Ina Garten

Whether she was making a delectable coconut cake for a ladies' luncheon or a simple meal of roast chicken and salad for her husband, Ina Garten was always the perfect hostess. The former policy analyst-turned-restaurateur became a household name as host of the Food Network's popular series "Barefoot Contessa" (2002- ), which featured Garten in her Hamptons kitchen whipping up easy yet refined dishes and scrumptious baked goods. Throughout the years, Garten became one of the network's most emulated cooks. Aside from her hosting duties, she also wrote several best-selling cookbooks such as The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook (1999) and Barefoot Contessa Parties! (2001), and launched her own food line, all successful ventures that expanded her brand and solidified her status as one of the most loved and recognized personalities in the culinary world.