The Craft Chocolates Ina Garten Loves To Gift

When Ina Garten talks about food, people listen. Better known as the "Barefoot Contessa" on the Food Network, Garten has a real flair for developing amazing recipes that put a brand-new spin on the term "comfort food." The talented chef is also a homemaker extraordinaire who is always happy to provide tips on entertaining guests, selecting the best wine, and designing the perfect menu for every occasion. However, Garten accomplishes these tasks with a fun-loving and laid-back air, best exemplified by her catchphrase "store-bought is fine," as illustrated by the Chicago Tribune.

Thanks to her skill at homemaking, many people look to Garten for help when it comes to etiquette and decorum. Take gift-giving, for instance, which can be a little anxiety-inducing during the holiday season. The goal is to find the best possible gifts for your loved ones without going over your holiday budget, which is no easy task. Yahoo explains that gift-giving anxiety is extremely common and mostly results from fears that the recipient will not be pleased with what you provide them. Fortunately, Garten comes to the rescue once again with a fabulously delicious holiday gift that's sure to please.

The Barefoot Contessa loves discussing her favorite foods, sometimes to the surprise of her fans. For example, the accomplished hostess admitted to Today that In-N-Out Burger is the only fast-food restaurant she'll patronize, citing Julia Child's love for the chain as proof of its quality. She's even more excited about Fran's Chocolates, which she name-checks in an Instagram post. Digging a little further, it seems that Garten frequently references the brand.

Showbiz CheatSheet mentions Garten's recommendation of gifting a Thanksgiving host with a box of caramels from Fran's Chocolates to be enjoyed after dinner. Garten explains that chocolates are better than a prepared dish or other food, as she doesn't want the host to feel pressured to include her offering on the dinner table. And in 2018, Garten stated that Fran's Chocolates Duos containing salted caramels and chocolate truffles were among her favorite holiday gifts that year, as shared on the Fran's Chocolates website. The Barefoot Contessa is known for her impeccable taste, so it's easy to see why she's so enamored with this gourmet chocolate.

According to the Fran's Story page on the chocolatier's website, Fran Bigelow was inspired to open a pastry and chocolate shop in 1982 after being wowed by the many amazing flavors she encountered during a trip to Paris. Her confections were so beloved among customers that she's considered to have played a role in America's "artisan chocolate renaissance," which elevated chocolate making to an art form.

Bigelow's hard work certainly paid off, as she counts many notable figures among her fans. In addition to Garten, Martha Stewart and former President Barack Obama have also expressed great admiration for the brand's salted caramels, which first came onto the scene in 1998 (per Seattle's King 5). A quick perusal of the website's caramels page and it's easy to see what all the fuss is about. From classic varieties to the gray salt caramels, the chocolates are as beautiful as they are delicious. Bigelow also takes great care in selecting the perfect packaging for her exquisite offerings, which means minimal effort on your part when it comes to holiday gift-giving.