Martha and Ina

 

Martha Stewart wrote the foreword for Ina's very first cookbook, The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook. In the foreword, she extols Ina's joi-de-vivre, intense curiosity, intelligence, and sense of humor. Martha met her at the Barefoot Contessa store as a customer and the two became fast friends. They had shared interests in cooking, gardening, entertaining, designing, and building (particularly renovating old homes in East Hampton). Martha even introduced Ina to an editor when she had her book proposal ready, which helped get her cookbook empire rolling.

Their friendship surprises many, as Ina is often seen as almost an anti-Martha. In the foreword, though, Martha compliments the simplicity and "lack of finickiness" in Ina's recipes. (And, obviously, Martha was often following Ina's own advice and buying rather than making what she could from local specialty stores. Ina also catered many benefits at Martha's house.) 

Martha applauds Ina's "practical approach" on entertaining which focuses more on coddling people than lemon curd - which offers an interesting contrast to Martha's entertaining style of fancy recipes with elaborate presentations. Martha acknowledges, in a way, that there is room for both styles. Before Food Network gave Ina her own TV show, she even did a spec show for Martha's media empire, but it never got the green light.

Despite Ina's down-home style, when a Bacardi survey asked for a preferred drinking buddy - Martha or Ina - the majority chose Martha (78%!). But if I were Ina, I would demand a recount. I have a feeling after her famous pandemic Cosmo pitcher, the vote of many may have changed!