Ina Garten Reveals Her Greatest Regret

Lauren Matthews
Updated

From Country Living

Just in case there was any doubt, Ina Garten is here to let everyone know that she is definitely living the life we all want to live. For the October issue of Vanity Fair, the Barefoot Contessa took her turn in the hot seat answering the Proust Questionnaire for the magazine's back page. (In case you're unfamiliar, the Proust Questionnaire, popularized by French writer Marcel Proust, is a list of questions designed to reveal a person's "true nature.")

Here are a few things we learned about Ina from her answers:

1. She really, really, really loves Jeffrey.

Ina and Jeffrey have been married for 47 years, but it seems like the couple is just as in love as ever.

When asked what her idea of perfect happiness is, Ina responded: "Sundays in Paris with Jeffrey. We go to the Sunday market, make a nice lunch, drink a big bottle of Burgundy, and then take a long delicious nap. Heaven." But the answer that really tugged on our heart strings? Her answer to the question "What is your greatest regret?" "Not marrying Jeffrey sooner," said Ina. In fact, her soon-to-released 10th cookbook, Cooking for Jeffrey, is dedicated to her beloved husband.

2. She always gets the best parking spaces.

"I have really good parking-space karma," she said when asked what her most marked characteristic is.

3. She hates cilantro with a fiery passion.

What does Ina most dislike in this world? "Passive-aggressive people and cilantro," she said. Fair enough!

4. She considers youth to be overrated.

Ina is clearly someone who is comfortable in her own skin. In response to a question about what she considers to be the most overrated virtue, she said, "Being young. I'm having much more fun now, and the toys are better." And when asked what she dislikes most about her appearance she replied: "Someone said, 'Inside every old person is a young person saying, 'What the hell happened here?!'"

5. She has the world's best motto.

The Proust Questionnaire's final question asks Ina to share her motto, and it's one of the best we've ever heard: "Most of life's problems can be solved with a good cookie." Amen!

You can read all of Ina's answers to the questionnaire at vanityfair.com.

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