Barefoot Contessa is a cooking show that premiered on Food Network in 2002 and ran until 2021. The show takes its name from Ina Garten’s celebrated 1999 cookbook, which was itself named after her specialty food store.
Each episode of the show centers on a meal or occasion — a dinner party for friends, an anniversary dinner, a casual weekend lunch — with Garten walking viewers through each recipe in a calm, conversational tone. Her cooking leans heavily toward French cuisine, though she regularly prepares American, Italian, Asian, and British dishes.
The show also weaves in tips on entertaining, table setting, and home décor. Additionally, it is filmed almost entirely in Garten’s home kitchen in East Hampton, giving it a warm, intimate feel that sets it apart from most cooking programs shot in studios.
Barefoot Contessa was hosted by Ina Garten. It aired for 29 seasons, officially concluding its primary run in December 2021. It was succeeded by several spin-offs, including Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics and Barefoot Contessa: Cook Like a Pro. In 2022, Garten launched the interview-style cooking show Be My Guest with Ina Garten, which continues to air new episodes as of early 2026.
