Ina Garten is entering a new phase of her career, and even she does not know exactly what her long-running relationship with Food Network will look like next.
The 78-year-old said she and the network are discussing what comes after the next season of Be My Guest. “I don’t know what I’m going to do with that going forward,” Garten told PEOPLE. “Food Network and I are talking.”
Garten said seasonal specials interest her more than immediately committing to another full series. Food Network declined to comment to PEOPLE about the show’s future beyond the upcoming season.
There is still more Be My Guest on the way. Food Network confirmed Sept. 23 that Season 9 premieres Oct. 3, with Christina Tosi, Jeffrey Garten, Yotam Ottolenghi and Dan Barber among the guests.
At the same time, Garten has already started something new. Happy Hour With Ina Garten, her weekly video podcast, debuted Sept. 16 with Kate McKinnon and brings guests into Garten’s New York City apartment for drinks and long-form conversation. Garten described the project as “jumping off the cliff” and said she likes “working scared” by pushing herself toward projects she has not already figured out.
The Podcast Took Her About Two Years to Say Yes To
Garten has a history of taking her time before committing to a new format. She told PEOPLE that it took her two years to agree to television after Food Network first approached her, and the podcast pitch similarly arrived in 2024 before she ultimately moved forward with it. “I think I just need to kind of mull it over,” she said. “I don’t like doing what everybody else has done. I like to do it differently.”
Vox Media announced Happy Hour as a weekly interview show featuring guests from food, entertainment, culture, sports and the arts. Garten also launched an official YouTube channel for the video version of the show.
Her first episode paired her with McKinnon, with Garten making a Caipiroska as the two talked in her apartment. Garten confirmed the Sept. 16 launch in her own newsletter, while the debut episode was also covered by Better Homes & Gardens.
The format moves Garten away from the structure of a traditional cooking show. Each episode centers on a cocktail or mocktail and an extended conversation, with new installments scheduled for Wednesdays. PEOPLE says the first season also includes filmmaker Sofia Coppola.
Her Food Network Future Is Still Being Discussed
Season 9 begins Oct. 3 at 12 p.m. ET on Food Network and streams the following day on HBO Max and discovery+. The premiere brings Milk Bar founder Christina Tosi to Garten’s East Hampton barn. Later episodes include Jeffrey Garten, Ottolenghi and Barber, according to the network’s official season announcement.
What remains unresolved is what happens after those episodes. Garten told PEOPLE that she and Food Network are in talks, while saying seasonal specials now appeal to her more than immediately signing on for another full series.
Her 14th Cookbook Arrives in October
View this post on Instagram
The television decision comes during an already busy stretch. Garten is preparing to release Simply Ina, her 14th cookbook, on Oct. 20.
Garten announced the book in March through her own newsletter, explaining that she wanted to focus on ways to make cooking easier so hosts can spend more time with their guests.
The book contains 85 recipes and emphasizes streamlined cooking, including make-ahead dishes, store-bought shortcuts and recipes requiring minimal preparation. Her publisher confirms the Oct. 20 release and describes the collection as covering everything from make-ahead lunches to simple appetizers and dinners.
Jeffrey Gives Her the Freedom to Keep Taking Chances
Garten also connected this period of change to her 57-year marriage to Jeffrey Garten, describing their relationship as one that gives both of them room to pursue the work they love.
She told PEOPLE that they remain “the anchor in each other’s lives” while allowing one another professional independence. Instead od viewing marriage as restrictive, Garten said Jeffrey’s presence gives her “freedom.”
Jeffrey has also encouraged the new podcast. Garten recalled him reminding her that her previous successes came from staying true to herself and urging her to approach the new project the same way.
Retirement does not appear to interest Garten. Asked what life might look like when she and Jeffrey eventually stop working, she laughed off the premise. “It won’t happen,” she said. “We love what we do, why would I stop?”