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 Barb

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Kat, You got that right. 137 after the Lipitol

By Pam

From what I just read, 137 is borderline. for cholesterol.

By jeff

Love Paula Deen. I think we as a nation has gotten our selves in a knot regarding food and diet. Ms. Deen crusine is not for eating each and every day, twenty four seven, A desert once in a while is would not kill anyone and the low fat, process garbage they dish out in the supermarket is what's giving us all cancer; believe it or not!

By Robyn Merkel

Well said!!!

By DOG

137? that is hard to believe, but it happens,she just happens to have good genes. That is a great no,

By Billy Sea

I absolutely can't stand this silly, foul-mouthed woman and that tub of lard husband who appears to have an alcohol problem.

I won't be buying her book.

By Librartist

I'm sure Paula swallows cholesterol pills by the handfuls. And I wonder why all you kinky porn posters are chatting on a food topic board?? Stay on the porn sites where you belong.

Librartist, Like anyone cares what you have to say. Maybe you should be the one on porn boards since you know so much about them.

Hey Librartist, And you are here because,,,?????

By Poaono

And you are sure of this because? Multiple choice answer 1) I know her personally 2) I am a family member 3) I am a know it all full of crap idiot.

By Robert

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Paula, you are so beautiful! keep up the good work!

By MZ

If your chloresterol is only 137 you are not very well informed, only brainwished by the AMA, etc. Chloresterol should be between 200 and 300. What you have to be careful of is hemosistine (sp) which is controlled by taking B vitamins that will prevent chloresteral from sticking to your arteries. If you are taking statin drugs you are in for a double whammie. Statin drugs are useless and not safe to take.

By spolinator

Ya her cholesterol is 137, and santa claus is real, reindeers fly, and the moon is made of cheese.

By BV

What are her "REAL"Cholesterol numbers, especially her LDL? There's no way she and her fat husband have good Cholesterol!

Way to go, Paula Deen! Everything in MODERATION!!! I tell my kids that every day...

By sondbr

I think genetics plays more of a part in how healthy you are than anything else. And, just because someone is a bit "overweight" doesn't mean they are not healthy. I know more sick skinny people!! Of course if you are over 100# overweight, that isn't healthy, but less than that is not necessarily going to give you health problems. I know people who have been heavier from the day they were born and never will be any different. Society is so biased against people who are not thin and claim that every possible health problem is caused by being overweight - NOT true!!

PS You don't think she would reveal her real Cholesterol numbers do ya'll? It wouldn't sell her books.

By Emily B.

Is 137 her TOTAL cholesterol or her LDL? If it's her LDL she that's not exactly a great number to have, not horrible but not great. Nothing to brag about.

By cajamb

One question. Does Paula Deen have a mirror or is the garish makeup a gimmick to make her more easily recognizable.

Gotta watch them "Blue Haired" ladies from the south!

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