Hale Kilinahe: Pith of Pop: Paula's Home Cooking

Both are really in love with what they do; both feature their spouses quite a lot on their shows; and both use hyper-exaggerated accents and mannerisms.

We all know that Paula is from Georgia. Even the title of the show gives us a tiny hint that Paula is from the South. I have no doubt that Paula has a southern accent, but much like Steve's Aussie brogue, I think a lot of it is put on. And that's a shame.

Fewer people might object to Paula if she'd just tone down the southern schtick just a little. She does have a pretty good show. Her holiday shows are so full of good ideas and she really has a knack for making entertaining look simple. I watched her Thanksgiving show and I briefly imagined I could make the whole menu myself, without the aid of her two good-looking sons.

Because really. I lived in the Deep South for over fifteen years and I never met anyone who talks like Paula. She says "y'all" at every opportunity. It makes her look less like a T.V. chef and more like a cartoon character. Hell, Alton Brown is from Georgia, too, and I've never heard him adopt a ridiculous Foghorn Leghorn accent, except for maybe once on his grits show.

Oddly, the thing I like most about Paula is her willingness to use shortcuts without shame. I get indigestion from watching Sandra Lee or certain episodes of 30 Minute Meals because of all the prepackaged high-sodium mixes in use. Paula uses them, too, but she uses them well and in perfect proportion to the fresh ingredients in her dishes.

Haha, your Foghorn Leghorn comment made me laugh! I would say that Paula's ridiculous accent is what really turns me off about the show. Perhaps if she toned it down a bit, eased off on the raccoon eye makeup, and quit acting all orgasmic when she tastes something she made - I might actually like the show. She's just so over the top as to almost be a caricature of herself. Alton Brown though is the king of cool! YMMV!
Posted by LeV at December 14, 2004 12:19 PM

Alton put on a pretty bad Texas accent for his chili show.
Posted by NemesisVex at December 15, 2004 04:23 AM

Hey, give the girl some credit; she, at least, practices what she preaches. Her restaurant “Lady and Sons” serves the same food she makes on TV. Loads of comfort food, and the best fried green tomatoes on the planet. I’ve often thought that the old saw should read “Those who can, do; those who can’t… are on TV.” Ask Sandra Lee what color box the green tomatoes come in. And Paula has so much enthusiasm, and a really winning way.
Posted by Mac at January 5, 2005 12:32 PM

A ramen noodle salad isn't food, I'm sorry. While the noodles were roasting, she fixed a quick dressing combining vegetable oil and the ramen seasoning package. She then mixed the noodles with iceberg lettuce and drowned the whole thing in msg vinaigrette. I threw up a little in my mouth.
Posted by Madame X at January 12, 2005 06:24 AM

It really bugs me how she sexes food all the time. She's constantly referring to things as he or she like when she pulls a chicken out and says "he looks wonderful", or frosts a cake and says "isn't she beautiful". What a flakey lady. I think she takes great pride in being annoying. Like the end of one episode where she does the cheerleading yell ... puhleeeeeze .. we don't need to see that ;)
Posted by LeV at February 4, 2005 11:27 AM

Okay, I've seen everything now, an episode about Paula planning for her wedding. I have to ask, does anybody really give a crap about watching Paula Deen's wedding? I know I don't. This show is the dregs and this just goes to prove it. What next, coverage of her trip to Hedonism?
Posted by LeV at February 6, 2005 02:28 PM

I LIKE PAULA DEEN, deep Southern accent and all! (By the way, Savannahans are known for their "over the top" southerness!) As did Julia Child, she makes no bones about the use of cream and butter, and her voluptous figure attests to that! I'd love to have her as a friend as she is obviously a loving creature, and the fact that she shares her successful restaurant recipes is a testament to her generosity. You can have your "bam" Emerils, your "perky" Rachel Rays, your blonde bimbo cooking "assistants". and your party-animal Ina Garten. Paula seems so real. I only wish that she would drop the sexisms when referring to foods. Cooking "him" when referring to a turkey, makes it seem a little cannibalistic! P.S. I loved her wedding show! She was as excited as a twenty-something year old! And what other TV star would admit her eye and chin jobs? Bravo, Paula. You are a real silver-haired beauty!
Posted by Diva at February 7, 2005 07:06 AM

Well, that explains why she has that deer-in-headlights look about her. A mediocre eye job leaves people with a somewhat startled, unnatural look about them. I guess you could call it the Dick Clark syndrome :)
Posted by LeV at February 11, 2005 11:14 AM

I have no complaints. She makes cooking look easy, as do all the other stars of the Food Network. She just does her own thing. One is not better than the other ,the shows are all helpful with the tips they share. You just have to watch them all, and use what they show for your own way in your kitchens.
Posted by Helen at February 12, 2005 11:31 PM

I just adore Paula Deen's show! This is how true southerners cook! Sure she has a southern accent but what do you expect? After all she is from the south. People from up north have one as well. I think she is a lovely lady and a most beautiful one, too. Everything that comes out of her kitchen looks absolutely heavenly! I'm sure she could out-do all of the chefs on the food network as far as pleasing the palate! Her southern charm makes the food go down just a little better, too!
Posted by susie at February 14, 2005 08:58 AM

I keep trying to like her, I feel like the FTVN really wants me to like her. And maybe I could get beyond her over-exaggerated accent, but what really bugs me about her is how she gushes about how delicious everything she makes is. I swear she's going to have an orgasm at times. Great cooks don't need to sit and brag about their dishes. Look at Julia Child, Jacques Pepin and a wealth of others, they don't sit and rave over their own cooking. It's like an artist who sits there and tells you how extraordinarily beautiful _his_ painting is, or a songwriter who says _his_ song is outstanding. It's all in the eye of the beholder isn't it? I don't dislike the lady, I dislike the show, maybe it's the overdone folkiness of it, I really can't put my finger on it. YMMV
Posted by LeV at February 14, 2005 11:33 AM