Hey Miss Paula Deen!

There isn't another chef I want to meet more than Miss Paula Deen. I simply adore her. She's visiting NY with the love of her life, Michael Groover.
Have you ever had a personal connection with a celeb even though it's obviously just in your head? When I was pregnant with my first child, I was placed on bedrest at about 20 weeks. I was very depressed because I was filled with fear and anxiety over the situation.
Well, I used to watch Paula Deen every single day on the Food Network, and for that half hour I swear to you she would warm my heart. It was the only moment in my day when I would crack a grin or stop thinking about the worst case scenario until my husband came home to be with me. I loved her and will never forget how she got me through that hard time. Naturally, she has no idea about any of this. But I will always be forever grateful.
Anyone in the mood for a stick of butter?
Photos by Bauer Griffin













I adore her and her sons. They are a great southern family. I know how you feel about watching her. It is just like watching my granny.
300 points
Wow Vera.
That made me tear up
7500 points
me too...
530 points
aww I just love her too!! She makes me think of the Grandma I always wanted. And shhhh don't tell my husband I think her son is totally hot lol
Which one, I think Bobby is gorgeous.
300 points
i swear...you should write her and tell her what she meant to you. she'd probably come straight to your house and cook for you! love paula deen!
actually she does remind me of my nana!!
I love her too! Thanks for sharing!
I think she is gorgeous and has such a glowing aura about her that is so magnetic. Of course, she's not petite but it's her whole energy which makes her so beautiful. She's got "it."
1845 points
i LOVE her......and wold love to meet her!
I hate butter, I don't even put it on my toast but when I watch her make anything with potatoes, I want them. She is great because she has not changed who she is to try and fit into the foodie world. She does what she loves and makes no excuses for doing things how she likes.
Paula looks adorable in that outfit and hat.
22235 points
I love Paula as well. She just has that personality that makes you want to be around her. I hope she is really like that in real life, unlike another celebrity chef(or 2) which shall remain nameless. About 6 years ago I lost my youngest daughter in a car accident. She was hit by a drunk driver. I was pretty inconsolable for awhile afterwards. However, I always stayed up to watch Jay Leno. He could always make me laugh when no one else could.
I know what you mean about feeling connected (inexplicably) to a celeb. It is hard to explain, but it has happened to me before too. I do also LOVE Paula Deen and I LOVE butter! :-) I remember when you were on bedrest with Liam, and that was scary. I cannot imagine how scary it would be in a first pregnancy.
300 points
I love how down to earth she is! I mean she's a FAMOUS chef now, but she's still grubbing at Burger King! Check the cup ;-] hahaha
That's what I'm talkin bout! WOOOOO!
XoXo
<3 Mama Mo
300 points
I love the BK she's holding...anything with grease and butter does it for Paula! Lover her.... (although I know she is not on the 2010 initiative for healthy living LOL)
300 points
I live in Georgia and have met her on several occasions. She REALLY IS just like she is on TV! Vera, I also wish you would write her and tell her what you said here. I know it would really touch her!
Paula Deen looks, acts and cooks just like my grandma. Makes me miss her every time I watch Paula. I'm dying to meet her. I just met Giada De Laurentiis this past weekend - for my birthday of all things! She was doing a book signing here in Dallas. She's another one of my favorites and she was wonderful. Now if I could just meet Paula & Bobby Flay...I would die a happy woman! Well...I would die happy after meeting them and New Kids. I girl can dream, right?
525 points
I absolutely find her so loving and I don't even know her personally. I watched one of the episodes where she did some cooking with her son Bobby and couldn't get over how loving her son is towards his mom. Goes to show when u raise your boys right they'll turn out great no matter what.
I love her! I had the same experience. I wasn't on bedrest, but I had a three year old and a one year old and was very pregnant and tired. I literally counted the hours until I could put the boys down for a nap and grab a glass of tea and just veg out to Paula. I think it was a combination of her personality ( she reminds me of my grandma ;), her accent, and the fact that I was watching SOMEONE ELSE cook that was sooo soothing, but I was always in a much better mood after watching her. Another favorite is Alton Brown. He's just hilarious. My husband, who has no interest in cooking whatsoever watches with me just for the laughs.
What you said was very nice. There are so many phonies in this world...Ms. Deen is the exception.
I have to second most of the comments. I adore and love her to death. She is fabulous and her sons are so handsome. When I watch her I always say, "what a woman". She is the definition of a "woman"! From being a single woman raising 2 children, to owning her own restuarant and having her cooking show on the Food Network.
I am 51 and single. I got married when I was 21 and it only lasted 2 years. I don't have any children and my career has always come first. Paula gives me hope that there is someone out there for me and when it is time, I will meet him!
I also adore her! Your post about her is so sweet. She reminds me of my own grandma - we're from KY. The accent, the hair, the cooking...just like my grandma. I always feel warm and fuzzy when watching her show, too.
You should e-mail her and tell her your story just as you did here.
It made me tear up too. She is a kind and fun soul.
I love that she's holding a Burger King cup. Just makes me love her even more!
Just to clarify an earlier point, Paula was not a single woman raising two sons. The 'boys' were in their early twenties when she got divorced.
I have been ill for a year now. I have to stay at home because I have very little energy. It's quite depressing. The only thing that would cheer me up would be to watch Ellen Degeneres. However, it's been taken off the air over here in the UK and it's so sad that I don't get that little bit of brightness in my day from Ellen.
I am from Savannah and Paula Deen is a complete bitch. I know her kids, I've dealt with her in real estate and she is not the sweet southern annoying belle she portrays. Paula also knows how tortured the pigs are at smithfeild farm and she continues to support them anyway. Paul is cold and heartless. Her original buffet in downtown Savannah sucks and its overrated.
PETA shut the fuck up!
I was that way with Kelly Ripa. I was on bed rest during my 1st pregnacy and I couldn't wait until that show came on. It was the highlight of my day.
I hate to say it, but I kind of agree with Anonymous (above). I was born and raised in Savannah, and it's true that when she was just starting out, she was a realy nice lady. Used to get sandwiches from her cart once in awhile when I was a kid (my uncle worked in an office building where she'd go around selling them).
However, once she got to be a big deal, she started treating a lot of people in town badly. For instance, the woman who "co-authors" her cookbooks (Martha Nesbitt), actually does pretty much *all* the recipe creation and testing, as well as the writing. And from what I hear, Paula Deen didn't exactly share the wealth from all the cookbook sales! (I used to babysit for Mrs. Nesbitt's two boys and we went to church together for years). Plus, all of the sauces and food products she sells are made by a company called Braswell's, which is run out of Statesboro (I'm a distant relation of the Braswell family). She pretends like she made up all the recipes, but nope! And it's true, too, that she doesn't exactly go out of her way to use her clout and power to advocate for better local produce and more humane/organic livestock methods.
Sorry, Vera--I know it sounds crappy--and she really was nice before she hit the big time, but she really changed for the worse. Most locals who know her don't much care for her (and we all completely avoid the restaurant! If you want the *real* deal, either go to Mrs. Wilkes Boarding House (though even that's not as good as it was when Mrs. Wilkes was still alive--she was my friend's grandma, and boy could she cook real Southern food!), or to Sweet Potatoes (on Waters Ave). The guy who owns Sweet Potatoes is a really great guy who supports local farmers and organic growers.
300 points
i love Paula! What a sweet story and i totally agree.....its impossible to not be happy and smile while watching her!
I can totally relate! I gave birth in June and during maternity leave I had a bit of the baby blues for the first few weeks. I DVR'd Paula's shows and LOVED to watch them -- they cheered me up. I felt like she was talking directly to me. In fact, I hated when she had a guest on her show because then she'd be talking to them and not me! And she's just so HAPPY. It would rub off on me. She helps me get through the baby blues, for sure!
PAULA, first i am a fan.
i also belive in personal hygene. when i watch you cooking, stirring the food
and then tasting same off spoon, putting back in bowel, repeating proscess.
the best is when your useing your hands, licking your fingers, then touching
food over and over. having a guest or host taste food, and still use same utencil. i am sure i am not the only that notices.
jack
Sorry guys, but Paula Deen is not as great as yall think. I have lived in Savannah my whole life and have ran into Paula a couple times. She isn't such a "sweet southern gal"; she is rather stuck up and a grouch. Her accent is fake and overexagerrated. All the locals are mind boggled at why people (tourists) will wait in two hour lines to eat her food. My grandma makes the same stuff Paula does, if not better. Her restaurants are so over-rated and over-priced. Next time you come to Savannah I suggest hitting up the not-so-well-known eateries. There are many other small restaurants with better homestyle cooking and better prices (at least 50% cheaper than Paula's), such as Clary's Cafe, The Cotton Exchange, or Johnny Harris.
Gotta say, I'm with all the other folks from Savannah. I have lived in Savannah most of my life and Paula Deen is NOT a nice woman. That's her TV personality and she can turn it on and off at will. She was really nice before the money started coming in. After that, she had no time at all for Savannah. Locals have no idea why she's such a big deal to Yankees and Folks from out west but in the south, we know what the real deal is and Paula Deen ain't it.
Paula Dean simply KILLS people
she should be put in jail
she is a horrible person
and just another embarasment of what this piec of crap country produces
she kills
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