Ina Garten Reflects on Her Life in New Memoir “Be Ready When the Luck Happens”
NEW YORK — Ina Garten, famed for her Barefoot Contessa brand of cookbooks and television shows, shares insights from her life in her new memoir, “Be Ready When the Luck Happens.” The book combines personal stories with lessons applicable to both culinary enthusiasts and the general public.
Garten recalls a pivotal moment from the late 1960s when, as a newlywed living in Fayetteville, North Carolina, she sought to learn how to fly. Intrigued by a nearby private airport, she boldly inquired about flying lessons, only to be told by the staff, “We don’t have anybody who’ll teach a girl how to fly.” Undeterred, Garten’s determination led her to eventually obtain lessons, a story she includes in her memoir.
“I wanted it to be fun to read because otherwise nobody would read this,” she remarked. “Each story has a point that can inspire readers in their own lives.”
Co-authored with writer Deborah Davis, the memoir showcases Garten’s tenacity, including the moment in 1978 when she impulsively bought a specialty food store in the Hamptons called Barefoot Contessa after seeing an ad in The New York Times. At the time, she was 30 and working at the White House, having minimal experience in the food industry beyond reselling Dunkin’ Donuts in college.
Garten describes the leap as exhilarating yet daunting: “It sounded a little crazy, but I was out of my mind with excitement. I didn’t know if it would be the best decision or the worst mistake I ever made,” she reflects on her grocery store venture, which she transformed into a renowned brand through her dedication to quality and hard work.
Readers may also gain insight into Garten’s challenging upbringing in Connecticut, where she faced an abusive father and a distant mother who controlled the family with bland meals. This difficult childhood fostered in her a deep empathy for others, a trait she believes helped her connect with customers throughout her career.
The memoir also delves into her six-month separation from her husband Jeffrey, unveiling the efforts they made to restore their relationship after she reshaped their traditional domestic roles. “When I bought Barefoot Contessa, I shattered our traditional roles… and left them in pieces,” she writes, highlighting how compromise became essential for their partnership.
Gillian Blake, executive vice president and editor-in-chief of Crown & Currency, emphasizes that Garten’s stories resonate with universal themes of persistence and self-trust, drawing parallels between cooking and overcoming life’s obstacles.
While Garten is known for her approachable demeanor, she reveals a resolute side, calling obstacles “a call to action.” She recounts experiences like confronting a robber and navigating challenges as a woman in business, alongside lighter anecdotes, such as her whimsical meetings with celebrities like Mel Brooks and Taylor Swift.
Ultimately, Garten conveys that success comes not from innate talent but from determination to overcome barriers. “People who are well known and successful aren’t there because they are smarter, more creative… It’s because they hit a wall and decided to figure it out,” she states. “Writing this book made me realize I had a lot more courage than I thought I had, which shaped my life.”