Today I met Ina Garten.

I woke to pouring rain. No, not just pouring rain ... POURING RAIN, wind and darkness outside. It was only 7AM and looked like midnight. I was really worried that our day of fun wasn't going to happen because of the wicked weather but not so ...

DH took the day off so I could be solo, no little kiddo to haul around, Yay! I picked Mom up early and we headed over to Sur La Table. Ina Garten aka Barefoot Contessa, was doing a book signing there today for her new cookbook, How Easy Is That?, Mom and I were meeting up with our Ina following-friends, Nancy and Betty, for a frolic of good time with lunch, of course!, to follow. It was still raining when he got to the Sur La Table (a mecca for one who cooks, bakes, loves to be in the kitchen) and we managed to be #8 and #9 in line. We were fortunate to be under a breezeway but the rain had stopped so that was great however it was terribly humid and muggy. At least it was dry! Nancy and Betty got there soon after and shortly before 10AM the line had snaked around the corner of the store and by the time we were led in the store to wait awhile, the line had wrapped around the block as far as you could see! Still no rain - sun out and clear if still humid. They were selling so many of the cookbooks that they had to take a cart of them outside for people in line to purchase.

Ok, so we were in the store by 11AM and we were being well taken care of by the staff with goodies like coffee cake, pound cake, cookies and more cookies - all Ina recipes of course. It was fantastic! Once inside the cooking school room to where Ina and her friend/publicist sat, it was surreal. I've never met a cookbook author before and it was truly extra special. Not that meeting someone famous isn't special but meeting someone who you've invited in to your home for many years, into your kitchen, via TV ... you have a deeper connection just as recipes you prepare for your family can bring.

Anyway, it was really exciting and meeting her in person was most memorable. She was friendly and sincere and lovely. Meeting her was a true delight. The staff of the store took pictures for you and were most helpful. When we left with our signed cookbooks in hand, the sun had gone behind the clouds and the lines were longer than before. About 5 minutes after we got in the car to head to lunch destination and dish about our fun, the skies opened up and it rained and rained and rained. I felt so bad for those people in line ... hopefully they were able to get dry somehow.


It was a positively perfect way to spend the day.