Paula Deen's Fried Green Tomatoes

Yes, I have to say my favorite part of our meal at Paula Deen's restaurant, The Lady & Sons, in Savannah, GA, was the Fried Green Tomatoes. Yum! Not that the hoe cakes, pot roast, fried chicken, butter beans, gooey butter cake, peach cobbler and all weren't delicious - but I do believe I'd be tempted to break the law for those fried tomatoes! They were served with a roasted pepper sauce and onion relish that were the perfect companions.

Crazy, but true - our whole trip to Savannah was based on that restaurant! Our 18-year-old daughter, Fallan, loves to cook - has her own fire-engine red KitchenAid mixer, stainless steel knives, 3 or 4 different rolling pins, springform pans, and much, much more, and insists on using real butter and only certain Mexican vanillas. She loves to watch the cooking shows, but most of all, loves to watch Paula Deen. She owns several of her books, subscribes to her magazine, and thinks Paula is one great cook and cool lady. Fallan started talking about going to Savannah to eat at Paula's restaurant over a year ago. So, when we asked her if she would like to take a family vacation to Savannah for her graduation gift from us, she was thrilled. Of course, she hoped that by some freak chance, she might actually meet Ms. Deen, but alas, it wasn't meant to be.

I had hoped this could be even more special. Last January I emailed to see if I could get Fallan invited to the taping of Paula's show, "Paula's Party", and we would plan our trip accordingly. And, to our delight and surprise, we received an invitation! Unfortunately it was for April in New York instead of this summer in Savannah. Our dollars were too tight to do both, so we asked Fallan to choose and she insisted on the Savannah trip.

Hopefully someday Fallan will meet Paula - and who knows - maybe it will be Paula visiting Fallan's restaurant or show!