Thursday, November 15, 2012

My Day With INA GARTEN!!!

  
Our day started bright, and early Tuesday morning!! That was the day I got to go, and see Ina Garten!!!

We left at 7:30 in the morning because we were going to be in commute traffic. We arrived at 10:00am at Santana Row shopping outdoor mall in San Jose, California. 

The book signing was held at Sur La Table…..

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There were already people lined up, having coffee, and sitting in chairs waiting for Ina to arrive at 12:00.

I would guess that we were some of the first 100 people there. 

After about a half an hour we were so glad that we came early. The line grew, and grew! It went down the block, and eventually it went up the length of another block……..

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There were people of all ages, young, thirty-something's, my age, and even people in their eighties. Ina transcends all age groups.

The employees at Sur La Table were warm, and friendly They brought out trays of espressos for the crowd…..

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I thought that was such a nice touch, but wait! There is more! Then they brought out trays of mini muffins and breads……..

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We were beyond excited to be here so the wait went by quickly.

We visited and looked at our new cookbooks…..
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All of the sudden the line started moving, the excitement level began to rise. It was happening!! We were about to go inside and see Ina Garten in person……….


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There she is!!! I became like a star-struck teenager.  I was amazed at how young she looked in person. She is such a pretty lady, and her warmth radiates from within.

She had her work partner Barbara, and her neighbor helping her. There was also a body guard that made his presence known.

Barbara was warm and friendly as she took my cookbook and handed it to  Ina’s neighbor who opened it to the page that Ina would be signing it on. 
Then it happened…… 

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I had planned exactly what I was going to say to her. Of course that went right out the window as soon as she made eye contact with me,smiled warmly, and said,
“Thank your for waiting!”
 
Are you serious? Of course I would wait all day to see you!! No, I did not say that, but that is what was going on in my head.

I finally uttered a few words….. “Thank YOU for making entertaining so much easier for me!”

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She was still looking at me and……
....She said, “You are welcome.”
  
Then with a cute little lean of her head she said, 

“It is hard sometimes isn’t it?”

I said, “Yes, but it’s a good hard!” Omgosh, did that make sense?

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She smiled graciously, signed my book, and off I went with my friend like two happy teenagers that had just seen their teen idle.

I think we floated out of the store, seriously.

We left to go and have a lovely lunch at the Left Bank restaurant, which was so fun because the menu was in French, and English. Many of the dishes were like what we saw at many of the cafes while we were in Paris.

After lunch we walked by Sur La Table, and she was still there signing her books for fans. We went right back in, and took the opportunity to take a few more pictures.

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She made eye contact with me again, as if to say, “Oh, you came back, how nice!” I clicked away, and enjoyed every single minute.

Some of them are a bit blurry because there was a lot of movement going on, but I can look at these blurry pictures, and remember the day that I met and talked to Ina Garten

♪♫♪♫Someone’s in the kitchen with Ina,♪♫♪ someone’s in the kitchen I know, oh ,oh, oh ♪♫♪♫

BTW:
You can purchase Ina’s new cookbook, "Fool Proof," with her autograph here!

Ina has a Facebook page, here!
Her blog, Barefoot Contessa, here!
 

26 comments:

  1. You are too cute!! I think I would have done the same thing. I wouldn't have imagined her not to be as gracious as you said. She does seem so charming.
    The book is on my Christmas List.

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  2. Kathy Sue, What a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
    How lucky you were to have a little conversation with Ina and get her to sign your book!!!!
    And how smart you were to take chairs!
    She is coming my way in December and I am going to try to get my book autographed too! I'm taking a lesson from you, my friend... taking a chair... making sweet conversation... taking a camera... AND going back in to be hopefully noticed!!!!
    So happy for your fun experience. THanks for sharing it!!!! xo

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  3. What a fun outing for you Kathysue! I adore Ina too. I went to listen to her speak in the Hamptons followed by a Q & A...it was wonderful. Wonder if she will do another signing this summer now that she has her new book out (which she spoke about two summer ago.) Glad you shared your fun with us! xo, Lisa

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  4. I was in Paris two weeks after you were and I am driving on the 29th from my home in Central KY to Milwaukee to hear in at the Pabst Center. I don't know if it will be a talk or a cooking demonstration. We receive an autographed copy of Foolproof. I am a dedication fan as well.

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  5. How exciting!! Loved this post. I have her book in my kitchen, she is wonderful! Glad you had fun! :) XO ~LIz

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  6. Good for You!!!!! I can just feel your excitement in this post! you lucky lucky girl:-)

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  7. I love Ina and wish she would come to Rhode Island. She's the only worthy person they have on the Food Network because she actually cooks! Good food always surpasses the store bought junk they make "pretty"....yes Sandra Lee I'm talking to you.

    It's ironic that no matter how old one gets, meeting a favorite celebrity does make one feel like a teenager. I felt 15 years old when Michael Buble touched my hand during his concert.

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  8. Oh Kathysue, I love the pictures of you, they are so fantastic to see. I am so glad you had a fun day. Love ya. Hugs, Marty

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  9. I am SO envious of you! I just love Ina Garten, she is a class act. I am impressed with how long that line was and how kind it was of Sur La Table to make your wait a little more pleasant. You look fantastic in the pictures, too!

    I hope she comes to Chicago, I will definitely line up!

    XO,
    Jane

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  10. Great pictures of "my idol" too Great fun for you and your friend. Thanks for sharing your day and your pictures.

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  11. You are too funny! So happy for you that you got to talk to Ina! I am buying her book asap! Looks like such a fun day for you! And yes, entertaining is hard sometimes. As I'm gearing up for a big dinner party Saturday night, I'm wishing I had Ina here to help!

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  12. I would of been right there with you in absolutely awe of being in her presence. What a DREAM that came true. Hoping one day I'll be doing that same thing and remember this post and think of you. She is the GREATEST! and you are too! Always love your blog!

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  13. You are too cute KathySue. I love her, and that store, too. Glad you met your crush :). Come check out our giveaway if you'd like.
    xo Nancy
    Powellbrowerhome.com

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  14. Kathysue, you and your friend look so happy waiting to see Ina! What fun; wow that crowd was waiting a long time. We have a Sur la Table on the Plaza and I love it!

    xoxo
    Karena
    A Special Scalamandre Giveaway

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  15. How very, very exciting, Kathysue! I am so glad you got the opportunity to do this. It is something you will always remember! xo Diana

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  16. What a fun post! I promptly went to Ina's facebook page and liked her too.... Thanks Kathysue, I love your blog!

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  17. What a fun post! I really enjoy your blog Kathysue...

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  18. Love your recap! I had a similar experience with her when she was in my city a few years ago for a book signing. So warm and wonderful, just like she is on her show! She truly is the best!

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  19. someone's in the kitchen with ina! ha!

    she is a gorgeous woman fo sho!

    what fun that must have been.

    michele

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  20. What a fun post...love Ina! She deserves her success for her user friendly warm approach to cooking and entertaining....she is like an old friend even if I never met her:) Looks like a perfect day to me!

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  21. Isn't it a glorious moment! Three cookbooks ago I got to meet her as well -- the 2 seconds that you got to "talk" to her as you were whisked through the line was magical and of course, you end up saying something inane as every clever thing you think of saying while you're waiting in line goes completely out of your head when you really get in her presence!

    The last cookbook, it wasn't a signing but we did get to sit and listen to a conversation with her and the bookshop owner and she answered questions -- a live "Ask Ina" -- as well. But, sign, no up close and personal that time but she did sign the book just not in front of us.

    You got far better pictures than I -- they were more crowd controlling I guess!

    It is a magical moment and I'm so glad that you got to do it.

    BTW, I'm coming from the Contessa Cafe board and I guess I didn't realize you had a blog -- I'm adding you to my "Friends of Linderhof" on my blog --

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  22. What a fabulous experience. I love Ina and have all of her books, including Foolproof. I would love to meet her in person. Lucky you. I'm so glad to know that she's as nice and friendly as she appears. Ina rocks in my book.
    Sam

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  23. Oh my work, If I lived near you, I would have waited with you. I have never actually cooked any of her recipes. I watch because I am a home and garden stalker of hers. The Hamptons, Nantucket...same thing.

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  24. Oh my goodness! I can't believe you got to meet her! She is AMAZING! And from what you said....so warm and welcoming!

    blessings,
    karianne

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  25. I totally get that star-struck thing. I just went and saw John and Sherry from Young House Love at their book signing here in Toronto. It was a blast too. Thankfully they let us line up inside as it was raining and cold outside. Good times, eh?

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I would love to hear from you, Kathysue