Ep 1. Welcome to Town Party

In the season 10 premiere of Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics, Ina Garten is celebrating her move to a new home in East Hampton with a Welcome to Town Party. The episode begins with Ina sharing some of her favorite tips for throwing a great party, from creating a simple and elegant menu to setting a beautiful table.

Then, Ina gets to work in the kitchen, starting with her recipe for Fresh Crab Nachos. She begins by making a quick and easy guacamole, mixing mashed avocado, diced tomato, and red onion with a squeeze of lime juice. Next, she tops blue corn tortilla chips with lump crabmeat, a drizzle of sour cream, and the guacamole, finishing with a sprinkle of fresh herbs. The result is a light and flavorful appetizer that's perfect for a summer party.

For the main course, Ina prepares Grilled Branzino with Tomato Fennel Sauce. She shows viewers how to prepare and grill the fish, noting that it's important to brush the skin with oil to prevent sticking. To make the tomato fennel sauce, Ina sautés thinly sliced fennel and garlic in olive oil until soft and fragrant, then adds chopped tomatoes and a splash of white wine. After simmering for a few minutes, the sauce is ready to be blended until smooth and served over the grilled fish.

To round out the menu, Ina shares her recipe for Easy Gazpacho, a refreshing chilled soup that's perfect for summertime. She blends together juicy ripe tomatoes, cucumber, red pepper, and onion, along with garlic, olive oil, and a splash of red wine vinegar. After chilling the soup for a few hours, she serves it with a dollop of sour cream and a drizzle of olive oil.

Throughout the episode, Ina emphasizes the importance of keeping things simple and stress-free when hosting a party. She recommends preparing as much as possible ahead of time and enlisting the help of friends and family to make things easier. She also emphasizes the importance of enjoying the process of planning and preparing a party, rather than getting bogged down in details.

As always, Ina's warm and enthusiastic demeanor make the episode a joy to watch, and her recipes are sure to inspire viewers to try their hand at hosting their own summer parties. With its emphasis on easy, flavorful dishes and stress-free entertaining, Welcome to Town Party is a perfect introduction to season 10 of Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics.