Ina Garten is opening up about her decades-long marriage to husband Jeffrey Garten — and she has a humorous response for fans who claim their partners are just like him. The beloved Barefoot Contessa star appeared on the Nov. 25 episode of Amy Poehler’s podcast Good Hang, where she reflected on her 60-plus-year romance and the mutual respect that has defined their life together.
Garten, 76, and Jeffrey, 78, married in 1968 after meeting as teenagers. Their relationship remains one of the most admired in the culinary world, frequently celebrated in social media posts and in Ina’s bestselling memoir, Be Ready When the Luck Happens, published in 2024.
“Nah, In Your Dreams” — Ina’s Hilarious Take
During their conversation, Poehler noted how deeply fans romanticize the couple’s partnership. Ina admitted she frequently hears people say “I have a Jeffrey too.” Her reaction? Pure Ina Wit.
“A lot of people say, ‘Oh, I have a Jeffrey too,’ and I think to myself, ‘Nah, in your dreams,’” she joked as both women erupted in laughter.
But beneath the humor is a thoughtful perspective about what fans really mean.
“I think they’re saying, ‘I have somebody that I have a really good time with, that I just adore, and he adores me back — which is all you really want,’” Ina added.
A Partnership Built on Respect
Garten shared that their relationship works because they always prioritize each other’s needs and goals.
“This is what Jeffrey taught me: let’s figure out how we can both do what we wanna do. It’s not about whether you win or I win,” she said. “He’s so respectful, and it’s pretty hard not to return that.”
The pair never had children and have embraced a quiet, deeply connected life together.
“It’s just the two of us,” Ina said of their decades as a couple.
A Family Approval Story Worthy of a Movie
Ina recalled meeting Jeffrey’s grandmothers at a family bar mitzvah early in their relationship. When Jeffrey lost a button on his coat, Ina quickly offered to sew it back on.
“His grandmothers were taking their wedding rings off and saying, ‘Marry her now before somebody else does.’”
Her Thanksgiving Surprise Dish
Garten also revealed a clever cooking shortcut that even her fans might not expect. Asked what Thanksgiving dish surprises people most, she explained:
“I went and got Pepperidge Farm stuffing mix and I made a bread pudding out of it — which was so good, it was crazy.”
She reminded listeners of her famous Barefoot Contessa mantra:
“Store-bought is fine.”
