Barefoot Contessa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article is about the cooking show. For the film, see The Barefoot Contessa.
| Barefoot Contessa | |
|---|---|
| Format | Cooking |
| Created by | Ina Garten |
| Starring | Ina Garten |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| No. of episodes | 111, as of December 2007[1] |
| Production | |
| Running time | 20–23 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Food Network |
| Original run | November 30, 2002 – present |
Barefoot Contessa is a cooking show on Food Network hosted by Ina Garten, which premiered on November 30, 2002. Each episode features Garten assembling dishes of varying complexity, and she often gives the viewer tips on decorating and entertaining.
The "Barefoot Contessa" name comes from Garten's best-selling cookbook, The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, which in turn was named after the specialty foods store she bought in 1978. The store, which is no longer in operation, opened in 1975 and was named after the 1954 film of the same name.
The show is set in Garten's home in East Hampton. The show's format is similar to other "lifestyle" cooking shows found on the Food Network, catering to people with little expertise looking to easily entertain while enriching their palates.
In a typical episode, Garten prepares a multi-course meal for friends, colleagues, small parties, or her husband Jeffrey. Her recipes often include fresh herbs, which she hand-harvests from her backyard garden. Table settings include both simple and elegant dishes, and are often accompanied by her own flowers or those brought in by Michael Grim, a friend and local florist.
Often, her recipes require an excursion, and the show features her visits to various East Hampton specialty stores. Sometimes she asks Jeffrey or other guests to pick up various ingredients or prepared desserts from a local shop.
Garten deconstructs complex French recipes like boeuf bourguignon while disseminating the joys of luxury and simply "treating yourself". She focuses on preparing foods efficiently, allowing more time to spend with guests.
The show is taped mostly in her own kitchen, and features fast-moving camera shots and closeups (e.g., perfectly-ripened fruits, eggs falling from the shells, or caramel sauce melting and sizzling in a shining steel pan). The show is shot at 24 frames per second as opposed to 30 frames per second which allows for a more movie-like, cinematic appearance.[citation needed]
The show was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award in 2005. In 2007, it was nominated in the category of Outstanding Lifestyle Program.
