654972 Fri Sep 25 14:58:22 -0700 2009 22 33 Food Media and News 0 5058745 Since Barbara Walters is typically very diplomatic, she surprised me the other day by being rather hard on Paula Deen, who was appearing on The View to promote her new cookbook of lunchesand other meals aimed at children. Walters cited the increasing problem of childhood obesity and criticized Deen for promoting unhealthy eating. Deen couldn't defend herself much, other than to state that these dishes should not be eaten on a daily basis. I felt a little bad for Paula - sure, her recipes are loaded with fat and sugar, but she's not the one responsible for what America's children are eating. Some poor urban areas don't even have supermarkets, forcing people to buy whatever is stocked in small bodegas (with little fresh meat and produce), even if they'd like and can afford to buy unprocessed foods. Then there are people with more money who prefer the convenience of prepared and fast food, haven't trained their children to eat fresh fruits and vegetables, and readily give in to kids' demands for fried, salty, and heavily-sweetened foods. Children won't be purchasing Deen's books; if their parents do, and prepare the recipes regularly, the onus is on them. There is a rumor that Walters plans to leave the program when her contract runs out next summer. If she is in fact planning to retire (she's 79), perhaps she has decided she no longer needs to pull her punches. Fri Sep 25 14:58:22 -0700 2009 159317 greygarious 1 5058807 To me Paula Deen is on the top and for Barbara needs to lay off of people and not be so mean to them Fri Sep 25 15:23:06 -0700 2009 5058745 1111956 kathy62 1 5058815 "Children won't be purchasing Deen's books; if their parents do, and prepare the recipes regularly, the onus is on them. " Agree the ownership is on the eater, or in the parents case the propvider. Also my family was right on the poverty line growing up. Still my Mom grew a garden and the chicken night one would become a pasta dish night two and a soup night three. Though I'm sure we did not live up to the Alice Waters goal my parents did well at cooking home cooked reasonably healthy meals and making sure we sat down for dinner. I think your nutritional paterns growing up deffinently have an impact. Reality TV ..not so much. :) (I'm only in my thirtees so it wasn't that long ago) Fri Sep 25 15:26:41 -0700 2009 5058745 143892 chris2269 1 5058817 I didn't see it but it sounds like Babs was a tad obnoxious. Sure there is an obesity problem but Paula Deen isn't forcing everyone to eat enormous portions of crap. We as a country were doing that long before PD was a household name. All of the fine reasons you listed above are the problem, not Paula. I am admittedly not a fan of Paula's style of cooking (processed stuff, too much of my most hated food item - mayo!) but I wouldn't blame her or any person for the way we collectively eat. I admire Jaques Torres' skills as a pastry chef but I am not eating pastries and chocolates every night. Moderation, as always, is key. Fri Sep 25 15:27:00 -0700 2009 5058745 19634 mels 2 5059585 "Paula Deen isn't forcing everyone to eat enormous portions of crap" She may not be forcing anyone to, but she is certainly suggesting it. I think she has some responsibility as a celebrity cook, after all, these people look up to her. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about personal responsibility, but if you are going to market a cookbook aimed at feeding children, well then, be responsible about it. Oh, and Barbara just turned 80! Sat Sep 26 05:13:27 -0700 2009 5058817 71241 lynnlato 1 5059369 Would Walters have given Julia Child grief? Child famously said that if you're afraid of butter, use cream. The recipes in cookbooks like Dean's aren't meant to be eaten three-meals-a-day, every day. Fri Sep 25 21:50:57 -0700 2009 5058745 32444 MakingSense 2 5152723 Truly another era with Julia Child, however I do not recall seeing an abundance of fat French women last time I was in Europe.. I would mention that Graham Kerr, the illustriously flamboyant television host of the 60's and 70's refuses to allow his old programs to be aired due to the harmful nature of the recipes. That and he was crocked half the time. I look back at old 50's television programming and see the likes of Jack Benny hawking Lucky Strikes. Would he do that today if he were alive? Doubtful, and yes illegal. Different era. Chances are half our mother drank profusely while they were pregnant with us to take the 'edge off'. On the other hand, Paula is simply over the top nasty. There definitely is no reason for this type of behaviour in a grown woman who seemingly has her senses about her. Tue Nov 03 12:36:54 -0800 2009 5059369 277493 DallasDude 1 5059555 I saw the segment is was a little weird all round. BW wasn't overly obnoxious or mean. Paula had every opportunity to defend her self but chose not to. She put herself out there by hawking this 'family friendly' children's book she created. Deen suggests serving kids cheesecake for breakfast. BW had a very valid point. Deen has made a career by creating rich over the top foods. BW had been trying to speak but kept getting cut off by Paula and her shtick. She actually look a little grossed out that while in the middle of serving the food the apparently endless number of co-hosts. Paula sat there for close to a minute blatantly licking her fingers and hand. That was simply discussing. As for the Julia Child quote, not sure of the context, and it may have been said in a time when values and concerns for health were different. And you really can't (seriously) compare Julia Child to Paula Deen. Sat Sep 26 04:41:49 -0700 2009 5058745 23758 Withnail42 2 5059846 Paula Dean has a shtick that she has built her career on. She's selling a book based on that. The show's bookers knew that, and so did Walters. If she didn't approve, there was a polite way to ask questions, but that's a common failing of this show. They attack people they don't personally approve of. Dean's a pro and wasn't going to be pulled off focus. Dean basically ignored her and went with what sells for HER. Dean's fans no doubt loved it and will buy the book. Mission accomplished. As cooks, there is no comparison between Child and Dean. Get serious. But Child was effectively blowing off irrelevant criticism in a single quip. She preached the gospel of moderation her entire career. People make food choices. They can stuff themselves with butter and cream, or eat cheesecake for breakfast every day, or eat those things in moderation or on occasion as special treats. Sat Sep 26 08:38:21 -0700 2009 5059555 32444 MakingSense 3 5059951 The Shtick has evolved or snowballed over the few years. I happen to have enjoyed old school Paula when she talked (with much less of an accent) about Southern cooking in a straightforward manner. She has morphed into this glutinous hillbilly/naughty grandma act. And Barbara Walters is a journalist who has the right to ask questions on her own show. Perhaps She wanted Deen on to ask that particular question. Asking a relevant question, that you may not personally like, is by no means an attack. As for the Child quote what was the context? She was not out hawking a children's cookbook. She might have been discussing a cooking technique or alternative ways to prepare a recipe. Sat Sep 26 09:29:59 -0700 2009 5059846 23758 Withnail42 4 5060011 You're preaching to the choir on Paula Dean. I'm no fan. Her cooking is a disgrace to the South, in my opinion. But Dean is on a book tour. She's promoting her new cookbook, for better or worse, and she's media savvy. Walters creates controversy by asking barbed (no pun intended) questions, and that's her stock in trade. Dean wasn't getting sidetracked. She doesn't write books or do TV shows about health. She does butter without apology. Health concerns over diet are not new. Julia Child could have said that butter/cream thing at any time over the past half-century, and it may well have been related to the publication of Mastering the Art at a time when Americans were being told to switch to margarine for health reasons back in the 60s (if I remember correctly.) Ick! Maybe Child was wrong. After all, butter and cream may well have lead directly to her death at 92. Or maybe it was the red wine. Sat Sep 26 10:05:36 -0700 2009 5059951 32444 MakingSense 5 5061951 No, MS, I think she once-too-often ingested leg of lamb that she had dropped on the floor, picked up and brushed off with the apron she had used to wipe her hands after cracking eggs. ;-) Gee, I miss Julia. Sun Sep 27 11:30:15 -0700 2009 5060011 1104013 Normandie 4 5061478 I totally agree about the Paul Deen morphing. But, Barbara Walters as a journalist on that show is a bit of a joke. They all yell over each other, to get a word in edgewise. The View, is not 60 minutes, but their viewers seem to enjoy the format. I don't. And Barbara asking Paula about children and obesity wasn't relevant, because Deen isn't trying to do what Jamie Olivier is and conquer childhood obesity. Paula wants parents and children to cook together on weekends and have some fun. On one of Oprah's show last season, Oprah asked Paula about all the fat she was using in her recipe she was making for Oprah. Paula's answer was "I'm your cook, not your doctor"! I am not a fan of Paula Deen's recipes or shtick either. And BW has quiet a shtick too, much different than PD, but still a shtick. JMO. Sun Sep 27 07:33:51 -0700 2009 5059951 15691 mcel215 1 5059615 I did not see it, but have read a couple accounts of it. I think the gist of the argument was legit to bring up - there is an obesity problem, and Paula Deen's cooking is notoriously full of fat. However, I (as parent) choose what to feed my kids, and if I want to make a recipe or 2 out of her book (never seen it), that is my choice. Sounds like Barbara was a bit harsh. Paula is probably tired of defending herself - she is always getting called out for the butter. Cheesecake for breakfast? Not here, but I do use real butter and a lot of it in some things. Well-rounded, balanced diets over the long term are the goal - if you have a little more fat at one meal that is ok, as long as there are more steamed veggies at another. At least in my house. Sat Sep 26 05:47:34 -0700 2009 5058745 249405 elfcook 1 5060058 I wish both of them would ride off into the Sunset....Music up...Roll credits....Fade to black...The End! Sat Sep 26 10:38:07 -0700 2009 5058745 65057 Uncle Bob 2 5061270 Supposedly, Paula is "riding off into the sunset" on a new TV show which will be co-hosted by Kate Gosselin. If so, I think that will definitely be the end for her. Sun Sep 27 03:46:09 -0700 2009 5060058 17262 SusieQQ 3 5061444 I'll be surprised if Kate Gosselin's role is very big - Paula isn't dumb, and has to realize that Kate will sink her. Sun Sep 27 07:11:47 -0700 2009 5061270 124908 jeanmarieok 3 5061546 Kate Gosselin & Paula??? What an interesting partnership (if tabloid journalism is your thing). Kate Gosselin, from what I understand, serves only organic foods to her litter. I wouldn't think her and Paula would have much in common food-wise. Sun Sep 27 08:13:28 -0700 2009 5061270 71241 lynnlato 1 5061434 I don't care much for either but Barbara Walter should get off her soapbox, she is mean and in this instance bullied her guest. Very disrespectful and plain wrong. Sun Sep 27 07:07:00 -0700 2009 5058745 223112 dolly52 2 5061457 I saw a part of the segment, and was surprised that Barbara made such an accusation. She's WELL acquainted ahead of time with who is going to be featured on the View, and if she had an issue with Paula Dean, she should have just excused herself from that segment, or not allowed PD to be booked (so to speak) at all. Its no secret that Paula Deen is all about the butter and sugar. NONE of her recipes are meant to be eaten every day. Im not going to go into a screed about child obesity, but Paula Dean is NOT to blame for it. As for Kate Gosselin -- I've seen WAY more of this woman than anyone needs. Go home, boot out the trashy nanny and take care of your own kids. Enough already. Sun Sep 27 07:21:57 -0700 2009 5061434 102895 Cheflambo 3 5061814 I agree about Gosselin--enough already! Go home to your 8 young'ins. That is one reality show that shouldn't have been made and I get upset when America/media rewards people like that by courting them like this. The View has jumped the shark, that's for certain. Maybe, however, Gosselin will replace the unbearable Elizabeth Hasselbeck. I've also heard but not in any detail that Paula Deen and Gosselin will be cohosts of some show? Sun Sep 27 10:13:38 -0700 2009 5061457 1112313 PantryGal 3 5062044 Agreed about Kate Gosselin. TMI, IMHO. There is absolutely nothing about that woman that interests me. I could also care less about Jon Gosselin. Sun Sep 27 12:24:17 -0700 2009 5061457 255446 Gigi007 1 5061799 I did see it and I found Barbara Walters to be rude. I think that she has food issues herself (she has always been thin, especially in recent years) and was grossed out by the idea of having to sit there chowing on everything. That said, it was kind of gross and Paula went too far in the other direction to openly savor the food in front of her and even called hubby Michael up to the stage to get a piece of cake. [But maybe it was a deliberate attempt of Paula to get back at Barbara's inappropriate remark.] Yes, childhood obesity is epidemic but every cookbook that ever has catered to children has some kind of rich dessert or treat in it (well, maybe not Mollie Katzen's). The problem in our national diet is not sugar or butter but the "super-sized" culture we live in that has created a consumer frenzy for huge portions. We also have too many processed foods, a reliance on high fructose corn syrup in so many products, and a lack of moderation. I tell my kids all the time that dessert as a kid was occasional and then a small portion (like a glass Pyrex custard dish of chocolate pudding, which was a half cup). I don't like most of Paula Deen's recipes and their reliance on boxed cake mixes, or any mix. But many of them are good. However, she is a self-made, charming person who deserves her success. I believe her message with her cookbooks is that she just wants to bring kids into the kitchen with their parents. Barbara should have discussed the obesity epidemic in a "hot topic" or an entire show devoted to the issue. Going after Paula Deen was not being a polite host. Sun Sep 27 10:01:17 -0700 2009 5058745 1112313 PantryGal