TV’s “Barefoot Contessa” will headline a Portland fundraiser for independent gubernatorial candidate Eliot Cutler at the end of the month.

Ina Garten is host of “The Barefoot Contessa,” a cooking show on the Food Network. Before becoming a culinary celebrity, she worked for Cutler in the Carter administration in the late 1970s. Garten was a nuclear energy policy analyst and Cutler was an associate director of the Office of Management and Budget.

The two became friends, and have remained so, Cutler said today.

According to invitations sent out today, there will be two events on July 30 at 58 Fore St., The Portland Company complex. The first is a private reception, limited to 50 people. Attendees will get a photo, signed Barefoot Contessa cookbook and lunch for a campaign donation of $250. That will be followed by a lunch where Cutler and Garten will speak. Cookbooks will be on sale, and Garten will sign them, the invitation said. Admission for that event is a $50 campaign contribution.

Cutler is one of five candidates running for governor. The other candidates include Republican Paul LePage, Democrat Elizabeth Mitchell and independent candidates Shawn Moody and Kevin Scott.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.