'Barefoot Contessa' On '30 Rock': Liz Lemon Loves Ina Garten

Liz Lemon, Tina Fey's character on NBC's 30 Rock, revealed her infatuation with Ina Garten of the Food Network to boss Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) on last night's episode:

Liz Lemon: I'm like that woman on the Food Network whose husband only comes home on the weekends, and spends the rest of the time eating and drinking with her gay friends.

Jack Donaghy: Her name is Barefoot Contessa, Lemon, and you will never be like her, starting with the 'barefoot' part.

The joke continued a moment later with Liz Lemon watching TV with boyfriend Carol, a pilot played by Matt Damon, who she sees only sporadically, a Jeffrey Garten (Ina's husband who's home only on the weekends) to Liz's Ina.

After flipping on an episode of Ina Garten's show with Carol, who admits his own love for the Barefoot Contessa, Liz Lemon proclaims:

"Me too! This is one of the three things in the world I like. Ina Garten, sweater weather and .. [in tandem with Damon], when muppets present at award shows!"

Watch the two minutes of priceless Ina Garten references on last night's 30 Rock:

Comments

[chrisr266]

02:01 PM on 09/28/2010

We're a household of staunch Ina Garten fans. I have made almost 100 of her recipes, and every single one comes close to, as she would say, "perfect!"
In fact, our favorite drinking game is with Ina--just take a drink each time she says "perfect" in an half-hour episode. The highest count for one episode was 12--perfect!
Real good times.

[booker52]

12:18 PM on 09/28/2010

I watch the Barefoot Contessa show and noticed the same thing that during the week she does hang out with all her gay friends, LOL!

[monmouth]

05:15 PM on 09/27/2010

Ya know, a very good point has been made here. I am also a big fan of Ina's, not because of her cooking so much, I live alone and her recipes are large enough to feel all of her gay friends and Jeffrey. The smartness of Ina to be able to pull off a deal like this???? Incredible. If I had had a deal like that, husband gone all week, I get to eat and drink what I want, watch what I want on TV and control the remote...Well, that second husband would have never happened. And, if I had had really good gay friends, the first husband probably wouldn't have happened either...sigh. go ina!

[monmouth]

05:16 PM on 09/27/2010

Sorry, her recipes are large enough to "feed"...etc.

[SFISHER73]

03:51 PM on 09/27/2010

I loved this! I watch BC all the time. I would love to be one of Ina's fabulous gay Hampton's friends eating and drinking with wild abandon in warm sweaters...lol...

[RobinL]

12:50 PM on 09/27/2010

I've taped Ina's shows for years but rarely make her recipes because I love my husband too much. She has an ongoing love affair with every saturated fat known to mankind. Sure, her food must taste great---and maybe people ate that way before they knew about the causes of heart attacks and stroke. Fun to watch but dangerous to eat!

[Ever12]

04:07 PM on 09/27/2010

You are right.

[PaleMail]

07:07 AM on 09/28/2010

Her calorie laden recipes are scrumptious but not everyday fare.

[llibsetag]

11:26 PM on 09/26/2010

Play the Jeffrey game!

Every time Ina says "Jeffery" take a shot of some very expensive Cognac that only rich white snooty Hamptonites would drink after stuffing their fat faces with caviar & Maine lobster.

Fun times.

[ex-pat]

10:26 PM on 09/26/2010

Maybe she loves her cooking just a little too much....

[jeffeastwood15]

07:24 PM on 09/26/2010

Since when does Liz have any gay friends? I've watched every episode of 30 Rock numerous times and the only times I've ever seen any gay guys on the show are the stereotypical queens Jenna is friends with. If I'm wrong, please clue me in.

[Pema]

06:08 PM on 09/26/2010

I adore barefoot contessa, the food is simple, super tastey, and she does cook some heathly recipies.

[PaleMail]

07:13 AM on 09/28/2010

The down to earth and easy to follow recipes, for the most part, should be considered for special occasions only, too much reliance on butter and oil.

[GeoNorth]

02:40 PM on 09/26/2010

I love Ina's show. I try her recipes, and I listen to my arteries crackle.

[Tags]

01:22 PM on 09/26/2010

No reflected comedic glory for me... when I watch 30 Rock I lap it up, absorb it, and use it to nourish my own feeble self-esteem by making it a part of my fantasy life. Sad how I play Kenneth the Page in my own dreams, but it's enough, really it is.

[LibChicAZ]

12:03 PM on 09/26/2010

Ditto that......she is one lady I'd love to be friends with.

[MichaelStoodUp]

10:29 AM on 09/26/2010

I don't trust Jeffrey ;)

[monmouth]

05:18 PM on 09/27/2010

Bwahahaha, I don't know why but that statement just cracked me up..Hahaha

[Manly Pointer]

09:32 AM on 09/26/2010

Whenever I watch that show and I always think that Ina would be a tremendous lover.

[llibsetag]

11:23 PM on 09/26/2010

Eeeeeeeewwwwww!

[nkadzi]

10:16 AM on 09/27/2010

X2

[Ever12]

04:08 PM on 09/27/2010

Be nice. Ever tried a plush body?

[lorla]

12:57 AM on 09/28/2010

I am a woman, and I think your instincts are correct. I bet she could satisfy much more than a man's hunger for food.

[Faxus]

08:54 AM on 09/26/2010

I love Ina's yummy food!