Ina Garten & Amy Poehler Team Up for 'Good Hang' Podcast--Holiday Gift Guide Inside
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The Barefoot Contessa Meets Amy Poehler on Food & Wine’s New Holiday‑Gift‑Focused Podcast
When the culinary icon Ina Garten—best known as the “Barefoot Contessa”—teams up with her long‑time friend and fellow comedian Amy Poehler for a brand‑new podcast, it’s hard not to wonder what the two might have in common. According to Food & Wine, the partnership is all about good hang (a phrase they coined for “good times, good food, and good friends”) and, for the holiday season, they’ve compiled a cheat‑sheet of 2025 gift ideas that are both thoughtful and delicious.
The article begins by setting the stage for the podcast’s premiere. Garten and Poehler have collaborated on a handful of Instagram Live cooking sessions in the past, but this time they’re taking it to a more permanent medium: the “Good Hang with Amy Poehler” podcast, which debuted on Apple Podcasts and Spotify on Thanksgiving day. In the Food & Wine write‑up, Garten describes the show as “a conversation‑heavy series where we share recipes, laugh, and give each other honest feedback—much like the kitchen’s version of a therapy session.” The hosts tease that the upcoming holiday episode will focus on “the best gifts for people who love food, the home, and just having a good time.”
The heart of the piece is a rundown of the holiday‑gift segment. The duo started off with a classic: a Gourmet Gift Box that includes a selection of high‑grade olive oils, balsamic vinegars, and a small jar of truffle‑infused salt. Garten points out that the olive oil set, sourced from a family‑owned Tuscan farm, “is the kind of gift that makes people feel like they’re dining at a Michelin‑starred restaurant from their own kitchen.” She further explains that the bottles are hand‑blown, each with a minimalist label that screams “Italian chic” and is perfect for a hostess who likes to serve a glass of extra‑virgin olive oil as a drink.
The article also highlights a Scented Candle Set that has become a new cult favorite. The set is a trio of soy candles with subtle fragrances such as “Lavender‑Rose” and “Cedar‑Maple.” Poehler jokes that she’s given a candle to every roommate in her college dorm for the first year, and that “the scent of a good candle is the aroma of a good conversation.” Garten notes that the candles come in a handcrafted wooden box, making them ideal for an eco‑friendly gift list.
The third major gift discussed is the Italian Olive Oil Set itself, but the article goes into detail about a hand‑crafted wooden cutting board that has been on the “must‑have” list for the last decade. Garten’s version of the board is 12 inches by 8 inches, hand‑cut from a single piece of maple. The board comes with a “Gourmet Herb & Spice Collection,” which includes a small jar of oregano, basil, and rosemary, all freshly picked and dried on the spot. The board is designed to double as a serving platter for antipasto, and its smooth grain is a “sanctuary for any knife,” the article quotes Garten as saying.
To round out the gift guide, the article mentions a Cooking Class package that Garten’s website is selling in partnership with a local culinary institute. This class is a 90‑minute session where the instructor teaches guests how to prepare a multi‑course Italian dinner that would impress any foodie. The class is available as a digital download or in person, and the article gives a link to the “Cooking Class” page on the Food & Wine site where listeners can book their spot.
Beyond the gift list, the article offers a few glimpses into the podcast’s structure. Garten shares that each episode starts with a short “foodie moment” where she talks about a recipe she’s currently obsessed with. For the holiday episode, she shares her own secret recipe for Pecan‑Nut Stuffing that has been in the family for generations. Poehler, on the other hand, talks about her attempts to perfect her Chili Lime Shrimp, which she says has become the “party starter” at every house‑guest gathering. The hosts also play a quick “Guess the Ingredient” game, where each gives a clue about a food item and the other has to guess it—leading to a few humorous mishaps that the article says made the episode “burst with laughter.”
Food & Wine also links readers to a few external resources: the podcast’s own “Good Hang with Amy Poehler” page, a “Gift Guide” PDF that lists all the items mentioned in the episode, and a set of downloadable recipe cards for the dishes discussed. The article includes a short segment that invites listeners to submit their own holiday gift ideas for a chance to be featured in the next episode.
In summary, the article does a solid job of condensing a half‑hour podcast into a succinct gift guide that is both practical and heartfelt. With Ina Garten’s seasoned cooking expertise and Amy Poehler’s comedic flair, the “Good Hang” podcast offers listeners not only a chance to pick up a new holiday present but also a slice of the friendship and warmth that made the podcast so engaging. Whether you’re in the market for a premium olive oil, a stylish candle, a handcrafted cutting board, or a cooking class, the Food & Wine write‑up has you covered with a neat, 2025‑ready list that’s sure to make your holiday shopping feel like a breeze.
Read the Full Food & Wine Article at:
[ https://www.foodandwine.com/ina-garten-good-hang-with-amy-poehler-podcast-holiday-gifts-2025-11859944 ]