my guru

I really went back and forth on whether or not to write this post because, well, it's a bit embarassing.

the shit.

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See, like many of you, I just adore Ina Garten {a.k.a The Barefoot Contessa}.  She's my lifestyle guru.  Seriously.  I mean, who wouldn't want to live in the Hamptons with a bevy of gay best friends, an adoring husband, a party barn, and an apartment in Paris? 

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funny cause it's true

One of the things Ina is famous for {and that many people hate her for, including my MIL} is reminding people to use "good" butter, mayo, chocolate, wine, etc. So I always try to figure out what brand of something she uses and then that's what I buy.  {Except the olive oil she uses is cray-cray expensive.  So I don't go that far}.

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kindergarten-eque drawing and writing via moi

BTW, not sure what bothers people so much about the "good" ingredients thing.  I don't want someone telling me to use "bad" ingredients.  And some ingredients are, indeed, better than others.  Does that make me Ina a snob?  Maybe.  But I'm OK with it.

I digress.

Anyhoo, several of Ina's recipes that I've been wanting to try use cognac.   And I don't know anything about cognac.

chicken with forty cloves of garlic

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red berry trifle

So...um...here's the creepy-fangirl confession:

I e-mailed her.

I e-mailed her to find out what cognac she uses.  Because I am terrified to buy cognac not approved by Ina.

Yep.  I'll just let that sink in for a few moments.  

Now I realize this is not Ina's personal e-mail account.  And that every response is probably a fill-in-the-blank type of deal.

But when I got the following response, I may or may not have squealed out loud:

Dear Sarah,

Thank you for your email.  Ina was thrilled to read that you are a fan of Barefoot Contessa and asked that I respond on her behalf.

I checked with Ina and she uses Francet cognac.  Hope that helps.

Thanks again for taking the time to write.  Ina sends her warmest regards and we hope you continue to enjoy Barefoot Contessa.

Sincerely,

Erica Katz

Barefoot Contessa

I added the highlighting for emphasis.  Ina sends her warmest regards.

I die.

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Francet cognac it is.

P.S. Can we talk about the irony of the fact that yesterday I posted about green smoothies and clean living, and today I'm posting about what booze to use in butter/salt/sugar-laden recipes?  Yeah.  That's me.