The Divine Dish

Lunch at Paula Deen’s The Lady and Sons in Savannah

Posted on Apr 26, 2010 under Archives | No Comment

I had to dine at the Lady and Sons, Food TV personality Paula Deen’s restaurant, while I was in Savannah.   I marched in determined to exercise self control, but my resolve melted like the bars of butter on a hot biscuit once inside.

The menu reflected Deen’s heavy use of butter, showcasing tradition Southern cuisine.  I was immediately served the aforementioned cheese biscuit along with a hot hoecake and a big pitcher of maple syrup.  The biscuit had a  chewy and cheesy outer crust. Inside it was soft and fluffy.  The hoecake was equally yummy.  I could have eaten a dozen of these and not had anything else.  After three weeks, I am still dreaming about these biscuits and hoecakes.

I opted to start with some fried green tomatoes, as I was told by locals this was the best place to eat them.

These were delicious.  Crunchy on the outside and sweet on the inside with a great tomato relish on top.  I ordered the buffet so I could try everything and made my way to the nice salad bar, which I quickly passed to head straight to the hard core down home Southern dishes.

The buffet featured baked and fried chicken, pork, all sorts of beans, rice, gravy, collard greens, sweet potatoes and mac and cheese.  I tried to count how many bars of butter that all adds up to and stopped at 20, resigning to the fact that this was just going to be a big calorie lunch.

Here is what my finished plate looked like before I dove in.

I finished about half of this and the waitress said I should go back and eat more.  Everything was delicious.

After I thought I could not eat another bite, they brought me over some peach pie.

After lunch, I rolled out of my seat next door to visit the Paula Deen store, where you can buy everything Paula.  Paula shirts, books, kitchen items, spices, you name it, Paula has produced it.

If you are visiting Savannah and want to try some traditional Southern comfort food, head to The Lady and Sons.  Be sure to make a reservation well in advance as fans of Paula Deen pack the restaurant daily.  Lunch is served from 11 am to 3 pm, dinner begins at 5, Monday through Saturday.  Located at the corner of Whitaker and Congress in downtown Savannah, 912/233-2600 for reservations.

Dinner at The Olde Pink House in Savannah

Posted on Apr 26, 2010 under Archives | No Comment

While I was in Savannah, my friend Erica from the visitor’s bureau arranged a dinner at the Olde Pink House restaurant.  Housed in a 18th century building that has functioned as a private home, bank, tearoom and headquarters for one of Sherman’s generals, the mansion has survived wars and fires as well as a host of colorful property owners.

In the 1930s it became a restaurant and ever since it is a local favorite for fresh seafood and Southern specialties.

We started with the “Seafood Sushi,” with smoked shrimp and grits rolled in Coconut Crusted Nori.

I also had to try the fried green tomato, which was served in a crabcake style with a side salad.

Ericka ordered the jumbo sea scallops with herb butter, mashed potatoes and mixed beans, while I had the house specialty of crispy scored flounder, served whole, with apricot shallot sauce, grits (it is the South after all) and collard greens.

The outside of the restaurant is covered in pink stucco and the interior features wooden floors, candlelit tables and intimate seating areas.

For dessert I opted for the key lime pie which was delicious.

If you want to sample some of Savannah’s best Low Country southern food, I would recommend a reservation at the Olde Pink House.  Open daily at 5 pm, lunch served Tuesday through Saturday from 11 am to 2:30, 23 Abercorn Street off of Reynold Square, reservations recommended at 912/232-4286.

The Bohemian Hotel and Rocks on the River Restaurant, Savannah

Posted on Apr 14, 2010 under Archives | No Comment

Recently I was fortunate enough to attend a press conference where I got to stay at the new Bohemian Hotel in Savannah.  It took a long time to get to Savannah from LA, but it was well worth the visit.

Designed by Design/Reese Architects and Associates, the 75 room boutique hotel has a brick facade, locally inspired decor and artwork and can fool guests into thinking that it has been around for decades like many other buildings in Savannah, but in fact the newest hotel in the Kessler chain is the first riverfront hotel built in the city in 17 years.

Rooms are large and comfortable with fur throws, velvet inlaid headboards, marble bathrooms and driftwood chandeliers.  Many have river views.

The hotel also features a stylish rooftop lounge and the Rocks on the River restaurant.  We dined at the restaurant the first night of the tour.  Chef Jonathan Massey provided a great tasting menu.  Here is what was served:

We started with a squash blossom and sun dried tomato pizza with fresh mozzarella.

Next came a delicious asparagus salad with chipotle vinaigrette.

Our main course was a whole roasted red snapper with sweet potato and pear hash in a shellfish broth.

For dessert, we ate a huge piece of a Savannah favorite, Praline Ice Box Pie.  Yum.  The dinner was the perfect way to introduce us to the great food available in Savannah.