Micheline Maynard has a long piece in the NYT today about the mini-empire of Ina Garten, a.k.a. the Barefoot Contessa. It's interesting that she was actually reluctant to do a show herself after her first cookbook took off, because of stressful experiences filming segments for her friend Martha Stewart's show. What changed her mind? "A friend sent her a copy of "Nigella Bites," the television show that starred Nigella Lawson, the popular British cookbook writer and journalist. Ms. Garten said she liked the show, in which Ms. Lawson selected a topic, explained her menu in simple terms and often invited family or friends to sample the results." The Barefoot Contessa show ended up being produced by Rachel Purnell, the same... More