Ep 2. Cooking for Jeffrey: Deans for Dinner

In this episode of Barefoot Contessa, titled "Cooking for Jeffrey: Deans for Dinner", host Ina Garten is preparing a special dinner for her husband Jeffrey’s academic colleagues, who happen to be Deans at various universities.

The episode opens with Ina explaining how she loves throwing dinner parties and is excited to have a group of academic heavyweights over for dinner. She’s preparing a delicious meal of Moroccan Lamb Tagine, which has been marinated overnight, along with some couscous on the side. For dessert, she’s making her easy and delicious Apple Tart Tatin.

Ina starts by prepping the lamb and explains that it’s an excellent recipe to make ahead of time, as the longer the lamb marinates, the better the flavor will be. She then moves on to making the couscous, which she spices with cumin and adds raisins and toasted pine nuts for extra texture.

Next, Ina turns her attention to the Apple Tart Tatin, which she says is one of her go-to desserts. She shows viewers how to make the caramel sauce, which is the key to this classic French dessert. She then arranges the apple slices in a beautiful pattern before topping them with a sheet of puff pastry. The tart goes into the oven and Ina seems pleased with how it’s turning out.

As she waits for the dinner guests to arrive, Ina sets the table with her favorite pieces from France – a beautiful tablecloth, her Blue Italian plates, and antique silverware that she inherited from her mother. She also arranges a bouquet of flowers from her garden to add a pop of color to the table.

Once the guests arrive, Ina greets them warmly and serves them glasses of Prosecco to start the evening off right. They all sit down to enjoy the meal, and Ina looks pleased as she watches everyone take their first bite of the lamb. Her guests compliment her on the tenderness and flavor of the meat, and Ina is thrilled.

As they move on to dessert, Ina slices up the Apple Tart Tatin and serves it with a dollop of crème fraiche. The guests rave about how delicious it is, and Ina is happy to have ended the meal on a high note.

The episode concludes with Ina saying goodbye to her guests and reflecting on the evening. She mentions how much she enjoys entertaining and being able to create a memorable experience for her friends and family. As she cleans up the kitchen, she looks forward to planning her next dinner party and creating more delicious meals to share with loved ones.

Overall, this episode of Barefoot Contessa is a lovely showcase of Ina Garten’s entertaining prowess and her ability to create delicious, flavorful meals with ease. The Moroccan Lamb Tagine and Apple Tart Tatin recipes are sure to be hits, and viewers will come away feeling inspired to try them out for their own dinner parties.