Food meets family in new books from Ina Garten and Stephen Colbert

The early influences of family and environment can deeply shape a person's relationship with food and cooking, as demonstrated by the experiences of Ina Garten and Stephen Colbert.

Ina Garten's mother had a practical, utilitarian approach to food, which lacked flavor and joy

Garten describes her mother’s approach to food as being strictly about nourishment, offering meals like broiled chicken and canned peas without any sense of pleasure. This utilitarian perspective meant that dishes were flavorless and devoid of joy.

Ina Garten's grandmother, who loved to cook, and her immigrant grandfather's junkyard business, where employees could help themselves to the food, instilled in her a passion for cooking and entertaining

On the other hand, Garten’s passion for food was ignited by her grandmother, who adored cooking, and the communal ethos of her grandfather's junkyard business, where employees were welcomed to freely take food from his and Garten’s grandmother’s refrigerator. Garten believes her love of cooking and the joy of food may have been inherited from the example set by her grandmother and the warm, communal atmosphere promoted by her grandfather.

Stephen Colbert's mother cooked simple, efficient dishes, while his upbringing in the Lowcountry of South Carolina taught him practical skills like fishing and shrimping

Colbert humorously notes that his mother's cooking was straightforwa ...

Ina Garten's career shift from a government employee to a celebrated food industry icon exemplifies the steep learning curve and the diverse skills required to thrive in this competitive field.

Ina Garten's transition from a federal government employee to the owner of a specialty food store

Ina Garten leaped into the food industry by taking over a specialty food store, although she quickly learned that a month of training was inadequate to master all the necessary skills.

Garten had to teach herself tasks like pricing, managing staff, and developing a supply chain, seeking out mentors and learning through hands-on experience

Upon acquiring the store, Garten received a month of mentorship from the previous owner, Diana Estrada, but soon realized she needed to teach herself various business skills. She had to figure out critical activities like pricing, staff management, and developing a robust supply chain. Garten embraced the process of untangling complex tasks and learning how to run her business effectively.

Garten's time running the specialty food store informed her later success as a cookbook author and TV personality

Years of operating the specialty food store provided Garten with intimate knowledge of what home cooks desire, a key insight that she later channelled into her cookbooks. Her hands-on experience translated into confidence on television, where she could demonstrate cooking techniques in a step-by-step approach that resonated with viewers.

Despite the steep learning curve and long hours, Garten embraced the challenges of running a business

Ina Garten not only accepted the challenges that came with business ownership but sought them ...

The dynamics between Stephen Colbert and his wife Evie while creating a cookbook are a testament to the challenges and joys that can arise when a married couple collaborates on a creative venture.

Different Personalities and Approaches

Stephen Colbert and Evie initially had reservations about working together on a cookbook, aware of their contrasting personalities and organizational preferences.

Colbert, the "Chaos Muppet," is more improvisational, while Evie, the "Order Muppet," is more rules-oriented

In a conversation with Ari Shapiro, Evelyn McGee-Colbert identifies herself as an "Order Muppet," implying her organized and structured nature, while Stephen Colbert suggests he's the more free-spirited "Chaos Muppet." This dynamic led to uncertainty about how they would manage a collaborative project given their disparate styles. As Stephen notes, they even had moments of "animosity," playfully suggesting the key to marital collaboration is finding out "who's in control of the pan."

The couple had to navigate their contrasting styles and find a way to collaborate effectively

Colbert indicates that their collaborative hesitancy waned after working together during his show in the COVID-19 era, which they surprisingly found enjoyable. This experience of coming together under unusual circumstances stemmed their nervousness and set the foundation for a successful partnership in producing the cookbook.

Pandemic's Role in Strengthening Collaborative Efforts

The COVID-19 pandemic unexpectedly brought Colbert and Evie closer in their professional relationship, and this newfound rapport fueled their decision to embark on creating a cookbook together.

The experience of working together during Colbert's COVID-era show helped them realize they could successfully collaborate on a creative endeavor

Colbert emphasizes that the fun they experienced while working on his show during the pandemic-era broadcasts demonstrated their ability to take on additional collaborative projects. It crystallized their realization that not only could they work together harmoniously but that they could also find pleasure in the process.

Combining ...