to be the next barefoot contessa
why are there no more specialty food stores for $20K anymore?
I’m currently reading Ina Garten’s new book: Be Ready When Luck Happens. I’m about 15 books behind on my annual goal but nothing is a page turner like a celebrity chef in my opinion. No, that wasn’t sarcasm. She’'ll be going on a press tour in the coming months and I even secured tickets to see her at her stop in DC.
Back to the book. In it, she quickly dives into her entrance into the food world. In 1978 she purchased a small specialty food store, specifically a cheese and specialty food shoppe. The store was for sale for $25K and she offered $20K. The rest, as they say, is history.
For a moment I will complain about the obvious: I can’t believe she got her start for such a price! Even adjusted for today’s inflation, that’s around $96K in today's money (according to Nerd Wallet, not Claire-math). None of those numbers even account for how her property grew in value nestled in its East Hamptons digs.
Ina went to work in her new store, a complete change from her rather mundane government job back in Washington, D.C.. Her husband Jeffery continued to work in his government related role while she move up to New York. He would commute back and forth on the weekends while she got everything up and running.
She grew her business, working 20+ hour days and eventually cementing herself into the scenery of the iddilic town. Nancy Myers even featured The Barefoot Contessa as a set in Something’s Gotta Give. All I have to say about that is if Nancy Myers loves your aesthetic, you’ve made it in life.
Though Ina continues to be one of my favorite cookbook authors/celebrity chef personalities, she is not the only one I dream of growing up to be one day.
Julie and Julia is a movie released in 2009 based on the novel by author Julie Powell. She spends a year cooking all 500+ recipes in Julia Child’s iconic cookbook Mastering The Art Of French Cooking. I’ve seen this movie no less than 30 times and can tell you all about many of the dishes Julie cooks and a few she attempts to cook.
I’ve always dreamt of combining the two. The premise of Julie and Julia but with Ina and Me. But instead of one cookbook, this way there would be thirteen.
Over 1,000 recipes from her shows and cookbooks combined - and someone even attempted this feat already. Over six years until he was able to complete it, he ended on Boston Cream Pie.
Should I throw caution to the wind and try anyways? You tell me.
I say cook to your hearts content. Weigh Mitch before you start and at the end of the 13 cook books. Also don't forget to add "meat on a stick"