Friday, June 8, 2007

Savannah & Paula Deen: It Ain't All About the Cookin'


Mercer House: Setting of the murder in Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil

I stayed here at the Eliza Thompson House. It's a really neat B&B.
These pics are all from my visits to Savannah several years ago.

Hey ya'll....said in my best Paula Deen voice! I don't normally endorse a lot of books, but just had to mention this one. I just finished reading Paula Deen's new memoirs, It Ain't All About the Cookin', and thoroughly enjoyed it. I really didn't know the story of how she got started & how she ended up where she is now, but it truly is a remarkable story of tenacity & courage during the hard, tough, lean times she had getting started during her early beginnings. Did you know that she got started out of her house making lunches & had her sons selling them to businesses? Her first business was called The Bag Lady. I've visited Savannah a few times, but somehow missed out on going to The Lady & Sons restaurant & I sure wish I'd have gone. I had just started to hear her name when I was there several years ago. I think I'll have to go back again to Savannah & make a special point to visit her restaurant. I was there just after the book Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil came out & did pick up a signed copy of it while I was there. Took the tour of the Bonaventure Cemetary & the historic district too. If you've never been to Savannah, you must go! Truly a delightful Southern city. After I read her book, it really made me want to visit again.

You will laugh & cry right along with her. She came from a very closeknit, but somewhat poor family, married at a very young age & had her 2 sons. Their story is really all about the American dream & what you can do if you put your heart & soul into something. Paula is a little bawdy, but downright lovable, admitting her failures & mistakes right out there for everyone to see. You can just see yourself sitting down & talking to her. Of course, as I was reading the book, I heard her voice saying all the words. That so-so Southern accent of hers is just contagious. I'd love to meet her one day! I wonder if any of you have been to her restaurant? If so, what'd you think??
A great beach book or summer read...hope you get to enjoy it too. I checked it out at the library & couldn't put it down!

Happy Summer reading!

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