Georgia's favorite lady shares her "recipes" for good times in the state

Celebrity cook and Georgia native Paula Deen is known nationwide for her amazing down-home cooking and her warm, welcoming approach to food. She’s the author of several successful cookbooks; the host of three Food Network television shows, including Paula’s Home Cooking; and the editor of her own magazine.

What some might not know about is Paula’s deep connection to Georgia tourism. She grew up playing at River Bend, the “mini resort” her maternal grandparents operated in Albany. The property was a favorite stop for snowbirds heading south, and her parents ran a gas station and souvenir shop across the street. In 1996, Paula and her sons Jamie and Bobby opened The Lady & Sons in Savannah’s historic district. The restaurant, featuring the family’s now-famous Southern fare, quickly became a Savannah fixture and continues to welcome thousands of hungry visitors. There’s also a Paula Deen Trolley Tour, which takes visitors on a tour of Savannah sites that figure prominently in Paula’s rags-to-riches story and includes a delicious lunch at Uncle Bubba’s Oyster House, the seafood restaurant Paula owns with her brother.

Paula’s love of the state, its people, and its food comes through in all she does, and she’s played a major role in bringing visitors to Georgia for years. All of this—combined with the fact that she’s the very embodiment of Southern hospitality—makes her Georgia’s ideal ambassador.
>> Read our Q&A with Deen
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