Julia Child and Ina Garten are known for elevating home cooking, hosting, and kitchen confidence. Both women have also written bestselling memoirs that offer insight into their personal lives and food philosophies. In their books, they share an unexpected common detail: when it comes to fast food, they both turn to the same California-based burger chain. Their choice mirrors a long-running Hollywood tradition that stretches from cookbook legends to Oscar winners.
Julia Child and Ina Garten Reveal Their Favorite Fast-Food Burger
In “My Life in France,” Child reflects on her life, marriage, and relationship with food, making the memoir a repeat read for many fans.
“The Barefoot Contessa” star, Garten, shared similar personal insights in her memoir “Be Ready When the Luck Happens,” released last year. In the book and in subsequent interviews, Garten revealed that she shares Child’s favorite fast-food stop: In-N-Out Burger.
In an interview with Larry King, Child shared how she actually felt about the chain: “It’s awfully good.” So good that she famously kept a list of In-N-Out locations near her home in her purse.
In a recent interview with Airmail, Garten explained her go-to order while traveling for book tours. “When I’m on the road doing book tours, I love going to In-N-Out Burger and having the Double-Double Animal Style,” she said. “I’m encouraged because Julia Child used to love the same thing, so I guess it’s OK.”
Celebrity Chefs and Hollywood Stars Agree
Child and Garten’s preference aligns them with several celebrity chefs who have publicly named In-N-Out as their favorite fast-food burger, including Alton Brown, Gordon Ramsay, and Bobby Flay.
The restaurant has also become closely tied to awards season in Los Angeles. According to Jimmy Kimmel, the tradition is especially common on Oscar night. Speaking to People in 2024, Kimmel explained why the burger chain has become a go-to destination.
“When people are in LA, one of the things on their list is to go to In-N-Out—and there are a lot of people that are in LA just for the Oscars—so they wind up going like, ‘Okay,’” Kimmel said. “You get very hungry, so In-N-Out is definitely the award show tradition.”
He added, “Nothing against McDonald’s, but on award show night, it’s In-N-Out.”
Over the years, several celebrities have gone viral for late-night visits to In-N-Out after major award shows. Ryan Gosling appeared in an Oscars promotional segment eating the burger, while Paul Giamatti was photographed stopping by the restaurant in a tuxedo after the 2024 Golden Globes.
Giamatti later referenced the moment during his Critics’ Choice Awards speech, telling the audience, “I didn’t think my week could get any better than going viral for eating a cheeseburger.”
Other post-awards sightings include Julia Roberts, who shared an Instagram photo after the 2019 Golden Globes, and Reese Witherspoon, who was photographed eating an In-N-Out burger at an Oscars after-party.
