7011 replies to this topic

[Bungalow Joy]

Ewwww, beh! See, I don't want much more to say anything too negative about her since that would greatly diminish my already slim chances of bagging that tall boy of hers, Jamie. I doubt he'd go in for anyone badmouthing his dear mama.

[keckler]

Okay, I just watched Paula for the first time and she was doing an oyster extravaganza. Her accent bugs me a bit since it seems like she's trying so hard to have one -- I'm sure she's got an authentic one but it sort of seems like she's going overboard -- but I loved the rest of the episode. She's got a few personality quirks that could get annoying over time -- screaming when her sons helped her off the boat and onto the oyster bank -- but the food looked amazing.

[jellywager]

I met Paula Deen!!! I was so excited. I just got back from Savannah. We first went to The Lady and Sons for dinner. I didn't see her so I thought she never really worked there. The food was good but we ordered the deep fried lobster (eh, the lobster absorbed all of the cooking oil and the oil really took away from the taste of the lobster..they served it w/melted butter, can you believe it?). Dessert was heavenly...fudge pie.
I decided to go back in a couple of days for lunch to try the buffet. At dinner they also offer the buffet. For lunch you can get the buffet or something off of the menu.
After our lunch I asked the waitress to put Paula's first cookbook on our ticket. She said "Sure, and she is here today so you can have her sign it." I was in shock, my hand went up to my mouth and I gasped. I turned around and sure enough in the gift shop she was. She was very pretty.
The waitress walked me over to her, she was busy talking to someone. When it was my turn I was very nervous (I know... Why?). I could not really even look at her. I told her I love her show. She said "Well, I love making the show for you." or something like that. Then I had to tell her I make her pumpkin cake for Thanksgiving. She asked me if my family liked it. Then my husband took our picture and she had me hold up her book in the picture.
She was very cute, but more serious than I thought she'd be. Her accent was the same as on TV.

Edited by jellywager, Jan 17, 2004 @ 8:07 PM.

[KateQD]

I'm so jealous! So glad you had such a nice experience!

Did anyone see the Naomi Judd show where she did an expose on Paula and her family? It was so good. They interviewed her sons and all the people who work at her restaurant. And they showed Michael, who has cut his hair, but grown a beard. They are so cute together! It was a really nice peice on her and her sons just must adore her. Everyone seemed to adore her, as do I! I highly recommend trying to catch it if you can, although I have no idea what the show was called.

[CydW]

Oh, jellywager, how fun! How tall would you say Paula is? She looks small on the show, but TV can be so misleading.

The one time I had lunch at the restaurant, I think Jamie (sp?) was holding down the fort. This was before the series started, so I had no idea who he was, but he was certainly cute and capable!

Kate, I was intrigued by the promos for the Naomi Judd show but didn't get a chance to tune in. I'll have to go over to the Food Network site to see if there are any reruns scheduled. The fact that Paula is featured is added incentive!

[biakbiak]

CyDW - If you turn on your tV right now the Judd special is on.

[jellywager]

CydW Paula was about 5'6 and she looked thinner than she does on TVShe was very sophisticated looking compared how she is on TV. Thanks everyone for sharing my excitment...it was fun. The staff at the resturant was very friendly. Our first waiter would put his hands on my back or arm, which I have never expirenced before. They all had smiles on their face, like it was a fun place to work. They all wore t-shirts that were sold at the gift booth, they had different sayings on them. The two I liked said "Worth the Weight" and "Body by Lady and Son's".

[greybear]

Our first waiter would put his hands on my back or arm ...

I am seriously confused. Why would a waiter need to put his hands on a customer's back or arm? I'm fairly sure that I'd deck him and then ask, "WTF is your major problem?"

[Nocona]

Touching arms and backs is a part of your flare! [/sarcasm], I'm sure the servers get trained on southern hospitality. It takes a special personality. When I worked at Fridays they taught us how to work cumstomers with flamboyant cheerfullness and tricks to make them buy more...after my training ended so did my permanant fake grin, and cheerleader-like personality( a manager of mine actually told me to be more "bubbly") I basically treated my customers the way I would want to be treated, being payed attenion to without being in your face...and lo and behold, my tips were just the the same as the flare people, if not better.

Anyways, I just made her peanutbutter version of her pumpkin gooey cakes, absolutley phenomenal...and it should be with two sticks of butter. I can hear my arteries hardening.

For some reason I love this woman, for all this talk about leaving the menfolk bigger peices, she seems like a very strong lady...its gotta be hard for a once-agoraphopic, single mom to have built up a southern cooking empire up from the ground.

[Rimerr]

I don't know if anyone else noticed this, but in the Naomi Judd special, there seemed to be a shout-out to our board.

Paula, Jamie and Bobby were in the kitchen cooking lunch during their Sunday reconnection time when Paula leans over to show Jamie how to do something. Once her instruction is done, she said, "I'll let you finish that while I stand back here and have another drink." Next shot showed Paula downing a margarita.

I laughed so hard - I cried. It just shows that we knew she was hitting the bottle between recipes!

[BetJo]

Bless her heart, she has worked so hard, she darn well deserves a nip or two between recipes.

Did her husband pass away, or did they get divorced? I never hear the boys talk about him.

[jellywager]

She mentions that she was divorced with two sons when she started her business. I don't know why... it could be a juicy reason.

Edited by jellywager, Jan 19, 2004 @ 11:15 AM.

[KateQD]

Yes, she divorced in 1989.
Quoted from the prologue in The Lady and Sons Savannah Country Cookbook
"In 1989, newly divorced and unemployed, I was living in Savannah and was determined to succeed. Using the cooking skills I learned as a child, I invested my last $200 in a catering business that I started with my two sons, Jamie and Bobby."

She doesnt mention what happened, but I imagine he left her for a younger woman. Hell its probably Sandra Lee's new husband that was Paula's old one.
Those boys are so close to their mom, I bet they absolutely hate their father.

[keckler]

Did I see in the Judd special that Paula maybe introduced a son-in-law? Does she have a daughter?

[CydW]

From what I've read and heard, I've picked up the sense that Paula's husband was something like abusive or alcoholic (or both). IIRC, he's also now deceased. I've never heard mention of a daughter at all.

[Bungalow Joy]

Paula leans over to show Jamie how to do something.

Wait, I thought Jamie was the tall one. The one with the cute dimpled cheeks and chin.

Anyways, I think that Judd special was called The Family Table, and despite her annoying mannerisms I'm liking this lady, binge drunk and all.

[CydW]

biakbiak, I forgot to say before...I ran to my TV after seeing your post, but the Judd special wasn't there. I think our different time zones were working against me, but thanks for the thought!

[jellywager]

Next Sunday is going to be a marathon of Paula's Home Cooking. Can't wait!

[Nocona]

yes, I am excited! Next sunday will be spent in front of the TV with FN and Paula. The only thing is that I'll be hungry for the whole marathon. Her show always inpires me to eat something VERY bad. I'll have to resist the stick of butter.

[PornQueen]

Watched the Tailgate episode today. The best part, Paula goes around the campers/tailgaiting area of the Georgia/Florida game, meeting and sampling foods. Then she finds a Gator lover with a huge tricked out RV, and she asks to see his bed, which has a Gator coverlet on it. She crawls onto the bed, on her hands and knees and "woofs" at the camera!! Hee! Paula is strangely hot for an older woman!

[Rimerr]

The best part, Paula goes around the campers/tailgaiting area of the Georgia/Florida game, meeting and sampling foods.

Those not from this area of the country may not know this, but I think it's appropriate. The Georgia/Florida game is at the same time every year and is called "The World's Largest Cocktail Party" due to the amount of liquor consumed before and after the game.

I think it's fitting that Paula enjoyed herself there.

[Nocona]

I've been watching the Paula marathon, and I just saw her put cream cheese in lasagna, cream cheese in lasagna, I have never heard of anyone ever doing this, but I'm intrigued. I think I'll try it tommorrow.

and those cake/ice cream cones looked so cute, and a proper semi-homemade kid item, yes...I'm lookin at you SandiLee.

[KateQD]

My dad saw a recipe on Paula over the weekend and he made them yesterday, it was a cinnamon roll-esque treat with a big dollup of cream cheese wrapped in the middle and then coated in butter and brown sugar on the outside. Holy Crap these were the best dessert I have ever had, I highly recommend. He didnt know what they were called so I cant tell you either, but if you ever see her make something like this on the show and you think you'd like to try them, I am here to tell you to do it. You wont be sorry. They are fantastic!

ETA:Nocona, I have had cream cheese in lasagna before, it is quite yummy. I have also had cottage cheese and it is really good. I think as long as you use a thick cheese, it will taste good.

Edited by KateQD, Feb 2, 2004 @ 9:37 AM.

[Nocona]

I made that too yesterdayKateQD, it was amaaaaazing. Its called Guerilla bread, I guess its her take on Monkey Bread. Its from the Jimmy Carter episode.

oh man, I feel like whenever I make one of her recipies, I have to spend two hours at the gym...I still marvel at the amount of butter she uses.

and as a purist of italian food, I usually hate the thought of cottage cheese in place of ricotta, but I think i gotta taste this cream cheese lasagna. and then spend 3 hours at the gym.

[Bungalow Joy]

I watched part of the marathon, flipping back and forth. Still like this woman even though you can see her--like RR--start to dial her cutesy mannerisms waaay, waaaaay up. Like, she makes sure to point out the butter and Crisco and fat finefinefine. OK! Rimshot! Pause for applause! But then her recipes are so genuine, too.

[KateQD]

and as a purist of italian food, I usually hate the thought of cottage cheese in place of ricotta, but I think i gotta taste this cream cheese lasagna. and then spend 3 hours at the gym.

Nocona, I'm German, so I dont know really good Italian food from Nancy! So cottage cheese or ricotta doesnt bother me and I never even notice it, which used to piss my friend off immensely (she was brought up in an Italian home with her mother making the best meatballs I have ever known in my life). Now, give me a stuffed cabbge the wrong way and I can tell from the smell it wont be correct, but with Italian food, I hardly ever think it's anything but delicious, my tastebuds arent trained that way!

[CydW]

What was up with Paula's hair today? It had that matronly, teased, bubblehead effect that she doesn't usually have.

And I only saw a little of the episode, but she struck me as more subdued than usual. It worried me. Paula, you okay, hon?