Michelle Obama on Paula Deen's "Food Party"

[DesertRat]

The “laaahd” will flow as Michelle Obama joins genteel food maven Paula Deen on an episode of “Paula’s Party,” Sept. 20 on the Food Network.

On the show, “Grease is the Word,” the wife of the Democratic presidential candidate meets up with Deen “on the campaign trail” to make the TV chef’s famous fried shrimp and Creole french fries.

According to the network’s press release: “Michelle gives Paula a taste of her family life on the road to the White House and shares fun facts, including the first meal she made for Barack, what kinds of local foods the family seeks out on the road and that Barack makes a mean chili!”

When: 7 p.m. Sept. 20, Network: Food Network

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/sep/10/michelle-obama-join-paula-deens-party/

Watch a promo video here: http://www.pauladeen.com/tv

[davidinalameda]

1. that is WAAAAAAAAAAY cool!

I love Paula!

wonder if she'll have Palin on later and make moose burgers; I don't think that Paula would get along well with Palin

[glowing]

2. Do you know how many southern ladies that this is going to turn on?

My whole family loves Paula Deen (the southern family)... I love that big outdoor grill area she's got..

[calimary]

6. Hey, whatever it takes! Paula is not one of my favorite Food Channel people.

I just cannot take that drawl. Cannot. Makes my hand start groping for the remote. But hey, if it's a way to enhance Michelle Obama with Paula's fans, then so be it.

Barefoot Contessa and the original Iron Chef (Chairman Kaga! Sigh!!!! :loveya:) for me.

[glowing]

20. Oh, I love that southern drawl.. I grew up in VT, my heart belongs to the Carolina's,

and I'm stuck like a duck in Floriduh!!! I love a southern drawl and how nice it is to have more people happy around you, than not happy around you.

[Warpy]

25. Paula Deen reminds me very pleasantly of the

wonderfully obscene women my mother counted among her friends when we lived in NC. I had a horrible time there (kids are rotten), but listening in on their hilariously ribald takes on life almost made up for it.

In fact, my mother's closest friend back then actually looks a good bit like Paula.

Having said that, I do confess I like my arteries too much to try to cook any of her stuff.

[calimary]

51. Yeah, I know. I can appreciate that. It's just something visceral in me.

More my problem than anyone else's, but a thick drawl has always made something inside me grit its teeth. I get that way when I hear too much soupy C&W pedal steel guitar, too. Something in the bone marrow maybe? I dated a guy in college who loved Hank Williams Junior and played his stuff all the time. He'd bring his own little CD player in his old dilapidated car that didn't have a radio, and he'd play cassettes all the time, even up to the point where the battery was wearing down. Hank Williams Jr. and pedal steel when the batteries are dying. MAN (kinda like that scene in "Apollo 13" when they're marooned and playing Hank Williams on one of the astronauts' cassette player and its batteries are dying). Anyway, I endured it as quietly and cooperatively as I could ('cause when he wasn't playing Hank Williams Jr., he was playing Bob Dylan all the time, mainly other stuff than "Nashville Skyline," and THAT was WUNNNNNNderful!). One time, though, he got hold of an album by a group of Nashville session men, that was called Area Code 615. Evidently the roster read like a country music Who's Who as far as the prominence and sheer musicianship of the lineup on the album. The pedal steel on that one was wall-to-wall and as thick as a new mattress. I'm sure it was supremely fine stuff to a country music lover. He put it on one night when the house was getting ready to have a party, and I literally had to excuse myself and leave. It made my teeth hurt and my eyes go blurry.

No country heart here, I guess, although I did appreciate some of ol' Hank's lyrics so I took my enjoyment there. I've always had a hard time with country music, though.

[Arugula Latte]

63. I hear ya. I grew up listening to that stuff.

My dad was in the radio biz, and country music was playing ALL the time in our house. The early exposure didn't turn me into a country fan, to say the least. I have very clear recollections of being a kid of about 9, 10, 11 and thinking: "God, this music is horrible."

I'll make some exceptions for people like Willie and Johnny Cash, but the exceptions are few and far between.

[calimary]

76. I grew up with Nat King Cole, Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Vic Damone,

Dean Martin, Rosemary Clooney, and the like. Big city music, I suppose. I was spared the country stuff. Nobody played it at our house. Strictly Sinatra and friends.

"Fly me to the moon..." every big holiday wherein my parents would have an open house and lots of people would come over. Still love that stuff. My dad spent a fair amount of time in his youth sneaking into speakeasies and hanging out with the jazz and blues people in Kansas City. Crooners. LOVED crooners. So did I. Ella would bring him to tears. We played a lot of Sinatra at the funeral parlor when dad was laid out, and everybody commented on how great the music was. I actually saw people sitting in the pews nodding along with the music and tapping their feet. A big hit with the World War II crowd. Even the funeral director complimented us on it - said it was a really nice change from the usual dirge stuff.

I will say this about Paula Deen, though. GREAT diamonds. If I had to watch, I'd be watching the close-ups on her hands - with rapt attention.

[KoKo]

80. You are talking about "Post War" 50's and late "40's" music...though..

and no one really knows how to relate to that. :shrug: :-(

It would seem very neanderthal..........to many here. Just saying..and I do understand what you are saying. Looking at how many stole from that group...and tweaked and refined it is like looking at the History of American Music. How we forget..

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

30. I get such a kick out of Paula's accident and I'm a NYer through

and through.

I do like Ina a whole bunch though! Also, her house brings back lots of memories to me of being out in the Hamptons.

[ensho]

98. I can't take her either - she plays the southern roll too much

and I was born and raised below the Mason Dixon Line

[ensho]

99. I loved the original Japanese Iron Chef too

wonder if US Iron Chef would ever do a vegetarian meal (not vegan - just no meat, fowl, or fish. dairy OK)

[Retrograde]

3. genteel? Paula Dean?

the woman shrieks and cackles. I can't reach for the remote quick enough when she accidentally shows up on my TV. That voice! My in-laws are multi-generation Alabamians and none of them shrill like that!

Not that it will affect my vote or anything, but, Michelle, really? Couldn't you go on Good Eats instead?

[TwilightGardener]

4. I like Paula, and more importantly, so do a lot of older white women, so I think

it's helpful for Michelle and Barack for her to do this. Alton Brown is my very favorite, though--I TIVO every episode.

[DesertRat]

5. I agree about Paula Dean

But lots of people LOVE her. She may bring in a demographic who normally wouldn't watch Michelle. The ones who believe the talk show smears about her being unpatriotic and a racist.
I think it's a very smart move.

[sandnsea]

13. I love her

God sometimes people on this board are the exact definition of "liberal elite".

Good Eats? Really??? zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[mitchum]

52. I agree with you that Deen is hardly genteel, but that's because she is from Savannah...

instead of Charleston :)
Hey, you can take the boy out of South Carolina, but you...

edit: typo

[KoKo]

77. Hey! I was BORN in CHARLESTON...have Relatives in SAVANNAH...who you Talkin' to?

:eyes:

[mitchum]

79. I have no problem with Charleston...

but I do enjoy cracking on Georgia :)
Actually, I also enjoy Savannah (and currently live in Athens)
But I have always been amused by the rivalry between Charleston and Savannah.

[KoKo]

88. Charleston...at one time was better...but Savannah got it's "act together" after

the book "Midnight of the Garden of Good and Evil" was a BIG HUGE, Bestseller....made Savannah cooler than Charleston.

But, then while born in Charleston...I grew up in the lowcountry just outside...A different breed even for those of us with Aunts and Uncles on the Peninsular........

[ensho]

100. I love Savanna's book stores - Burlington, Vt. is another book store city

nt

[Bluebear]

73. I love paula

[Tangerine LaBamba]

7. This is just BRILLIANT!

And watch how the numbers soar on this one.

Absolutely brilliant.

It's also going to be - I will venture a guess - a very funny, enjoyable show.

I'll be watching................

[MzNov]

8. President Pumski!

:rofl:

[asdjrocky]

9. I just knew Paula Dean was a good egg. nt

[CitizenPatriot]

10. well, I loves me some Paula

I've worked with her and I adore her; she is a down to earth, kind, loving, and warm person with a mouth like a truck driver (hence our immediate bond). This THRILLS me because she is admired by many of those voters who may right now be automatically going to McCain.

Paul, you have courage and heart! KUDOS!!!

What's really rather interesting is if the southern voter was voting the person they were most familiar with, it would really be Obama. McCain's western elitism, his many homes, his lack of family ties are not southern. Michelle is doing a great thing by doing this show, showing those voters that she is in many ways so much closer to their values than certainly Cindy McCain is. cindy doesn't speak to her own sister, has nannies raising their children, wears 300,000 dollar dresses and stole her "family" recipes from a FT host. Oh, dear, will this appearance bring that up again and highlight the difference in values? Gee whiz, Johnny. I hopes so.

[slampoet]

11. Paula Dean is a fake southerner just like Bush

Dean married an oil millionaire a developed the accent as an affectation.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

16. From all accounts she was born in Georgia. Do you have a link to your claim

that she was married to an oil millionaire?

The narrative is that she had very little money after her divorce and started a delivery lunch business with her sons selling for her.

[cwydro]

26. Yep, that is an authentic accent if I ever heard one.

I like Paula too.

[aikoaiko]

36. I don't think we can link to a person's anus.

;)

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

42. .......

:rofl:

[cwydro]

17. Well, she was born in Georgia.

Last time I checked that was in the South.

[tannybogus]

89. Oh noes!! It's near Russia. We will attack. nt

[trueblue2007]

24. You don't know a thing about her. Do some research would you?

[Dreamer Tatum]

27. Maybe you're thinking of someone else.

Maybe you should look into that.

[CitizenPatriot]

31. WHAT?

I've met her husband and been in her home. He is NOT an oil millionaire! He was a fisherman!!!!! As in, not like Todd Palin who was really working as a lobbyist for the oil companies but they call him a fisherman....No, Deen met her husband on the river as he came in from his job. She was dirt poor as a single mother. No doubt she lays on the accent a bit, but is is suited to the area she lives in and frankly, who cares?

Why are you saying Oil Millionaire?

[aikoaiko]

40. I think the poster is referring to her first husband Jimmy Deen (not the sausage guy).

I think he was in business in Albany (not sure which but I think it was a middle class lifestyle), but you are correct that she had very little after the divorce and built her own business up meal at a time until she became a TV personality.

I bet it was fun meeting them in person. One of these days I hope to run into her as I live in the area.

[CitizenPatriot]

48. it was nice

I've worked with her a few times now...I hope you get a chance to meet her; she's a generous soul.

I remember the story of her first husband, but didn't think he was wealthy...but I could be wrong. At any rate, I'm happy that she's doing this show with Michelle O! they will be charming and fun together....Maybe a new cookbook when the O's are in office? The White House Cookbook...and not with stolen recipes? :-)

[KoKo]

92. I'll say something GOOD about Paula..she has African-American Friends and isn't "stuck up about it"

or "Condescending." I think she could be a Southern Martha...a Dem...and the Repugs will probably try to do her in like they did with New England Martha who had to "serve time" for nothing like these WALL ST. Criminals have done in Raping Americans.

Paula seems "self made" and while she hypes herself...I think she's genuine. Even though I was sarcastic about her recipes here on this thread...there's much I like about her "pluck" and her bringing "other people" outside her syrupy Southern Female thingy ...onto her show where she shows that she's not some Fundie Nut Case from today's Georgia.

I'll give her much credit for that...buy OY ...her food and recipes...Lard Cardiac and Diabetic Heaven. :eyes:

[CitizenPatriot]

93. a friend worked on her show

and told me he almost passed out laughing when they brought out two SLABS of butter- heavy enough to be carried by 2 men per slab! ha. not for me; but I agree with you re her personality and character.

[LostinVA]

95. He wasn't -- he actually failed at every job he did

Paula was a poor, struggling single mother who made it big on her own, deep-fried mac and cheese and all. Her second husband, Michael, is a tugboat captain, and they met after Paula became Paula of TFN.

[aikoaiko]

33. she has a natually acquired All-binny GA accent with a little Savannah thrown in.

[Bluebear]

72. Baloney

[LostinVA]

91. She grew up poor and when she married a man with any money (a tug boat captain), she had money

And she's from GEORGIA!

Paula has earned every penny she has.

[slampoet]

97. Apparently I can't link to my co-worker who DID pull it out of their ass. SOrry For disinforming

Next time i will wikki first

[aikoaiko]

12. This could be big for the Obama campaign and a risk for Dean.

The pseudo-endorsement will play well with moderates. And Paula will likely take some heat from her more conservative cohort.

[sandnsea]

15. She just did a program with Jimmy Carter

I think Paula Deen is making a stand for the traditional southern Democrats. It's something we ought to celebrate instead of ridicule.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

19. Her show with the Carters was delightful! It was a love letter to

them. She also flirted with Pres. Carter and I got a kick out that!

[aikoaiko]

34. I agree, good for Paula Deen

[calimary]

53. No ridicule from me. Any venue that might bring Michelle OR Barack Obama to

a different demographic in a positive light is okay by me.

I'll even listen to the drawl without complaining. Just - PLEASE - no pedal steel. That's asking too much of poor ol' calimary.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

23. She already got into trouble with fundies when she had a show

serving her not then husband Michael, breakfast in bed! They were both wearing robes!!!

The fundies blew up!!!!

[TheDebbieDee]

35. Really? How long ago was this?

I can't imagine anybody actually complaining about a single woman on tv serving breakfast in bed to a man not her husband. Some people just need to get lives of their own!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

39. I remember reading about it on DU at least a couple of years ago. When I have time

I'll do an archive search.

[jesus_of_suburbia]

45. OmmmSweetOmmm is correct... the fundie freaks got upset about it

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

70. Google for archived threads on DU is a friend!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1254976#125

I made one itty bitty mistake. The show was done after they were married But in the show, Paula talked about how she served Michael breakfast in bed before they were married.

[sandnsea]

67. lol, I missed that

I know there are plenty of great southern women like her, and we need them to stand up and take their states back.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

74. See my post #70. I found the link to the DU thread.

I have had very little experience with southern women being cloistered most of the time in NY but IMHO, Paula Deen seems like a wonderful human being. She is warm, affectionate, easy to compliment other people and you can also see how her vibes affect the people around her. I've watched Paula's Party a few times and the guests genuinely seemed to like her Very Much.

[madrchsod]

14. one of the worse corporations in the usa and europe-smithfield

to bad the obama crew did`t do a little research on smithfield before they thought it was a great idea to put her on the paula dean show.....

http://www.ufcw.org/press_room/fact_sheets_and_backgrounder/porkindustryfacts.cfm

http://www.nccouncilofchurches.org/areasofwork/committees/economic_justice/Smithfield_Rebuttal.pdf

http://southernstudies.org/facingsouth/2006/10/facing-south-report-at-smithfield-work.asp

http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/cms/2008/04/26/a-corporation-running-amok/

that`s just 4 entries on google....

[HamdenRice]

21. Are you saying Paula Deen is a smithfield ham???

:shrug:

???

[CitizenPatriot]

32. Paula did a commerical for them

and got picketed....
I remember all of this going down and Paula has ZERO responsibility for what Smithfield did, she was just a good target to get the word out and good for the protesters -- they got heard.

Not sure how this related to Obamas or what you think they should have done about this? Not go on her show because she did a commercial for a company who was protested against? That would sorta cut out all TV appearances; e.e., anyone who goes on Fox is implicated by association as a racist, since they were protested against (and I contributed to this movement) as being racists. No one can go on Bill Maher because he's been called a sexist. No one can go on oprah because she's been called a racist...etc.

This is a great thing for the campaign and personally, I am really pleased that Paula is supporting the Obamas int his way.

[Hope And Change]

18. K & R!

[FrenchieCat]

22. The trailer was great! Paula says that Michelle O reminds her of Jackie O

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

28. I watched the clip and Michelle looked Gorgeous and yes, there is

something about her that reminds me of Jackie.

[DesertRat]

46. "This girl's a knockout, ya'll"

:)

[Neecy]

29. oh, god

I know I'll want to watch this but I cannot STAND Paula Deen. Not only for the awful voice and the batshit insane demeanor but her food is so unhealthy I can feel a heart attack coming just watching her cook.

Everything is fried, full of butter/lard, and repulsive. Why Food Network gives us loathesome amateurs like this instead of trained chefs is beyond me. It's all 'personality' now, which is why I've stopped watching Food Network and stuck with cooking shows on PBS.

[Akoto]

62. To be fair ...

I wouldn't call Paula Deen an "amateur". She clawed her way up under very difficult circumstances and, aside from her show, has a very successful restaurant. True, she is not a professional chef, but she's never claimed to be. That doesn't mean she can't make good food.

You may not like her cuisine, but plenty of other people do. Making her out to be a monster because she has an accent and prepares unhealthy foods is a bit elitist.

[Neecy]

71. elitist?

Avoiding extremely unhealthy food that is dripping in Crisco is hardly 'elitist' - unless you think that poor people actually *should* eat like this.

With obesity reaching epidemic proportions with the resultant heart disease, diabetes and many other associated health risks Deen's "cuisine" is highly irresponsible.

Her restaurant, by the way, is known for its signature meatloaf. I like meatloaf just fine, but it's nothing that can't be made at home. She can't rise above that level, which is why I think she's on the air more for her mugging and banjo picking than her cooking. But to each their own.

[babsbunny]

37. Not sure when but I heard on the Tee Vee Rachel Ray will have

McCain on her show. Her ratings will drop, so see ya Rachel!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

41. That pisses me off to no end. Two things about that surprises me -

the first, a DUer called Ray a Repuke and I went to opensecrets.org and found out that Ray donated $2000 to Hillary. The second thing about it that surprises me is that her show is part of the Oprah Empire. I would have thought Oprah would have nixed it.

[DesertRat]

49. Cindy McCain? She can bring a stolen recipe with her.

;)

[Mabus]

60. Are you kidding me?

Cindy's going on Rachel Ray's show to steal more recipes that she'll try to pass off to others as her own.

[Jeanette in FL]

50. Rachel Ray did have the Obama's on earlier this year.

You could just tell how much Rachel adored both of them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w1OU0SVaWg

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

58. That is such a great clip! Thanks for posting it!

[AlCzervik]

38. i hope Michelle brings her do it yourself angioplasty kit.

[DesertRat]

44. LOL! n/t

[ceejdre82]

43. Thats Southern home cookin'

Just because the show features Southern food, which isn't
always heart friendly to say the least, doesn't mean you have
to eat her dishes everyday. (They even deep fry twinkies in
the south)...but anyhow, I love Paula, her bio is actually
quite interesting...she suffered from agoraphobia for quite a
while. Now look at her.....and who says she's an amateur, do
you have your own cooking show?

[calimary]

54. Welcome to DU! Deep-fried Twinkies? OY! My arteries!

Probably tastes pretty good, but - I dare NOT, Jim!

[DesertRat]

57. My Southern MIL loves fried bologna

:puke:

[calimary]

64. OWWW! My arteries!

Lord - no wonder we have such a heart disease epidemic in this country.

[ensho]

102. I've fried baloney back when baloney was free of toxins and crap

and the meat used in making the baloney was free of crap.

and you don't need but a smidgen of oil to fry a slice of baloney.

haven't eaten baloney in decades. its a shame.

[KoKo]

82. Paula is charming...but she get's her recipes from RETRO COOKBOOKS...like

"Post Depression" where everyone deprived of Sugar and Butter during the Depression went OVERBOARD....

I can't imagine with the high incidence of Diabetes in the South of US...that Paula is the South's Fave Chef...but maybe she reminds everyone of their "MAMA?" :shrug:

[Neecy]

55. She is an amateur

Having a cooking show does not make one a professionally trained chef. Far from it.

[AlCzervik]

56. Food tv got rid of their actual chefs, it's all booze hound Sandra Lee and T Rex armed Rachael Ray's

pretty sad.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

lol on Sandra Lee.

When I get zoned out from cable news, I sometimes tune into Food TV and I caught the end of a Sandra Lee show this morning, and there she was, holding some drink she made and she very imperceptibly slurred her words. I had a feeling that wasn't the first take!

[AlCzervik]

61. and the Angel food cakes, there isn't anything she want stuff into the angel hole.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

68. roflmao!!!!!

[KoKo]

86. Did you ever see her "Red Devil Christmas Cake?" My God...everything in the kitchen sink went into

that one! The food coloring alone was enough to make DU "Food Purists" go into a SPASM!

[AlCzervik]

90. well i'm sure when you're drunk that cake sounds like a good idea.

i'm guessing she's buzzed a lot.

[KoKo]

83. Rachel is COOL...but her "Cookware" is for sale EVERYWHERE...from Kohls, WalMart and throughout

the rest of the Pipeline for BIG BUCKS...Sad. It's all about "Product Placement" and Rachel and her Cookware from China have "done good." Hey, she probably rakes in less than the CEO/CFO of Bear Stearns, Leahman, AIG and Freddy and Fannie. She's the "Second Tier" but she does well and is cute and many of her recipes are interesting to try.

Just saying...

[aikoaiko]

59. And not all good tasting food comes from trained chefs -- so what's your point?

Do you have something against ordinarly people talking about homegrown, good tasting food?

Did Paula ever claim she was a trained chef? I doubt it.

[DesertRat]

66. Nothing homegrown about Paula's deep fried Snickers

And french fried chicken wings ;)

[KoKo]

84. Paula knows her audience...and they just love their "Shugah"...kiss, kiss.

[DesertRat]

47. Paula's recommendation for their first meal as First Family:

From the preview video in my OP: "French fried chicken wings and deep fried Snickers". :puke: :rofl:

[vanderBeth]

65. No! I don't want Obama dying of a heart attack a month in the job!

[KoKo]

85. Lard, Shugah, Lard, Deep Fry, Shugah, Fat Back, Skin, Snickers..How 'bout Peanuts?

Let's KILL EVERYONE so Paula can buy a bigger place on Hilton Head Island, SC..than she already owns with her "partner." Let's make sure Paula gets RICHER AND RICHER...It's the AMERICAN WAY.

At least she give us RECIPES! Those Wall St. CRIMINALS don't even bother with giving the rest of us poor folks anything to "chew or orgasm" on....... Paula "Did Good." (even if she plagerized every post WWII Cookbook out there)...she was good at what she did and does.

But, Marth Steward DID TIME...in JAIL...cooking some very healthy good food......never mind...Hypocrisy kind of gets to me.

[Beaverhausen]

69. On my Dish Network schedule it says Connie Chung and Maury Povich are on today

hope that's wrong. I'll record it in hopes Michelle is on.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

75. It just started here and yes, Michelle will be on after Maury and Connie. :)

[KoKo]

78. Report Back, Please...Cable Impaired are waiting for your REVIEW!!

Please...dont forget to post!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

94. It was delightful! Michelle and Paula seemed to really hit it off!

They chatted about food (of course) and about how Michelle met Barack. She discussed how she campaigned part time and how her mom watched the kids when she was away, giving them a strong foundation.

Paula taught Michelle a fried shrimp (looked like a po' boy) recipe and french fries with a mustard maple dip recipe in between their chatting. At the end, Paula made Michelle promise that if they won the White House, Paula could go and cook for them!!!

There were also lots of huggies.

I really enjoyed it and have looked for someone posting it on youtube to show you, to no avail.... Guess Paula's Party viewers are as adept at creating videos for the net as I am! lol!

[TexasLady]

81. I thought it was endearing

They made some shrimp and fries. Mostly small talk, and both were very complimentary of one another. I would love to have Michelles arms...

[BlooInBloo]

87. Would be better if she were on with Bourdain, or Good Eats....

But this is America, and one does have to cater to the "simpering idiot" demographic.

Sigh.

[southpaw]

96. Lots of down home folks will be impressed!

Paula may not be my cup of tea, but she is dearly loved by plenty of 'swing-voter' types.

This could be quite beneficial!

[Orrex]

101. That's a great move, but Paula Deen creeps the hell out of me

Not sure why. Something about that exact same smile in every single photo, I think.