The “Barefoot Contessa” Grants Make-A-Wish Child’s Wish
Ina Garten, host of the “Barefoot Contessa” on the Food Network, has come under fire recently for her less than charitable decision concerning Enzo Pereda, a 6 year old cancer patient. Pereda, in part with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, asked if he could cook with his favorite television personality. Garten’s reply of no, twice, has now garnered her ridicule and backlash from her fans.
Pereda was informed the first time that he asked for his wish to come true that the “Barefoot Contessa” didn’t have time to make his dream come true because of a scheduling conflict with a book signing tour. Pereda decided he would try to wait and see if she would fulfill his dream after she was done with the book tour.
Garten was then asked a second time if she would be able to find the time to cook with her biggest fan. For a second straight time, Garten said no due to scheduling conflicts.
According to TMZ, Enzo told Make-A-Wish ... “he really wanted to cook with the "Barefoot Contessa" host because he would often watch the show with his mother while resting in bed.”
The Make-A-Wish foundation then persuaded little Enzo to think of something else he would like to do since Garten would not be fulfilling his wish. Enzo decided that he would swim with the dolphins instead of cooking with Garten.
"I felt terrible for him,” said Enzo’s mother in her personal blog. “He has been unwavering in his desire to meet her for 3 years and despite many attempts to get him to pick a 2nd wish or change his mind he would not. Last year Ina gave a 'soft no' supposedly because she had a 10 month book tour and they called and asked him what he wanted to do and he said 'I will wait' and he did."
After hearing of this, the ridicule and backlash for the “Barefoot Contessa” host has been rolling in so much that she has now decided to make the time for him and to cook with the 6 year old and his mother. The Make-A-Wish foundation has also decided to let Enzo keep his dream of swimming with the dolphins.
For ways you can help out with the Make-A-Wish Foundation here in Lubbock, CLICK HERE.