David A. Mazujian's "The Front Burner": At Home With Ina Garten

Written by David A. Mazujian

Nearly 22 years ago, a 9 year old girl named Katie Beers from Bay Shore, Long Island earned national attention. Katie was abducted and held in a subterranean concrete bunker for 17 days. Physically, sexually and emotionally abused during her imprisonment, Katie was sadly also no stranger to abuse at home. Today, Katie Beers is a beautiful, down to earth adult woman having entered her third decade. She possesses a warm smile and engaging personality. She is married with two children and enjoys a successful career. After being raised by foster parents and years of professional help, Katie Beers is by all measures now living the American dream.

Raising awareness and funding for EAC Network’s Suffolk County Child Advocacy Center (“CAC”), Katie Beers joined our very own Ina Garten, who graciously hosted a garden party this weekend at her Hamptons home. It could not have been a nicer sunny weekend afternoon at Garten’s lush compound flanked by her familiar cedar-shingled home with screened and open porches to the north and her more recently constructed barn/office to the south, joined by the greenest and densest of lawns and stunning yet approachable landscape in the Hamptons! As a gushy Ina Garten fan and devotee, this visit to Ina and Jeffrey Garten’s home supporting child advocacy could not have been more special.

The fundraiser allowed guests to freely roam her many flower and vegetable gardens, private garden paths, and the wonderful barn. Both Ina and Katie mingled with guests. What does one say to Katie Beers? You want to ask questions, but don’t exactly know how. You pray she is ok and offer a hug. But what can you really say other than to admire this woman’s incredible strength, determination and triumph through horrific circumstances. Katie is a testament to the familiar phrase, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” As a result of her ordeal, the CAC was founded. Providing a neutral, child-focused environment, the CAC offers a coordinated response to child abuse allegations that may be pursued in ways that support and protect children, non-offending parents and other family members. Katie noted during her public comments that she wished she had one single safe place like the CAC, to be cared for her after her ordeal.

Ina Garten has been a long-time child advocacy supporter. Both Katie and her foster mother worked for Ina at her famed Barefoot Contessa gourmet food store in East Hampton. During its time, The Barefoot Contessa was East Hampton’s fine food store institution predating Citarella. During her public remarks, Ina Garten proudly stated, “(CAC) is an extraordinary organization” and she is “happy to support it.”

Fans quickly recognized both primary buildings on the estate. Garten’s earlier Food Network cooking shows were filmed at her home. The barn was later built to house her office which boasts an immense and impressive cookbook collection and film her more recent cooking shows. The barn actually functions as a very professional, fully equipped test kitchen, yet exudes the warmth, age and feeling of a beamed country barn kitchen. There are several ovens. I was told there are even ovens in the barn garage! Ina enjoys probably the best commute to work imaginable. Supported by her longtime, knowledgeable and very capable assistants, the barn is where Ina tests her recipes, writes her cookbooks and oh of course, hosts fabulous dinner parties with family and friends. Ina Garten’s recipes work as she typically tries them out 20 or more times before finalizing.

Ina Garten fielded many questions including her likes and dislikes. Her favorite foods are simple fresh peaches and melon and prosciutto. Dislikes? Hold the cilantro! Ina definitely falls into the no cilantro camp. Her fantasy dinner guest would be Julia Child, who continues to be one of her greatest inspirations. When asked what to cook, when one can’t cook, Ina suggested purchasing dinner at a specialty food store and reheating, producing aromas of fine home cooking. Yes Ina is practical and fabulous. An accomplished culinary professional, Ina Garten has mastered the art of simplifying cooking without compromising on quality ingredients and making it all look fabulous and elegant without spending all day in the kitchen. Thank you Ina. Half sheet pans and sharp knives are a must in her kitchen. Mastering a roast chicken is her recommendation for making one thing and making it well.

“So exactly what does Ina Garten serve at one of her garden parties?” buzzed guests. The food was first class, abundant, tasteful and delicious. Supported by a patio bar stocked with Wolffer Rose and sparkling mineral water, and a barefoot harpist, friendly yet professional servers paraded out of the barn one by one with luscious deviled eggs (with and without salmon), tuna tartare on crisp waffle chips, the creamiest guacamole (sans cilantro) with homemade chips and fresh salsa (again, sans cilantro) – the tomatoes were perfectly diced. Moist and flavorful chicken sate, lobster endive boats and mini crab cakes rounded out the menu. By the way, Ina doesn’t bother with deviled egg plate servers. Just slice off a thin layer from the egg white bottoms so they don’t wobble.

Having triumphed over her heart wrenching trauma and years of adolescent abuse, Katie Beers continues to speak out about child abuse and last year published “Buried Memories: Katie Beers’ Story.” And just like her cooking shows, Ina’s adoring cuddly husband Jeffrey arrived towards the end of the event. The sun moved further west and signed cookbooks awaited all guests. What’s next for The Barefoot Contessa? Our local culinary hero’s 9th cookbook “Make It Ahead” is scheduled for publishing in October, 2014.

Donations to EAC’s Suffolk County Child Advocacy Center at the Pat & Mary Bagnato Place For Kids can be mailed to:

Education & Assistance Corporation

Development Department

50 Clinton Street, Suite 107

Hempstead, NY 11550

www.eac-network.org

www.eacinc.org

631-439-0480