She’s been described as “the butter-loving, finger-licking, joke-cracking queen of melt-in-your-mouth Southern cuisine.” Some people absolutely love her—and her style of cooking. Others don’t—and are vocal about that too. Emotions often run high when people start talking about Paula Deen, the 60-year old Food Network star who got her start in Savannah some 20 years ago.

Originally from Albany, Georgia, Paula married young and had two children. Both of her parents died before she was 24, and a few years later she and her husband lost their business and their home. Her life was in a downward spiral. Some time before the family moved 200 miles to Savannah in 1987, Paula developed a serious case of agoraphobia. The move only accentuated her problems. She stayed in bed for two months, getting up only to eat.

One good thing did come out of these years of fear. “I had turned into a really good cook,” Paula says on her website. “Remember, I had kept myself a prisoner in my own home for years. All I did was cook.” In 1989, with the help of her sons, she started a small business in Savannah—The Bag Lady—preparing and delivering home-cooked meals to local office workers. Her business eventually expanded into a full-service restaurant in Savannah’s Best Western hotel, which she named The Lady.

“I dreamed of a place where my style of cooking went hand in hand with the surroundings,” Paula says. “We had so many friends and loyal customers on the south side of Savannah, but I knew that we belonged Downtown. My style of cooking was Southern Plantation cuisine reminiscent of the Old South, and the Historic District of Downtown Savannah was the place for me.”

In 1996 Paula opened her own restaurant—The Lady and Sons—in a former Sears and Roebuck store on East Congress Street, serving her home-cooked southern comfort food. From that point on, success came quickly. Her self-published cookbook was purchased by Random House, she appeared on the QVC Network, and in 1999 USA Today recognized her for the “Most Memorable Meal” of the year. Her biggest break came when she was a guest on a Food Network show. Today she hosts one of the network’s most popular shows, Paula Deen's Home Cooking, as well as a new show, Paula's Party. She has her own magazine, has written six cookbooks, has appeared on numerous talk shows and specials, and even had a co-starring role in the movie Elizabethtown. Her 2004 wedding to local tugboat pilot Michael Groover was filmed for a Food Network special. Coming up is her autobiography "It Ain't All About the Cooking" which will be published in April 2007.

Today The Lady and Sons is one of Savannah’s biggest attractions. In 2003 The Lady and Sons moved to a much larger 200-year old building further west on Congress Street on a prominent corner of the Historic District. They definitely need the additional space! Tourists come from all over America to eat lunch and dinner at Paula’s restaurant, often waiting in line for up to two-and-a-half hours before the doors open. Paula’s sons Jamie and Bobby—who manage The Lady and Sons—have their own Food Network show, Road Tasted. Her younger brother Bubba has a restaurant seven miles from downtown Savannah (Uncle Bubba's Oyster House) where Paula sometimes teaches cooking schools and where Paula’s Party is filmed. For those who are really Paula-maniacs, there’s even a Paula Deen tour of Savannah, including lunch at Uncle Bubba’s.

Several Slow Travelers have already raised their hands to say they’re Paula fans and want to have lunch at The Lady and Sons during the Gathering weekend. (Fortunately, you can make a reservation for a group of 10 or more and avoid that long wait outside.)

I have to confess—even though I live in the south, cook with too much butter and love The Food Network, I haven’t been a big Paula Deen fan. But after learning more about her story, I’m definitely impressed by what this gutsy lady has achieved, especially since her success has come in midlife and after a series of personal setbacks.

Comments from anyone else?

Learn more about Paula Deen and The Lady and Sons restaurant:

Paula's story (from her website)
The Lady and Sons
Paula's impact on Savannah tourism
Some of Paula's recipes (from The Food Network website)
Video clips from Paula's Party (click on Paula: After the Party)

Join us for The Great Slow Travel Gathering - Savannah, Georgia - April 4 to 6, 2008

Kathy

We'd like to check out Paula's restaurant, but my daughter said she was VERY diasppointed when they ate at Bubba's a few months back. Maybe it was a bad day, but I'm wondering if any one else has any firsthand experiences with either restaurant?

We're not Paulamaniacs, but definitely think a visit to Lady and Sons should be on our agenda for this trip to Savannah. Going with a group would be really fun. Think Paula would like us.

Marcia

Haven't been to Bubba's yet but The Lady & Sons is quite good - not our favorite in Savannah but very good. We have never tried the famous buffet though, choosing instead to order from the menu. It's a noisy place and sometimes the line to get in is incredibly long.

Another thing to consider is Paula's cooking class. I took one about 4 years ago, though it was taught by Jamie instead of Paula. He's extremely handsome in person. My hairdresser has family in Savannah and she says the cooking classes were either very few last year or temporarily suspended. You may want to check the website for announcements if a class appeals to you.

I live in a tiny town and the beauty shop is the information hub as well as a source for good recipes. If you like Paula Deen and if you want to get in the mood for some southern food, try her Tomato Grits - yummy. My hairdresser told me about the recipe - I made it over the weekend and served it with grilled steaks. Recipe available online at Food Network - click on kaydee's link above.