Today was an exciting day!  My husband and I went to Sur La Table at Pentagon Row where Ina Garten, also known as The Barefoot Contessa was signing her newest book, How Easy Is That?

I have actually never been to a book signing.  Many years ago when I moved to the Washington, DC area and was working for a kitchen specialty shop Julia Child was signing her book, The Way To Cook at the DC store.  Naturally I was working in the offices at the time and wasn’t able to go.  I did the next best thing and asked the buyers to have her sign a book for me.  She did.

If you’ve been following my blog you’ll know that I’m a big fan of Ina Garten.  I have several of her cookbooks, research her recipes online often, and watch her show whenever  I can.  I really relate to her cooking and entertaining style…it must be simple, it must be flavorful, and it must be fun!  Fun in the kitchen, and fun at the table.  Let’s face it if you’re not having fun cooking you’re probably not cooking!

We were at the store an hour and a half before her scheduled appearance so we could buy our books, and get in line…get in the very long line!  The women who were comfortably sitting in lawn chairs at the front of the line told my husband they had been there since 7:30 this morning.  Now those are fans!!!

We happily went to the end of the line which went around the corner and continued down the long block.  It wasn’t the end for long, as fans kept coming, books in hand.

The time passed much more quickly than I had expected…the staff of Sur La Table was passing samples of some of Ina’s packaged cookie and cake mixes, as I engaged in Ina talk with the women in front of me…while my husband periodically went to feed the meter.

Once she began signing ( 15 minutes earlier than scheduled) the line moved swiftly, weaving through the store to the kitchen area where Ina was seated.  There she graciously autographed the appropriate page which we, her obedient groupies had opened to and marked with the inside flap, closing the book as instructed.  We then handed the closed book to her assistant who opened the book and handed it to Ina.

We exchanged niceties, she signed the book, we took a photo, and within seconds we were out the door.  As we left, the line continued to wrap around the building, and a severe thunderstorm had erupted, so I double-bagged my books to protect them from the rain, and we ducked into an Irish Pub for lunch.  As we passed Sur La Table on our way home I was shocked to see the line continued to wrap around the building!

  Later I saw on Sur La Table’s facebook  page that Ina had signed 1200 books today!  Now, how easy is that?  It isn’t, I’m thinking.  So, thanks Ina, for a great day!