Tuesday, November 11, 2008

The Barefoot Contessa visits Chicago

File Under: Book Signing With The Stars


Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa, was in a suburb of Chicago today to sign copies of her new book. As a fan of hers, I took the day off from work to go to her signing.






I got to Barnes and Noble just before 9 am and was # 56 in line. Since I didn't have to be back until close to Noon, I had time to wander around the mall and Christmas shop. I'm off to a good start. Buy this isn't about Christmas shopping, this is about Ina.


I got back to the store, found my place in line and found my ladies with whom I chatted this morning. I knew I liked them when they started talking about "Dancing With the Stars." So when I got back to the store, they greeted me with excitement and let me squeeze right in (we were numbered so it wasn't like they had a choice but they let me get next to the rail so I could take pictures while we waited).











The line moved quickly. Before I knew it, I was downstairs and getting ready to face Ina. The last time I attended a book signing of hers, I told her that I had baked her jam thumbprint cookies.


A store employee took my camera and captured these pictures.















I shared with her the story that Matthew and I (my exact words were "my boyfriend and I") cooked her recipe for chicken with 40 cloves of garlic. She replied as if she was expecting me to say something about the recipe. I said "It was fantastic, we loved it. We also made your couscous with roasted root vegetables." She was happy to hear it and said that those both go well together. Then she thanked me for coming to see her today.


I emailed Matthew to tell him about the signing. He likes her too and wanted to be there but a work assignment kept him from attending the signing with me. He called a bit later to talk about his long day at work and said that he saw the pictures. He then said "oh, so I'm your boyfriend now, huh?" I said "yeah, are you okay with that?" He said "Yeah, that works." I said "Good!"


Today was a good day!

7 comments:

Joy said...

That sounds like fun! I laughed when you said that about her waiting for a comment about the recipe. I would have expected one, too. Glad you rose to the occasion - not that it would occur to me for a second that you wouldn't. You are so charming and nice.

I like that about Matthew and the boyfriend discussion. Awww! :-)

David Dust said...

Joy beat me to it:

Awwwwwww .......

XOXOXOXOXO

Angel said...

oooh, anything with 40 cloves of garlic HAS to be good!!!

and you and Matthew are TOO cute!!! You sound so happy!

Jimbo said...

Thanks! And I appreciate all of you being so sweet with your comments, listening to me ramble on about things like a 14 year old girl. I promise I'll tone things down. :)

A bit.

A smidge.

Okay no promises.

Christopher said...

I...AM...SO...JEALOUS!

(but in a good, happy for you, wish-it-was-me-instead kind of way).

ps: I found you thru David Dust's blog...like what I've read so far!

Jimbo said...

Thanks, Christopher. And welcome to my blog. :)

Joy said...

Don't tone it down! It's great to see you so happy and in love! :-)