Ep 9. Black and White Party

In this episode of Barefoot Contessa, Ina Garten is hosting a Black and White party for friends and family. The episode begins with Ina heading to a local specialty food store to gather ingredients for her menu. She decides to make a black and white theme for the party by incorporating both black and white ingredients into each dish.

First on her list is a savory black and white hors d'oeuvres platter. For the black portion, she creates a black olive tapenade, which she spreads on crostini. For the white portion, she makes a creamy feta and ricotta spread, also spread on crostini. She finishes the platter off with a few sprigs of fresh herbs, making it both visually stunning and delicious.

Next up, Ina prepares a black and white salad, using ingredients such as black avocado, white endive, and black and white radicchio. She adds a tangy mustard vinaigrette dressing and crumbles of black and white goat cheese to complete the dish.

For the main course, Ina makes a black and white seafood stew with clams, mussels, and shrimp. She uses a white wine and tomato base for the stew, adding black squid ink for a dramatic twist. She serves this delicious dish with a side of black and white sesame bread.

To finish off the meal, Ina prepares a simple but decadent black and white dessert. She dips fresh strawberries in both dark and white chocolate for a sweet and elegant finish.

Throughout the episode, Ina shares her tips and tricks for entertaining with ease. She stresses that it's important to have a plan and make things ahead of time to avoid stressing out during the party. She also emphasizes the importance of having a visually appealing table setting, with special attention to flowers and candles.

In between preparing dishes, Ina welcomes her guests, who join her in the kitchen to help out and enjoy a glass of bubbly. She shares stories and laughs with her friends, making it clear that to Ina, the most important part of any party is spending time with loved ones.

Overall, this episode of Barefoot Contessa showcases Ina's knack for creating delicious and visually stunning dishes, while also emphasizing the importance of stress-free entertaining. Whether you're hosting a black and white party, or any other type of gathering, Ina's tips and recipes are sure to impress.