Ep 8. Weekend Guest

In Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics season 12 episode 8, entitled "Weekend Guest," Ina Garten invites her friend and columnist for the New York Times, Frank Bruni, for a weekend of cooking and eating. Ina prepares a delicious breakfast of crispy hash browns with fried eggs and a classic French toast with raspberry sauce. Ina also shares her recipe for a simple tomato and avocado salad with a lemon vinaigrette dressing that can be whipped up in seconds.

For lunch, Ina prepares her famous beef bourguignon, a hearty French stew made with tender beef, carrots, mushrooms, and red wine. She serves it with a side of garlic mashed potatoes and a refreshing fruit salad.

For dinner, Ina prepares a roasted vegetable lasagna that is a hit with her guest. The dish is filled with layers of roasted eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, and ricotta cheese. She pairs the dish with a fresh and tangy arugula salad and a simple dessert of vanilla ice cream with homemade hot fudge sauce that is sure to impress.

Throughout the episode, Ina shares tips for entertaining and making meals in advance. She encourages viewers to prep ingredients in advance, such as roasting the vegetables for the lasagna, which saves time on the day of the event. She also emphasizes the importance of having fun when hosting guests and not stressing over perfection.

"Wend Guest" is a perfect example of Ina Garten's signature style of effortless entertaining and delicious, yet simple, recipes that are sure to impress any guest.