Ina Garten, the well-known celebrity chef and host of the Food Network’s “Barefoot Contessa,” is preparing to reveal details about her difficult upbringing in her upcoming memoir, “Be Ready When the Luck Happens.” The book is set to be released on October 1st. In a recent interview with People magazine, Garten discussed the troubled relationship she had with her late parents, Charles and Florence Rosenberg.
During the interview, Garten revealed that she was physically afraid of her father when she was a child. She recalled instances where he would strike her and pull her hair. She described feeling constantly afraid even when there wasn’t immediate violence happening. As a result, she spent much of her childhood alone in her bedroom for protection.
Garten also spoke about her mother, who did what she could but struggled to have a relationship with Ina. The chef explained that as she has gotten older, building relationships has become incredibly important to her because of this difficult dynamic with her mother.
In an Instagram post earlier this week, Garten shared that reconnecting with some high school friends while researching for her memoir was meaningful for her. She described them as being like a lifeline during a challenging time at home.
Despite these hardships, Garten managed to overcome them through sheer determination. She made peace with her father before his death and credits meeting and marrying Jeffrey—her husband—for helping change their complicated relationship into something positive.
Garten’s journey eventually led to success in the culinary world. After leaving a job at the White House in 1978, she purchased Barefoot Contessa—a specialty food store located in The Hamptons—in 1987. Seeking new challenges later on, Garten sold the store in 1996 and began writing cookbooks instead.
Her first cookbook became an unexpected best-seller and paved the way for twelve more successful publications. In November 2002, “Barefoot Contessa,” Garten’s cooking program debuted on Food Network where it continues to captivate audiences today.