Ina Garten's First Ever Martini Was Crafted By Stanley Tucci At 9 A.m.
Ina Garten knows a thing or two about crafting a cocktail. After all, in 2020 at the height of the pandemic quarantine, the Barefoot Contessa famously posted an Instagram video showing the world how to make a giant pitcher of a fruity, vodka-based cosmopolitan. So, it may come as a surprise that Garten only recently tasted her first authentic martini. And it was crafted for her by none other than actor and well-known foodie Stanley Tucci (via "The Drew Barrymore Show").
According to Bon Appétit, Tucci's martini can be made with either gin or vodka. Beyond that, the key is to keep it simple. Well, that, and stop trying to figure out who invented the classic cocktail. Just enjoy it. About its inception, Tucci, a one-time bartender, tells the outlet, "Too many people say too many things, and I wish they'd stop ... The only thing that matters is that the martini exists." His version, whether gin- or vodka-based, is ultra-dry, meaning the blend is ultra-light on vermouth. And it's always stirred, regardless of what 007 said. Tucci describes the result as "the quintessence of elegance that we all aspire to and believe we acquire when we drink one."
The finishing touch?
During a recent appearance on "The Drew Barrymore Show," Ina Garten recalled her first-ever martini. She was taping an episode of her Discovery+ show, "Be My Guest with Ina Garten," with Stanley Tucci. "It was 9 in the morning, so I thought, 'Oh, am I actually going to be able to finish the show,'" she said, before adding, "But the way Stanley made it was incredible. It was delicious. He said, 'Would you like it with olives or lemon?'"
Like Garten, Tucci shared his cocktail-making finesse in a series of Instagram videos during the pandemic. According to Bustle, he's as passionate about the traditions associated with creating the perfect martini as he is about the foods he showcased on his CNN show, "Searching for Italy." It's an affinity he shared with Garten while taping her show. "I had Oysters Rockefeller that I just did on Ina Garten's new show," Tucci told Bustle. "I don't know when it'll come out, but I made a martini for her and she made Oysters Rockefeller — my God, it was so good. She's so interesting, and she'd never had a martini before."
Wondering which finishing touch Garten chose for her martini? Lemon or olives? Garten revealed her choice on the show, telling Barrymore, "I said, 'What are you going to do?' And he said, 'Both.' And I said, 'I'll have what he's having.' It was just delicious."