Ina Garten dated husband Jeffreys roommate before messy proposal and separation

Jeffrey Garten’s proposal to Ina Garten wasn’t a spicy one, but she knew it was purée love.The 76-year-old recalled the time between meeting the Yale professor, 77, and him asking for her hand in marriage.In her new memoir, “Be Ready When the Luck Happens,” (out Oct.1), per People, Ina shared that when she was 16, she visited her brother Ken at Dartmouth College. While on campus, her mother asked Ken to fix her up with a classmate.“I’d dressed in my best blue skirt, my favorite blue-­and-­white wool and angora sweater, the new blue Pappagallos that I’d bought with my own money so my mother couldn’t refuse to buy them for me, and a blue grosgrain ribbon in my hair,” the renowned chef wrote in her book.Of course, Jeffrey ended up spotting his now-wife of 56 years on campus, but soon found out there were other ingredients added to the mix that evening. “At some point, I passed the library, a building right off the beautiful Dartmouth Green,” Ina continued.

“I later found out that a Dartmouth freshman was inside, admiring me.As he tells the story, Jeffrey Garten saw me on the Green and, in an instant, was smitten! ‘Look at that beautiful girl,’ he said to his roommate, who recognized me [and said] ‘I know her.

That’s Ina Rosenberg, and we’re going to the movies tonight.'”The date with Jeffrey’s roommate didn’t turn romantic, so the Army vet asked if he could write to Ina himself.She shared the first of many letters he wrote her throughout their relationship in her new memoir:Dear Ina,… I have the impression that [my roommate] Roger’s attempt to get me a date with you affected you the wrong way.

If you felt that he was trying to “pass you off,” you could not be more mistaken. Truth is … I saw you (but we were never introduced, unfortunately, when you were up here this Fall)…If the idea of dating a Jewish freshman from Florida whom you have never seen doesn’t repel you, how about dropping me a ...