To me, some of the biggest celebrities in America are the chefs and designers on the Food Network, the Cooking Channel and HGTV. I watch all of that kind of programming, especially in the past four years when I needed to decompress. I’ve always been a big Ina Garten fan – she films her cooking show from her gorgeous Hamptons home, with its perfect kitchen. I want to live Ina’s life, with a husband who is away for most of the week, and lots of friends and card games and drinking and eating. But I also want the life of OG cook/lifestyle maven Martha Stewart. Martha’s post-prison life has been nothing but brilliance. She barely even had to change up her branding – she’s still the same amazing woman with amazing homes, amazing kitchens, dogs, horses and chickens. She just seems more fun now, hanging out with Snoop and smoking blunts and what have you. So… if you had to choose between Martha and Ina, who would you rather drink with?
America has made up its mind: There’s going to be cocktails. And the country, seemingly, would rather have them with Martha Stewart than Ina Garten. This, per a survey performed by Bacardi to coincide with the start of the holiday season.
According to them, it’s not even close: 78 percent of Americans say they’d rather take a tipple with Stewart, 79, over the Barefoot Contessa, 72.
Perhaps it has something to do Stewart’s late-career street cred, what with her close friendship with Snoop Dogg, CBD line and summer thirst-trap pool selfies. Or maybe it’s just that Stewart, like many an average American, has been caught Instagramming while tipsy — relatable!
A third candidate unfortunately not included in the survey was “The Orchid Thief” author Susan Orlean, she of the Friday night drunk-tweeting spree. One day, Susan.
In July, author Susan Orlean got drunk as a skunk and live-tweeted for hours in what was one of the funniest moments of 2020. I wouldn’t mind drinking with any of these women, honestly. Martha seems like she would be so much fun, like she would drunkenly suggest that we go play with her horses. Ina would get drunk and want to play cards, and she would drunk-dial her gay dude friends and beg them to come over. Why not get drunk with all three women? WHY CHOOSE?
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Instagram.
I love Ina but you just know that Martha would have all the T and wouldn’t be afraid to share it. Ina seems way too nice, Martha not so much. And for that reason, I would totally party with Martha.
That part. I think it’s the same for a lot of people. Ina’s LIFE sounds awesome (I’m very much a fan of the weekend husband arrangement), but I want to live it, not hang out with her while she’s living it.
lol! Were truer words ever spoken!!
Exactly. I could see spending a lovely afternoon with Ina, but Martha would dish the dirt.
Yup. Martha can be bitchy sometimes and that sounds fun!
I would hang out with Martha. We can get drunk and do drunk crafting together. I can also admire her beautiful houses and kitchenware collection.
You know Martha is regularly getting crunk with Snoop Dogg, so she must be a TON of fun!
I love their cooking show!
I can’t choose, I’d like to drink with either of them.
Me too. Ina is very intelligent (both ladies are) but Ina did budget work for the government. BUT Martha spent time in jail and all the hell that came with the beginning to the end of it. So I am sure getting tipsy with her and hearing those stories would be VERY entertaining and insightful.
Ina lost me when her and her people refused that little boy’s make a wish foundation request to meet her. She declined because of a book tour. He said he’d wait and made multiple attempts. After 3 years MAW asked him to make a 2nd wish.
Martha has been straight from the start and elite, but relatable.
I’d choose Ina first, then Martha. I have always fan-girled Ina and her gorgeous Hamptons compound. She and Jeffrey would be so fun to knock back a pitcher of martinis with. Martha would be fun, and I’d love to see her farm, but she’s a bit intimidating to me. I’d still do it though!
This is a tough decision. I like Martha and I LOVE Ina, but… I really love Snoop. Could it be blunts and mimosas with Ina, Martha and Snoop in Ina’s garden? Jeffrey can periodically come in to get a nibble and a toke. That is the cocktail party of my dreams.
Martha would spill all the tea.
Martha hands down. Love ina to death and i do believe she’d have the better food but Martha would be the more fun drunk host
I love Ina and think she is a much better cook than Martha but getting drunk with Martha would be so fun
Did you know that beautiful kitchen and dining room where Ina films is actually her barn?
She found it too stressful filming in the house so converted one of the barns into an actual set
Ina, to me, is not a welcoming presence. I watched her Day Drinking with Seth and it was so awkward. She has always been about a elite status and there is nothing wrong with that, but when your bottom line is having to be around the peons, you gotta try and she just fails at it.
Martha, would welcome you and criticize you so that you can be better. Not necessarily like her, but just better. Sometimes you just need someone to tell you when you are screwing up and that will never be Ina because she will never invite you into her space for it to happen.
I was going to say the Day Drinking with Ina on Seth Meyers is why I would choose Martha. Martha is way more chill. I like when they used to ‘teach’ the hosts to cook and Martha would slap hands away and be “don’t do that” and have them just hold a spoon.
I also thought of her Day Drinking segment! Ina seems very kind but guarded. I don’t know that it’s so much “not invited into her space” as it is “healthy boundaries” — but you’re right that I would feel more comfortable with Martha, even as she berates me.
Martha has aged very well, I wonder what her secret is? She was a model in her youth, good genes and good food I’d guess, and a light touch by a talented Dr..
But Martha is a friend of the “sticky icky” so my vote is for Martha, roll em up!!!!!!!
Why not both together?
Years ago, my mom and I went to a fundraiser luncheon for Kerry ‘s presidential campaign that featured all six then Democratic women senators. We ended up at table with Barbara Mikulski and Hillary Clinton. And the wine kept pouring and the stories and laughter kept flowing. Mikulski was an absolute hoot and even Hillary seemed in awe of her. Best $100 we ever spent.
Definitely Martha. The day drinking with Seth segment with Ina was weirdly awkward, whereas when Martha was on Seth Myers to promote her wine she was there chugging away, lol. Plus, I feel like Martha knows more gossip about the food world and Hollywood.
Wasn’t it?
Martha knows how to promote the hell out of something. That is something she is very skilled at.
Ina really just thinks her name is enough for certain people and when she does promotion, it shows.
Martha has more name recognition. This being said, I’d gladly have tea and crumpets with both of them since I’m sure they’ve got lots of dirt to dish.
Ina Garten rules my world, so most definitely her. Amazing cocktails + delicious food, how bad could that be?
Party with Martha, you know it would probably end up in the pool with the doggies. But I’d want to be friends with Ina
When my daughter was tiny we loved to watch Ina’s show together bc she looked like my mom, who lived far away. I ran into her at the Fancy Food Show in San Francisco a handful of years ago. I was thrilled to meet her and told her that watching her show helped us feel and stay connected with my mom. She gave me a half-ass, bitchy smile and looked back at her assistant so she wouldn’t have to engage me any further. Haven’t liked her since then and I would never have a cocktail with her. Smoking one with Martha? Any day of the week 😉
I don’t know I tried to watch Ina’s shows but she just puts me to sleep. I can never watch an entire episode with her.
I’d go with Martha as long as she brings Snoop along.
Not sure….I met Martha years ago at a store opening I worked and, well, she was horrid to be around. Drunk she’s probably fun but even better, I bet her snarky side really comes out, which I’d love. On the other hand, I love house porn and tipsy Ina would probably be ok with guests snooping around the house, opening the closets and medicine cabinets, basement, etc. and would offer better snacks. Hard to see Martha throwing open the doors and giving free range.
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Ina and sitting at a table with her at a charity event. She was actually a bit shy at first. When she warms up, she’s warm and lovely. That being said, I would still prefer getting toasty with Martha.
Martha is GANGSTA.
I’ve never seen anyone of color on Ina’s show. Over that.
Martha Stewart is as mean as a snake, and Ina is funnier. I choose Ina as my drinking buddy.
I had to go and find some Barefoot Contessa on you tube as I had never seen it (never had cable or been able to reach PBS with my antenna since I live in a rural area). So now that I have a somewhat informed opinion, I say Martha!
Ina seems uncomfortable on camera and her actions contradicted her words when she spoke of exact measurements while approximating everything. With Martha, I know exactly how it would be and I’m down for it!
If I could pick anyone at all, I’d say Mary Berry though. 💗
My GF worked at Ina’s store in Southampton ages ago and said that she was a horrible boss and person altogether. I have most of her cookbooks and love her recipes but I would rather drink with real friends.
You mean East Hampton or the original Westhampton Beach location??
East Hampton, my bad.
Always get them mixed-up:)
MARTHA! Ina seems too elite to really enjoy anything other than her friends and house… I do love her show though!
Ina is a pure snob, so I would not want to spend any amount of time with her, drunk or not!
I also think Nigella Lawson would be fun to get drunk with.
Martha. Because I would want to meet her animals. I might want a buffer between us who could actually talk to her. I could be the shy friend like a fly on the wall.
I’d kick it with Martha, she has been thru some stuff and came back around, chilling.
My husband said I am I jealous of Ina, I admit I do sigh, HEAVILY when she finds some rosemary/ lemon infused cognac in her cupboards to “quickly de-glaze a pan” no matter what it is, she always has it in her cupboards and she doesn’t have to leave her estate.
making ice cream, she just so happens to have some self canned peaches infused w/brandy to make ice cream to go w/her cobbler–eyeROLL
LOL!