After a high powered career, who would have ever thought that one of my favorite activities in my retirement would be watching television cooking shows. Paula Deen, Ina Garten, Gida De Laurentiis and Bobby Flay became good friends. We hung out together and traveled the world through a variety of tasty dishes. I didn't realize something was missing until I met Pat and Gina Neely as they did a guest spot on "Home Cooking" with Paula Deen.
Pat and Gina, a husband and wife team, are proprietors of the Celebrated Memphis and Nashville eateries Neely's Bar-B-Que and now they host their won television show. Their down-home approach to cooking has earned them the highest accolades from coast to coast and won them millions of viewers on the Food Network. Simply put, Pat and Gina are all about good food and good times. Their love for good food is infectious and they bring their heavenly inspired cooking down to earth for all to share.
Love of family is a constant theme of the show and family member are spotlighted sharing their mouthwatering recipes. Tried-and-, many to true southern recipes have been passed down from one Neely generation to the next, including the liberal application of barbeque sauce to almost anything. I enjoy the inventive names of their dishes, i.e. Sock-it-to-Me cake, Pat's Wings of Fire, and Get Yo' Man Chicken. The Neely's work, laugh, love, and play harder than any family you'll ever meet.
Gina and Pat have known each other for a long, long time, starting out as friends. When Gina recalls the day they met, she remembers breaking the ice and Pat asking for her phone number. Dating brought the usual ups, downs and separations. Eventually, the couple renewed their acquaintance and decided to marry in 1994. The couple have two beautiful daughters and scores of other kin. Working together in a business partnership served as preparation for the work on their television show.
Their path hasn't always been easy which makes their success even more extraordinary. They are a tight-knit clan and Gina fought for her place in the group of five brothers, one sister, and one protective mother. The couple learned about commitment, dedication and loyalty. if there was a problem, they never walked away...they fixed it. If there was a spat, they made up. If any one was in trouble, they dropped what they were doing to lend a helping hand.
Watch the show and learn about Southern Family cooking. You'll fee right at home with Pat and Gina. You can also enjoy the recipes in the cookbooks "Down Home With the Neelys" and "The Neelys Celebration Cookbook".
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