s a testament to how love, both given and received, can shape a life. “I have no idea what’s ahead,” she says, “but whatever it is, I know it will be full of love.”
And really, how great is that?
