Paula Deen Sues Tour Promoter

I only reported on one of the canceled Paula Deen tour spots last week, since they kept coming in every day from different cities.

At first it wasn't clear why Paula was pulling out from the 10-city tour. She issued an apology on her website, and issued a vague statement saying there were "there were so many issues and logistical problems," but that was about it.


Now, after the tour promoter Celebrity Chefs Tour claimed in an article that the Deens backed out of the tour after receiving "full payment in advance", Paula Deen Enterprises and Deen Brothers Enterprises (uh... of course) have filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging defamation.

Paula says the promoter bounced a $150,000 check and sent her "bogus" wire transfer instructions.

"Although the plaintiffs were entitled under Section 7(d) of the Tour Agreement to terminate the Tour Agreement immediately after the $150,000 deposit went unpaid, they continued to work in good faith with CCT on the planning of the events," the complaint states. "As the first two events, scheduled for Charlotte and Durham on February 20-21, 2010, drew near, plaintiffs sent CCT multiple written demands for both the deposit payment, and the payments owed for upcoming events."

According to the complaint, CCT was to pay the Deens up to $130,000 for each event.

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I guess we'll see who's really at fault soon. I don't imagine Paula would pull out of a tour and generate all this bad publicity intentionally, but something still seems a bit fishy.

Bottom line is: Paula's gotta get paid! She may be in her 60s, but I bet she smells bogus wire transfer instructions from a mile away.

... and they don't smell like butter.

Guy Fieri to Cook for the Obamas; Sasha & Malia Request Lunchables

The First Lady recently launched an anti-obesity plan aimed at leading children to more healthful eating habits...

And who better to show the First Family firsthand healthy tips than the picture of health himself, Guy Fieri.

Somebody guard the White House garden.



That's right. Apparently Mr. Ferraririwoierou will head to Washington next month to cook for the Obamas.

Apparently not wanting (or allowed) to cash in, Food Network will not be taping the event for television. This is apparently going to be an intimate affair. I hope Guy chooses his fanciest sunglasses to hang on the back of his head for such an occasion!

So what will the 'Big Bite' himself cook for Mr. and Mrs. O?
"It'll be a little Italian and something creative -- a BLT sandwich made with duck," Guy told the National Ledger.

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It's still coldish in D.C. with more snow expected. Miami is sounding better and better...

The Cooking Channel Will Kind of Be About Cooking

The Cooking Channel, Scripps Networks' new channel replacing Fine Living, will debut on Memorial Day, May 31. And, surprise, it's not going to be a cooking channel!

Gotcha!

The New York Times reports that "[i]n recent months, Scripps has altered its plans for the second channel to include more entertaining fare." (READ: It's just gonna be Food Network 2)

Instruction-loving Food Network fans will surely be disappointed to find out that the The Cooking Channel, at least in it's original retooling from Fine Living, will probably not end up being as instruction-based as it was once billed.

"We listened to the audience and realized they weren’t necessarily saying they just wanted more instruction or more reality or more travel shows. They just wanted more," said Michael Smith, the general manager of the Cooking Channel.

The Times also has the scoop on new shows by Rachael Ray and Bobby Flay (one titled "Brunch With Bobby"), as well as imports from Food Network Canada, which I'm excited about.

Sooooo... are y'all excited for The Cooking Channel?!?! ("cooking" referring to travel shows, reality show competitions, and the like, of course.) ;-)

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I'm not usually one to complain about "entertaining fare," since that's basically why I watch Food Network. Even the instructional cooking shows on Food Network are entertainment to me. There's nothing better than a vintage Semi-Homemade or Barefoot Contessa to set the weekend right, right?

But I'm still kind of surprised by this announced changeup before the channel even premieres. Maybe Food Network 2 would have been a better (more honest) name from the beginning?

Paula Deen Cancels Cleveland Show 24 Hours After Announced

What's going on, Paula?!

Less than 24 hours after announcing a March 6 appearance in Cleveland, Paula Deen canceled her appearance.

Gettin' cold feet?


"A conflict required a date change, and they intend to reschedule, said a spokeswoman for show producer Promark Productions, which is scheduling nationwide appearances of 'Paula Deen & Family.'"

But since Paula's camp did not reschedule the appearance yet, the venue is considering it a cancellation and has to refund the "small number of tickets" it sold in the short period it was on sale.

Way to mess with people's minds, Paula!

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Ms. Deen should be appearing down in South Beach next week when the 2010 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival kicks off. As some of you have read over the years, I've attended three years in a row. I planned on taking this year off, but with all this snow we've received I've begun to change my mind. We'll see.........

Giada and Rachael Can Rest Easy - There' s a New Name to Misspell at Food Network

I've been watching Mexican Made Easy and all the nonstop promos for the show and I still can't quite figure out how to say host Marcela Valladolid's last name correctly.

Right now I'm thinking vie-ah-do-leed.



I started learning Spanish when I was five years old, but I still second guess myself when it comes to double LLs. Is "ll" still a letter like "ch" or did that get rid of that? Hmmm...

Americans have a hard enough time remembering the double-i in Giada's last name. Can't imagine what kind of (mis)treatment Marcela's gonna start getting.

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The snow is just ridiculous here in D.C. The nation's capital is really only prepared to deal with a few inches of snow each winter, so the 50-something inches we got really threw the whole place into a tizzy.

In previous winters, when the weatherman forecasted flurries with no chance of accumulation, DCers still flocked to the supermarkets to pick up milk, bread, and toilet paper (since apparently we all plan on having sandwiches and milk while sitting on the toilet, snowed in). So nowwwwwww when we really were snowed in, the stores were totally empty.

On Thursday, the day after our all-day blizzard warning, I saw someone scream out in joy over snagging the last carton of eggs. It's wild out there! It kind of started melting and the streets have been somewhat cleared, so there's hope. Spring can't come soon enough!

Worst Cooks' Beau MacMillan Arrested

First Anne Burrell, co-host of Worst Cooks in America, got sued for discrimination. Now reports have come in that the other co-host, Beau MacMillan, was arrested in Scottsdale!


The arrest was for something pretty boring (nothing like the accusations against Anne in the lawsuit mentioned above): failure to appear in court over a suspended license and some other minor charges.

Still, Beau better watch it if he wants to come back for a second season!

[Thanks Adam for the tip!]

Ace of Cakes up for Best Picture Oscar?

Hell, if they can nominate 10 movies for Best Picture at this year's Academy Awards why not include TV shows, too? That's what SNL did in last night's Ashton Kutcher-hosted episode.

In a kind of funny sketch (but are any of them funny lately?), Ace of Cakes was nominated for Best Picture, along with other television works of arts like For the Love of Ray J and The Biggest Loser.



Not wanting to take sides, that other cake show was also nominated on the next slide.

I'm not a betting man, but I think Ray J might be a front runner!

WHERE THE F Has Food Network Addict Been?

Sorry, sorry...

My short absence has been mainly due to MOVING!



I've moved on up (back) to D.C. proper and let me tell you, it's been hellish getting everything from point A to point B. I haven't watched Food Network in a week, but Comcast is coming soon and all will be well with the world soon.

I'm excited to be back in the city, closer to a lot of my favorite restaurants and nightlife. I'll try to profile some here soon.

Until then, sit tight...