Now, here's a little story that caught my attention. You know Ina Garten, the queen of gourmet cooking on the Food Network, right? Well, even she isn't immune to the occasional fast-food craving. But don't worry, it's not just any fast food. Ina has a soft spot for one particular chain—In-N-Out Burger. Yep, you heard that right. In a recent chat with Today, the Barefoot Contessa herself admitted, "I have to say I don't eat fast food at all, with one exception." And that exception? A visit to In-N-Out Burger when she's in California on book tours. How's that for a treat?

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A classic combo: our Double-Double, fresh fries, and an ice cold soft drink.
A post shared by In-N-Out Burger (@innout) on Mar 30, 2017 at 11:01am PDT
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In-N-Out: Ina’s Go-To Fast Food

So, why does Ina Garten, the culinary goddess, make an exception for In-N-Out Burger? Well, it turns out she's got some solid reasoning behind it. "It's so good and I know it was Julia Child’s favorite too, so it's okay," she said with a smile. If it's good enough for Julia Child, it's good enough for Ina—and who could argue with that? It's a fun little tidbit that shows even the best chefs can indulge in a bit of fast food magic every once in a while.

Julia Child: The Culinary Inspiration

In the same interview, Ina Garten revealed that Julia Child is her biggest culinary inspiration. And it's not just because of her love for In-N-Out either. "She really taught me how to cook through her cookbooks," Ina explained. "I learned how to make hollandaise sauce the right way, and then she showed me how to make it the quick way without losing any of the quality." Julia Child's influence clearly runs deep in Ina's cooking philosophy, guiding her to create dishes that are both sophisticated and approachable.

Following in Julia's Footsteps

Ina Garten has certainly carried the torch lit by her idol, Julia Child. Through her many cookbooks and the ever-popular cooking show Barefoot Contessa, Ina has been teaching fans how to cook delicious French cuisine with a Hampton's twist since 2002. Over the years, she's cooked up a storm for famous guests like Neil Patrick Harris and Jennifer Garner. But when asked about her dream dinner guest, Ina didn't hesitate. "My dream dinner guest is… [my husband], Jeffrey," she said. Talk about keeping it real and heartfelt!

Julia Child in 1990.

Ina and Jeffrey Garten tied the knot in December 1968, and they're about to celebrate their 49th wedding anniversary this year! Their love story began when Ina was just 15 years old, visiting her older brother at Dartmouth University. "He saw me walking around the campus, and he said to his roommate, 'I wonder who that girl is,'" Ina recalled in a past interview with Katie Couric. After almost five decades, the couple's bond remains as strong as ever. "The secret is just that you care about each other and admire each other and support each other—and you get that back," Ina said. I can't help but wonder how they'll celebrate this incredible milestone!