Good food, good friends...who doesn't love that? Ina Garten is an inspiration to so many American hosts who love entertaining their friends with beyond amateur dinner parties. I am no exception.
When you watch the Barefoot Contessa with popped collar driving to buy the best ingredients from expensive shops in the Hamptons, it makes you want to really do it right. The theme of her television shows and her books centers on gathering different mixes of her friends and acquaintances for savvy food experiences that look delicious and neat. She just always seems to know what would be a lot of fun for people to eat. She rolls up her sleeves to put in the effort while keeping a sense of humor. Then when it is time to serve it up, she really knows how to enjoy herself in the company of her guests.
For a Tuesday evening dinner party this week, I assumed the form of Ina Garten and pulled out a few hearty French country dishes. Though French food brings to mind a stereotype of fussiness, the menu was actually very simple. We started with a baguette and a warm Vichyssoise soup, then rich Beef Bourgingnon with noodles and finished up with chocolate pot de creme for dessert. While all of it was scrumptious, I have to hand it to Ina for her Vichyssoise recipe which I used. To the classic combination of leeks, potatoes, stock and creme, she added zucchini. Purréed and served with some bread, it was velvety soup heaven.....and who wouldn't love that?
