Ina Garten Shares Dinner Party Etiquette Tips in New York City

New York City, NY – Legendary chef and author Ina Garten recently shared her dinner party etiquette tips during a conversation with TODAY host Willie Geist at City Winery.

Garten, known for her role as the Barefoot Contessa, offered valuable advice on what not to bring as a guest. During Geist’s Sunday Sitdown segment, he emphasized how important it is not to arrive with a gift that disrupts the evening’s plans.

“There are two things that I don’t think you should ever bring to a dinner party, and they’re so common,” Garten said, eliciting laughter from the audience. “The first is something that the host feels like they should serve. I mean, starting with, like, Jell-O salad. What are you going to do with that?”

Garten also cautioned against bringing loose flowers that aren’t in a vase. “Don’t ever bring flowers that aren’t in a vase,” she advised. Geist added, “Oh, that’s the worst! You’re there. You’re like, everyone’s arriving and then all of a sudden, you’ve got these flowers and you have to figure out what to do.”

This isn’t the first time Garten has shared her insights on dinner parties. She has voiced her opinions on various topics, including nonstick cookware, which she avoids despite its popularity. “I’m not so crazy about nonstick,” she explained. “Although nothing works as well as nonstick pans, I’ve always avoided them.”

Additionally, Garten provided guidance for handling late dinner guests. She recommended waiting up to 30 minutes for them to arrive and, if they do not show up, quietly rearranging the table setting to remove their plates and chairs.

As for what to do if late guests bring a Jell-O salad and loose flowers, Garten undoubtedly has the expertise to navigate the situation.