Simpler times! On Sunday, Aug. 9, Barefoot Contessa viewers got a special treat when Jennifer Garner was featured on a new episode, titled "Barefoot in L.A.," cooking with famed chef Ina Garten. The actress' segment, which was filmed in her family's home in Los Angeles' Brentwood neighborhood, was taped back on April 17, which was Garner's 43rd birthday.
Garten came over to cook Garner a birthday lunch and to help fulfill a longtime dream of the Miracles From Heaven star who has always been a big Barefoot Contessa fan.
The pair picked kale out of Garner's impressive backyard garden to make Parmesan kale chips in the oven. The mother of three revealed that her kiddos are big fans of kale.
"They're California kids!" she said, noting that she often burns the kale chips when she tries to make them on her own.
After the tasty (and healthy!) appetizer, the duo set about grilling the Provencal swordfish. For dessert, Garten brought over some of her homemade chocolate crisp.
Garner looked great and seemed to be in good spirits throughout the episode, joking that she was actually turning 28. She also loved talking about her three kids — Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3 — who have all started to cook. She dished that Violet likes making chocolate chip pancakes and the proud mom also noted that Garten's meatballs are a staple in her house for "Meatball Mondays."
The fun segment was taped prior to Garner and Ben Affleck's announcement that they were ending their 10-year marriage on June 30. Soon after the news broke, Us Weekly exclusively revealed that the Gone Girl actor, 42, had recently started a romance with the family's 28-year-old former nanny, Christine Ouzounian. In an odd coincidence, Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka, who had also used Ouzounian for their twins prior to her employment with Garner and Affleck, also appeared on the Barefoot in LA special.
