Paula Deen Has 'Savannah Style' and Low Cholesterol

By Maggie Coughlan Posted May 17th 2010 05:00PM

While she may be most recognizable as the host of three shows on Food Network, Paula Deen's empire expands far beyond the kitchen. Best known for her love of decadent foods, her Southern pride and liberal use of butter, Paula has teamed up with her creative director, Brandon Branch, to co-author 'Savannah Style,' a year-round tour (and visual smorgasbord) of homes in Savannah, Georgia, that is sprinkled with advice and expertise. PopEater sat down with Paula and Brandon to talk about being named "the queen of cholesterol" and what 'Savannah Style' is all about.

Your new book is called 'Savannah Style.' What sets Savannah, Georgia, apart from the rest of the world?
Brandon Branch: That's a good question. I think Savannah people are definitely eccentric. We're really quirky. We love to bring life outside. We love to bring the inside outside. We love collecting things, we love things that tell a story, that have a history. We have such great architecture here, everything's old. We love really unique things.
Paula Deen: Savannah is all about details. It's those little things that so quietly take it to the next level.

Is there a famous house or location you'd love to decorate?
BB: I would love to decorate the Mercer House in Savannah. It's one of the most famous homes downtown. It's the house in the movie and the book, 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.'
PD: Where Jim Williams shot and killed his lover, and then a few years later, Jim William dropped dead in the same spot where his lover had [also] fallen dead in the library.

Does this mean there may be a Paula Deen home decor television show in the future?
PD: You know, I know never say never. I have no idea, honey, what God's got in store for me tomorrow! I don't know, but my head is up high and my eyes are open and I think Brandon's the same way.

You've got some diehard fans who would love to see that show come to fruition. What do you watch on television?
PD: It's so funny because I am a fanatic over Discovery ID. Solving mysteries! I love whodunit. I love 'CSI' -- all those shows. 'Criminal Minds,' 'Criminal Intent,' Discovery ID! Let's get onto the next murder and let me help you solve it!

Who is your favorite Food Network star?
PD: That's hard for me to answer because I don't really watch cooking shows. The thing that makes me the saddest is that I never got to meet Julia Child. I would have loved to have had the opportunity to cook alongside her and to have met her.

One young lady that was just here on set with me, Sunny Anderson, I thoroughly enjoyed being with her. I think she's a great little cook. And her name is perfect -- it fits her personality. 'Cooking for Real' on Food Network. Believe it or not, people think that those of us on Food Network get to see each other all the time, it's totally not true. One may film in LA, one may film in Atlanta, one may film in Jersey, one may film in New York, one may film in Savannah. We MIGHT be all at the same function maybe once, twice a year at the most.

Television shows like Jamie Oliver's 'Food Revolution' have made healthy eating both necessity and entertainment. Anyone who has watched a Paula Deen cooking show or special knows that your approach to cooking is much different. You've been called the "queen of cholesterol" by critics and fans alike.
PD: I don't let it bother me, I just laugh. I'm a firm believer that Southern cooking is not nearly as bad for you as people want to make it out to be. I would put my money up that we eat more vegetables than any region in the country. Y'all know that even if its got some ham hock in it, those vegetables are very good for your body. We don't, regardless of what people think, eat fried chicken at every meal. It's about moderation, it's all about moderation and then it's genetic.

My cholesterol is 137, so that ain't bad. You have to be responsible for yourself. You have to know your numbers and take care of your own dietary needs. No one can do that for ya. It's important that each person be familiar with their numbers, talk to their doctor and eat accordingly.

Regardless of what people think, we do not have fried chicken and biscuits everyday. Sometimes, we will just have a vegetable plate. It's not nearly as bad -- people joke on me! But it's alright, I just laugh along with it. But I'll tell you what -- I would rather have quality than quantity. I want to enjoy this beautiful life that God gave me. And do I have a news bulletin, you won't believe it, hold onto your chair -- none of us are getting out of here alive. So if I want a piece of fried chicken, I'm gonna have me a piece of fried chicken, but at the same time I'm gonna try and be responsible for myself.

Comments

(192)

Saturday 22 May

By jenny

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I drove from Louisville, Kentucky to Savannah, Georgia to eat at Paula's restaurant and it was worth every penny and all the gas i paid for. Would do it again.

By Mei

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Why don't you believe her? Have you never heard that some people have a genetic background that keeps their cholesterol low no matter what they eat? My ex is one of those, he would eat bacon and 4 eggs every morning of the week. We were together over 40 years and his cholesterol was disgustingly low. He took part in a study to verify the diet and life style and did find it to be true, he had genetically low cholesterol and blood pressure as well. Rick, educate yourself you might be surprised.

By Lydia

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I agree. I have a friend that lives there and has all her life and she does NOT talk in that annoying accent.Oh, she has a southern accent but it's not so dang exaggerated as Paula does hers....and her food? Please. If that's healthy eating then everyone must die early in the South.Of course she's not going to say it's unhealthy but it is.She cannot cook without sticking a pound of fat in her food.

Saturday 26 June

By veronica

as a healthcare professional I don't believe she knows her lab numbers. The chances of her having a Total cholesterol of 137 is slim to none. She is probably referring to her LDL cholesterol level. (total chol. is made up of LDL and HDL) In that case yes it makes sense, as she said, "not bad" because 137 would then be borderline.

By Gennie

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Well then Rick Honey, stop reading about her. As for her accent, it's real. You just drive through any southern state from the north of it to the south of it and see if they don't have different accents. Louisiana is a prime example. This lady is fun and pleasant. Why people insist on trying to criticize her just because they don't 'get'her, I don't understand.

By Kidding

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She probably doesn't eat all that much at all.. She looks like she snorts so much coke it's not funny.... Eyes don't naturally bug out of your head like that. Just saying :-P

Sunday 23 May

By BILL

Just because you don't do things spontaneously does not mean others do not step out and enjoy life. I once back in 1987 started hitchhiking from Bristol, TN to Boston, MA area because I wanted a bowl of new england style clam chowder. Good luck to you.

By cyberma777

I have met Paula. She is much thinner in person than she looks on TV. She is one of the nicest people anyone could ever hope to meet. Don't let her southern charm lure you into thinking she is your typical airhead blond. She is smart as a whip. You go Paula!

By Maricia12

If I were ignorant I might say that some people are air head brunettes. You have been reading too many dumb blonde jokes and believing them. Intelligence has nothing to do with hair color or how slowly you speak. You should be ashamed of having even said such a thing. We Southerner's resent your condesecending remarks.

By Lisa

Good 4 U, Paula!!! You go, Girl!!

By karolyn

Love Ya Paula!!! Keep up the Good work! GOOOO Georgia!

By ItsMyOwnOpinion

There are many things I love about Paula Dean -- her story is amazing -- but I personally in good conscience couldn't offer up recipes that were in reality unhealthy for the average person to eat. If you eat every day like she cooks all the time, you'll likely take a number of years off your life. I'm no health expert, so that is just my opinion.

By brad

my cholesterol would go up just walking through her kitchen.

By Rose

Harriet's just a made up name to promote that virus-laden porn site. Loser! (The spammer, not YOU!)

By VICKY

Paula D. is the best! You go girl.

By Frank

Paula Dean is nothing but a nasty mouth pig and a disgrace to the South. HER receipies ? SHe wishes

By claire

137 is quite high mine was 108 and Dr wants it down what is she thinking her artries could be blocked she would not even know it.

By kissy46

I only have admiration for someone that had to raise two boys alone and did so well for herself and them. I had to do the same and am not a millionaire, so kudos Paula.

By Frances

She did not raise those boys alone - she was married for 27 years; however, she did not attend any of their functions because for many years she had a "phobia" about going out of the house - but she did not think enough of her boys or her family to get help. Perhaps they would have liked to see their mother at a few school functions.

By touchupsomething

Anyone can claim to have a healthy cholesterol level, an alcoholic can claim to have a healthy liver even tho cirrhosis is in his/her future. Unless you see the blood tests, how would you know? I say the proof is in the pudding - literally - look at her and hubby - nice peeps but they do not look like they are eating healthy.

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