Watch Be My Guest with Ina Garten

At first glance, you may assume that Ina Garten's new show, Be My Guest, is simply a continuation of her successful series, Barefoot Contessa. But there's something different about this show. While the focus is still on food and entertaining, Be My Guest is much more focused on the guests than the host.

Each episode of Be My Guest revolves around a single dinner party, which Garten hosts in her home on the beautiful coast of Maine. But it's not just any dinner party – it's a chance for Garten to bring together a group of people from various backgrounds and professions to connect over a shared love of food and cooking.

The show has a similar structure to Barefoot Contessa, in that each episode begins with Garten shopping for ingredients for the meal she plans to cook. But instead of walking around local markets and shops alone, as she did in Barefoot Contessa, in Be My Guest, she's accompanied by one of her upcoming guests. This guest then introduces himself or herself and talks about his or her profession or passion – which might be anything from gardening to filmmaking to entrepreneurship. As Garten shops and chats with her guest, we get a glimpse of their dynamic, and we start to get a sense of how they might interact later on at the dinner party.

After Garten finishes shopping, she heads back to her kitchen to start cooking. Here's where Be My Guest starts to get a bit different from Barefoot Contessa. While Garten still provides all of her usual cooking tips and tricks, she also takes the time to pause and chat with her guests. Each episode features several segments in which Garten sits down with one of her guests and talks more about his or her life and passions. These conversations are often touching and illuminating, revealing unexpected connections and shared experiences.

Meanwhile, Garten continues to cook, and the guests arrive one by one. The show does a great job of introducing each guest, so that by the time the dinner party is in full swing, we have a good sense of who everyone is and what they're interested in. The guests all seem genuinely excited to be there, and it's clear that Garten has handpicked them for their energy, curiosity, and potential for good conversation.

As the night unfolds, we see the guests mingling, eating, and sipping wine while Garten puts the finishing touches on the meal. The conversation ranges from light and humorous to serious and heartfelt, as the guests talk about everything from their families to their work to their recent travels. Garten herself seems relaxed and engaged, enjoying the chance to be not just a chef, but also a facilitator of connections and conversations.

Eventually, the meal is ready, and the guests sit down to eat. This is when the show really shines. The camera pans around the table as we hear snippets of conversation, laughter, and clinking glasses. The food looks incredible, of course, but it's clear that the real focus is on the people gathered around the table. Garten doesn't shy away from showing moments of silence and introspection, giving the guests the space to really connect with one another.

One of the best things about Be My Guest is its inclusivity. The guests come from a wide range of backgrounds, ages, and experiences, and the show does a great job of emphasizing the commonalities between them. It's clear that Garten wants to create a space where everyone feels welcome and valued, whether they're a celebrity or a small business owner. As Garten says in one episode, "Everybody has a story. That's what makes this so fun."

Overall, Be My Guest is a delightful and heartfelt show that showcases the best of what Ina Garten has to offer. It's a reminder that despite our differences, food has the power to bring us together. And while there are plenty of cooking shows out there, there's nothing quite like the magic of a good dinner party.

Be My Guest with Ina Garten is a series that ran for 5 seasons (25 episodes) between March 26, 2022 and on Discovery+