Ina Garten

And you'd be shocked how too big a table or two people on the same side of the table that are talking can just wreck a perfectly good dinner party.

So this is like a New York Times puzzle. There are a lot of layers to it. And the first one is I just remember these are my friends and I want them to be happy. So when I'm doing the menu, the first thing I do is find out, or if I know, figure out what everybody doesn't like or doesn't eat.

So this is like a New York Times puzzle. There are a lot of layers to it. And the first one is I just remember these are my friends and I want them to be happy. So when I'm doing the menu, the first thing I do is find out, or if I know, figure out what everybody doesn't like or doesn't eat.

And I want to make one menu that everybody can eat because you never want to be having the roast veal dinner and this person over there alone by themselves is having pasta. I want everybody to share the same meal. So that's the first thing. Then I'll write down a menu of what I'd like to make.

And I want to make one menu that everybody can eat because you never want to be having the roast veal dinner and this person over there alone by themselves is having pasta. I want everybody to share the same meal. So that's the first thing. Then I'll write down a menu of what I'd like to make.

And then I just start crossing things off and just go, well, do we really need four vegetables when two would be fine? Cross two off. Do I have to make that peach tart or can I get it from a bakery? Cross that off. Is it hard to make a first course while the meat is in the oven? Don't make a first course. Then I figure out how am I going to make this meal?

And then I just start crossing things off and just go, well, do we really need four vegetables when two would be fine? Cross two off. Do I have to make that peach tart or can I get it from a bakery? Cross that off. Is it hard to make a first course while the meat is in the oven? Don't make a first course. Then I figure out how am I going to make this meal?

Are there four things that need to go in one oven? Or is there one thing that's room temperature, one thing that I can cook on top of the stove, and one thing in the oven, so that I'm not trying to juggle things while it's happening? And then the last thing I do is make a timeline. How is this meal going to happen? I feel like I'm at NASA Command Center. It is like that.

Are there four things that need to go in one oven? Or is there one thing that's room temperature, one thing that I can cook on top of the stove, and one thing in the oven, so that I'm not trying to juggle things while it's happening? And then the last thing I do is make a timeline. How is this meal going to happen? I feel like I'm at NASA Command Center. It is like that.

And I think people are shocked that when I have six people for dinner, I do this. Because otherwise, all day I'm like, oh my God, should I start the dinner? And then I look at my schedule and I say, 5 o'clock, I have to turn the oven on. It's literally that detailed. 5.15, put the meat in the oven. 5.45, take it out. It's really detailed. But then I know that before 5 o'clock, I'm fine.

And I think people are shocked that when I have six people for dinner, I do this. Because otherwise, all day I'm like, oh my God, should I start the dinner? And then I look at my schedule and I say, 5 o'clock, I have to turn the oven on. It's literally that detailed. 5.15, put the meat in the oven. 5.45, take it out. It's really detailed. But then I know that before 5 o'clock, I'm fine.

I can relax. And it's hard. It's a complicated thing to get everything out on the table at the same time when it's perfectly cooked. And that's the only way I know how to do it is to make a schedule.

I can relax. And it's hard. It's a complicated thing to get everything out on the table at the same time when it's perfectly cooked. And that's the only way I know how to do it is to make a schedule.

And why does it even matter? Well, first I would say paper and plastic are nice for a picnic on a boat, but I'm not sure that they belong on a table. I knew it. So that should settle that. I think the table should be lovely, but I really like a modern table that's simple.

And why does it even matter? Well, first I would say paper and plastic are nice for a picnic on a boat, but I'm not sure that they belong on a table. I knew it. So that should settle that. I think the table should be lovely, but I really like a modern table that's simple.

I think there's nothing more horrifying than sitting down to a really fancy dinner table where there are like six glasses at each place setting. And you know you're going to be there forever because there are six courses, each with a different wine. Right. Or a different fork or a different knife. Oh, my God. It's just horrible. So modern simply means? As simple as possible.

I think there's nothing more horrifying than sitting down to a really fancy dinner table where there are like six glasses at each place setting. And you know you're going to be there forever because there are six courses, each with a different wine. Right. Or a different fork or a different knife. Oh, my God. It's just horrible. So modern simply means? As simple as possible.

As simple as possible, but it can still be beautiful. And I use the same things over and over again. I like really good napkins, good linen napkins. I have a wine glass, a water glass, a dinner plate, tableware, and that's the table setting. And then what I like to do is have garden flowers from the flower shop or from my garden.

As simple as possible, but it can still be beautiful. And I use the same things over and over again. I like really good napkins, good linen napkins. I have a wine glass, a water glass, a dinner plate, tableware, and that's the table setting. And then what I like to do is have garden flowers from the flower shop or from my garden.

If you do little vases filled with flowers in the same color palette as the napkin, then it all feels coordinated and you can move those vases around until they look great. I think things that are fancy are actually meant to impress rather than make people feel comfortable. And I feel that way about food, I feel that way about table settings.