Paual Deen to be Grand Marshall of the Rose Parade???

[ipsedixit]

Interesting, to say the least.

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_16...

[Servorg]

They might as well just rename it Mardi Gras West now, as it's sure to be a parade for "fat" cooking - whatever day of the week it happens to falls on... lol

[Kagemusha]

She's just the corn pone version of Martha Stewart--a branded, bland style/food celeb with plans for world domination. Haven't we had enough of this sort of schtick?

[Cathy]

You have no idea of the history and the traditions of the parade, or Paula Deen's background, do you?

http://www.tournamentofroses.com/history/

http://gourmetfood.about.com/od/chefb...

[Kagemusha]

I'm a native Californian, thanks, and Paula's just Martha with a drawl. Maybe you're smitten by this sort of circus(http://www.pauladeen.com), Cathy, but it's the same old "buy me" schlock we're already awash in. Who needs it?

[swamp]

So tell me Kagemusha, what kind of schtick should we be looking for?

Paula cooks like most of the women, and many of the men, in my family have cooked for generations. With most of them now gone it is nice to have a resource where I can find the kind of recipes I grew up with.

[Kagemusha]

The food's fine if that's your taste. It's the collateral pitch of Paula "stuff" I can't take. This kind of signature junk is hustled by every celeb cook on air.

[Cathy]

I'm not smitten about a person, line of products or even type of food, Kage.

I do love history.

Being only one of about 100 to be chosen a Grand Marshal is history.

[Kagemusha]

I draw a finer line between celebrity worship and history. Charlie Sheen went ape$hit 2 days ago at the Plaza in NYC--guess that qualifies as history, too?

[ipsedixit]

Kagemusha,

What TV cooking personality isn't hawking the same old "buy me" schlock? Do you expect Paula Deen to be selling ... Martha Stewart?

[Kagemusha]

Maybe Paula Deen-brand statins to turn the HDL tsuname would work? Bourdain never cooked on air or sold pot-n-pans. Highly commendable.

[ipsedixit]

Bourdain is selling himself and by extension his books, and future products.

[Kagemusha]

So did Julia Child. Books are one thing but loads of Chinese-made fry pans are another.

[Servorg]

This isn't Mahatma Ghandi we're talking about here. This is a TV "food personality." She is merchandising herself to the best (and in the most timely way she can) of her ability. I don't begrudge her trying to make money. She isn't running a Ponzi scheme or selling snake oil to cure the vapors.

[Withnail42]

Agree people are selling stuff all the time.

But Paula just it so over the top. There seems to be nothing she won't sell from food at Walmart to mattresses and furniture to the never ending promotion of her talently challenged family all this is par for the course in show biz.

It seems that what really turns people off is her crassness anyone remember Paula's Party? Then there is her over the top southern shtick (enough already y'all!).

For me I like Paul on her first series way back when. I don't know who this lady is in comparison. I also don't watch the parade in either.

[Cathy]

Everything is a business, set up to make money. even "non-profit" organizations.

We all just have different ways of making money.

[ChinoWayne]

You know those miniature condiment jars you get on hotel room service trays? Paula will be tossing little jars of mayo to the crowd as she passes by.

[swamp]

Personally I don't understand all of the Paula Deen bashing. Come on people while she does like foods that tend to be on the rich side, you do not have to eat that way every meal. I for one watch her show, subscribe to her magazine and have her cookbooks; but do I cook from them daily? No. However if I really want to hear my guests let out a nice loud YUM after eating something I have prepared all I have to do is pull out one of her recipes. I am not too proud or health conscious to say that I love home-style cooking.

[Cathy]

+1

[ipsedixit]

Personally, I have nothing against Paual -- in fact, I quite like her both as a person and as TV cooking personality. I wouldn't enjoy lots of the foods she prepares, but I can certainly appreciate their place in the culinary universe.

That said, I just find her an odd choice for the Grand Marshall of the Rose Parade. She really has very little -- if any -- connection to Southern Cal, or even California.

Yes, the obstacles she's overcome in her life make her suitable for the theme of next year's parade ("Building Dreams") but there are quite a few Californians who could also be the Grand Marshall under that thematic umbrella ...

[Cathy]

Being a Californian has nothing to do with being Grand Marshal.

http://www.tournamentofroses.com/hist...

Heck, the Grand Marshal doesn't even have to be a human. (1940, 1996, 2005)

[BubblyOne]

"Heck, the Grand Marshal doesn't even have to be a human. (1940, 1996, 2005)"

Well, then they made a perfect choice.

[Withnail42]

Well called!

[Kagemusha]

Hoping to see her straddling an enormous fried chicken leg float. Besides, who watches the parade these days?

[Cathy]

My husband and I volunteer to decorate floats with the Petal Pushers each year. It will be the 122nd parade and 97th Rose Bowl football game.

It is New Year.

Floats and theme were determined in February. Grand Marshal was just chosen.

[Cathy]

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/7430...

Yes. Her life story fits the theme of the parade

Where was all this criticism when Emeril was Grand Marshal for 2008?

[Caroline1]

Emeril has NOT been the moving force behind Clogged Arteries of America! In casw you hadn't noticed.

[ilikefood]

WOW ! NO KIDDING?! FOR REAL?! THAT'S AMAZING! I had NO idea they were still running that parade. You'd think after over 100 years people would've had their fill of the whole flowers on floats thing. I really need to keep up more. Maybe I should start w/ "How the heck exactly does Paual Deen grand marshalling the RoseParade affect my or anyone's life in any way shape or form ?"

Actually the most interesting thing about this (and my use of "interesting" is as hyperbole) was Jonathan Gold's reaction : " "Paula Deen? That's absolutely horrifying, Julia Child grew up on Pasadena Avenue, just a few blocks from the start of the parade, and practically everything Ms. Deen has done both exploits and despoils the culinary movement Child did so much to prod into being. As a food person and as a Pasadenan, I should be proud that the committee is honoring somebody in my profession, but the news makes me cringe."
The interesting part to me is finding out Gold is a fellow Pasadenan, Pasadenian? Pasadenman?

Now excuse my while I go off to make a batch of Paula's famous chicken fried butter. Mmmm butter. Mmmm fried. Mmmm fried chicken.

[Samalicious]

I somehow doubt that Paula Deen gives a rat's ass what Jonathan Gold thinks.

[Caroline1]

Well, I suppose I can go to the kitchen for more coffee when she passes by the cameras. If she got a kickback from all of the cardiologists she keeps in business in this country alone, she could not only buy the Rose Bowl, she could buy the whole city of Pasadena!