Ina Garten is cooking up love instead of dinner. The beloved “Barefoot Contessa” star, 77, marked her husband Jeffrey Garten’s 79th birthday with a touching Instagram tribute that melted hearts across the internet. Known for their six-decade-long love story, Ina’s sweet post not only celebrated her husband’s big day but also reminded fans why the Gartens remain one of Hollywood’s most cherished couples.
Ina Garten’s Sweet Birthday Message for Jeffrey Garten
“Happy birthday babe! I’ve been loving you for 60 years and it’s been so much fun. #lovethehair ❤️❤️,” Ina wrote alongside a carousel of photos of Jeffrey through the years — from childhood snapshots to cozy moments together over coffee.
Fans immediately flooded the comments section with well-wishes and praise for the couple’s enduring romance. “You and Jeffrey are #couplegoals. I hope you make him something extra special for his birthday! (Even though he says whatever you make is his favorite 😍),” one follower gushed.
Another added, “Ina, I’m reading your memoir currently and I’m so enjoying hearing about your beautiful love story!”
One fan offered the perfect nod to Ina’s most famous line: “If you can’t find your own Jeffrey, store-bought is fine.”
The ‘Barefoot Contessa’ Star Opened Up About Her Marriage Last Year
The birthday tribute comes a year after Ina opened up to People about one of the hardest moments in their marriage — a brief separation in the 1970s that nearly led to divorce. The couple, who wed in 1968, faced growing tension as Ina built her now-iconic specialty food store, “Barefoot Contessa,” while Jeffrey pursued his academic career in Washington, D.C.
“There were certain roles that we played, and I found them really annoying,” Ina said. “I felt that if I just hit the pause button, I would get his attention.”
In her memoir “Be Ready When the Luck Happens,” Ina wrote that she needed space to figure out who she was outside of being a wife. “When Jeffrey came on weekends, he was a distraction. I didn’t pay enough attention to him,” she explained. “I just wanted everyone to leave me alone so I could concentrate on the store.”
Eventually, Ina asked for a separation. “It was the hardest thing I ever did,” she recalled. “In true Jeffrey form, he said, ‘If you feel like you need to be on your own, you need to do it.’”
But after a single therapy session and six weeks apart, the pair found their way back to each other. “One hour, that’s all Jeffrey needed,” Ina wrote. “He totally got it.”
Now, nearly 60 years after their first date, the Gartens remain stronger than ever — proof that communication, respect, and a shared love of good food can keep any marriage simmering.
