Paula Deen’s VIP Supper

Last Sunday, I went to the Metropolitan Cooking and Entertaining Show again and attended the Paula Deen VIP supper and book signing. This event was sold out.

I have to say, I was excited to see Paula and I had high expectations after the Bobby Flay cooking demo the day before. Unfortunately, the “supper” was disappointing.

The Menu was as follows:

Georgia Cracker Salad
Chicken Boudine
Vidalia Onion Cornbread
Wilmington Island Marsh Mud Cake

Sounds good right? Well, it was not. I know that all of the recipes were Paula’s, but I am sure, if she had made them, they would have turned out quite differently.

Let me begin by saying the “supper” was $110.00 per person, so it was not cheap. (I put “supper” in quotes because it was at 4:15 p.m., not exactly supper.) All we had to drink was tap water. Not even ice tea, soda, etc. The room itself was terrible and not appropriate for a VIP lunch.

The meal itself was just awful. The salad was already on our plates and it tastes like a glob of warm mayonnaise with saltine crackers mixed in it. The chicken was cut into little pieces and mixed with dried out pasta. The whole thing was overcooked and drowned in bad cheese. Then, on to dessert It sounded promising. Who doesn’t like mud pie? However, this one was just a bad brownie with some chocolate sauce. Needless to say, the whole experience was disappointing. It was like being at a really, really bad wedding.

I know Paula did not cook the meal, but her name was on it. People drover for hours to attend and paid alot of money. Her people should make sure that whoever is catering a lunch for her should meet much higher standards.

Eventually, Paula came in with Michael and sat a table in the front and starting signing books. We were rushed up table by table and allowed to have 2 books signed while her bodyguard took a picture.

I actually had her sign a copy of my favorite Paula Deen recipe, Is it really better than sex cake? If you have never tried this cake, go immediately to the Food Network website and download it. You have to make this cake. It is a simple boxed vanilla cake batter and then pineapple, pudding, whipped cream and toasted coconut is added. It is delicious!

So, basically, my husband and I paid $220.00 for a signed Paula Deen book and a picture. Oh well, at least I got to meet Paula and Michael! Lesson learned: Attend cooking demos and not a lunch or dinner catered by the Metropolitian Cooking and Entertaining Show.