http://thedeenbros.com/index.php/jamies_blog/jd_article/ en lisas@pauladeen.com Copyright 2011 2011-11-04T20:32:53+00:00 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thedeenbros/MZrd/~3/21OHJuG-dS0/ http://thedeenbros.com/index.php/jamies_blog/article/you_can_do_good_things_with_only_one_text/#When:20:32:53Z I have had this blog going for the last few years and really enjoy keeping everybody in the loop of what’s going on in and around our family. It’s also a great place to spread the word on different non- profit events we have going on. Hey Everybody! And by everybody I mean Everybody! I am dropping this week's blog over at mom's website too. If you are a regular here at The Deen Bros. spot, thanks for checking back in and for all of you PD.com fans, Where have y'all been? I have had this blog going for the last few years and really enjoy keeping everybody in the loop of what's going on in and around our family. It's also a great place to spread the word on different non- profit events we have going on and this week is a doozy of a program. Backstory; I was asked by Mary Jane Crouch, the director of America's Second Harvest Food Bank here in Savannah, about serving on the local board after we partnered with Smithfield for a protein donation here at home and I jumped at the chance. In the last four years I have seen things that will break your heart but have also been a part of some work that will not only make it whole again but fill it up with joy. In this big world of ours I have found a spot where I know I can have an effect on a person's life that may possibly trickle down into the lives of folks that are yet to be born. It's truly one of my favorite things. Now, y'all know I love to share so I'm not keeping this feeling to myself. You can do good things with only one text. One text message from you today will provide 40 meals to someone in need. 1 text. $10. 40 meals. Please join us as we kick of the holiday season with a gift that will not only make a difference today but could echo through a family's entire history. Text "hungry" to 50555 and help us in our fight against hunger. The feeling you get in return is free. Thank you from our family, Mary Jane, Second Harvest and the thousand's of people will will get a meal because of your generosity. Until next week, do good things -Jamie 2011-11-04T20:32:53+00:00 http://thedeenbros.com/index.php/jamies_blog/article/you_can_do_good_things_with_only_one_text/#When:20:32:53Z http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thedeenbros/MZrd/~3/xUw0-cZYC0w/ http://thedeenbros.com/index.php/jamies_blog/article/from_wine_country_to_whine_country/#When:19:01:54Z Jamie checks back in after wrapping up Beringer’s Great Steak Challenge and the Epcot Food and Wine Festival, and gets ready for the Georgia-Florida football game! What a week! From the wine country in California to the "whine" country in Orlando, I feel like I have been on a roller coaster...literally. Bobby and I had a gorgeous trip last weekend to Napa Valley as we hosted the finale of The Great Steak Challenge. Ten of the top home cooks in America competed for the grand prize of $25,000 dollars and it did not disappoint. This being the second year allowed Beringer to tweak it a little bit and there were ten solid finalist who all had a shot at the money. The finale will air on the Cooking Channel this spring and I promise the stories and recipes are worth a look so stay tuned! The entrees were so good I pinched every recipe for my self and have already this week used my first recipe. After taking the red eye Saturday night it took me, oh, 3 days to catch back up, we loaded up everything and drove down to Orlando for the Epcot Food and Wine Festival. When I say everything I mean Everything....Y'all ever pack to go out of town for 5 days with a five month old? I had more stuff in the car than things we left in Savannah. Jack is old enough to travel light and Matthew is old enough to basically load up his entire room. Pack-and-Play to sleep, chair to eat in, play mat for tummy time, jumper for exercise, bottle warmer, bath stuff, 42 changes of clothes.....I just finished unpacking the car and I've been home three days. It was all worth it of course. The two shows I hosted were sold out and our play time in the parks was tremendous. If you get a chance to visit in October you have to check out the Not so Scary Parade, Jack goes completely bananas. And the weather this year! Mid seventies in Central Florida! We usually roast down there even in October but boy were we happily surprised this year. I am already looking forward to next year. Here's a picture of Jack goofing as one of the characters from Disney's Toy Story: I have to brag on mom a little bit....#1 on the NY Times best seller list! I am so happy for her. Who ever would have thought my little ole momma up in the rarefied air of the best seller list. Dangerous woman indeed. Big week for my Dawgs as we travel down I-95 for our match up with the hated Gators. This is a huge game for us and a must-win if we hope to make it to the SEC title game in Atlanta. Look for me down there, I'll be carrying a cocktail wearing a red shirt and barking my head off. Thanks for checking back in..... Y'all do good things- Jamie 2011-10-25T19:01:54+00:00 http://thedeenbros.com/index.php/jamies_blog/article/from_wine_country_to_whine_country/#When:19:01:54Z http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thedeenbros/MZrd/~3/u-nJDVTmNyM/ http://thedeenbros.com/index.php/jamies_blog/article/fall_is_in_the_air/#When:12:31:48Z We had a great time time up at the Food and Wine Festival this weekend in NY and also did some good work at home in Savannah…. which means we are gonna top out at 80 degrees today. Hey y’all- We sure are happy down here to get a much needed break in the weather! It’s not like Texas with 1000 days above one hundred but the humidity takes a toll and when the temperature gets down in the sixties I celebrate. Our whole family was together in NY this past weekend for the Food and Wine Festival and we had a great time. Mom and Bobby went up Thursday or Friday and I flew up Sunday to attend mom’s brunch and she came over to see our cooking demo. It was my first stage work with Bobby since Matthew was born and it was so much fun to get back to work. I was not able to take part in the commercial they shot Saturday because I was fortunate enough to host the 6th annual Buddy Walk here celebrating the Low Country Down Syndrome Society and all the great work they do for the third year. I am able to pitch in with some great organizations in Savannah and the LCDSS is one of my favorite’s. Brian Hussey and the entire team work effortlessly in our community to provide support and resources to family’s with special need folks. Over four thousand people came out and we had such an awesome day that I (almost) forgot about my Dawgs playing a very important game just 4 hours up the road. (A hearty thanks to the hated Gamecocks and more hated Gators for letting us back in the hunt for the SEC East title.) Speaking of great community work, I had a chance to meet with the Food Bank of New York team and I don’t see how they are able to deal with the challenges they face. They help feed millions of people in need every year and are just a great group that all sacrifice for the good of the five boroughs of NYC. The generosity of the Food and Wine festival plays a huge part as every dollar of profit goes directly to the food bank so this weekend was all about having fun, giving back and making a difference in peoples lives. Y’all take time out of your week to find out what I have learned in the last few years….The more you give, the more you receive! Thanks for checking back in, Y’all do good things. -jamie 2011-10-04T12:31:48+00:00 http://thedeenbros.com/index.php/jamies_blog/article/fall_is_in_the_air/#When:12:31:48Z http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thedeenbros/MZrd/~3/tYn8xnIEzf0/ http://thedeenbros.com/index.php/jamies_blog/article/the_media/#When:15:28:19Z Anthony Bourdian said what?!?! and back to school. Can’t live with ‘em, can’t live without ‘em. It’s funny that our family has become a part of the media. We have always cast a leery eye towards most of the electronic noise that we as consumers are bombarded with everyday. Being in several different aspects of “media” has opened us up to criticism and we accept that as part of what we are fortunate enough to be able to do making a living. Some of us take it in stride (me) some of us take it super personal (Bobby) and some are squarely in the center (Mom). I bring this up today to mention whats on my radar this week: Anthony Bourdain. As you may have heard Anthony gave an interview in TV Guide last week taking a few of the Food Network host’s to task over their television show menus. He also said that mom was "the most dangerous woman in America”. My mom…the most dangerous woman in America. If he had worked for her fifteen or twenty years ago he would really know what he was talking about but I suspect the statement is part of a plan to get as much publicity for his new book as possible. But hey, he has his right to an opinion. And, it also worked. For a few days every time I turned around there it was, a picture of mom and a talking head asking if this was the most dangerous woman in America. It’s my opinion that anyone who takes part in a promotional campaign for the television show, Man versus Food, should not be so quick to take on the responsibility of this nation’s health. But y’all know what they say about opinions…… He certainly got a lot of press including an op-ed piece in The New York Times yesterday. Frank Bruni used Anthony’s comments as a starting point to discuss our society’s class differences of food. The whole “One man’s bacon is another man’s pork belly”. I really enjoyed it. There were thirty or forty comments about the piece and after reading those I thought, “Man, these people write waaaay better than me” and “They pretty much agree with Tony about our food”. Again, it’s an opinion so…whatever. BUT. One reader assumed that while Anthony Bourdain cut his teeth as a chef toiling on the line at a restaurant, doing dishes and making it the hard way, my mom was a prepackaged, made for television prop. Out of all the crap I’ve seen and heard since we started out in the media part of our business, and I have seen and heard a great deal of crap, this is the one that I call out. My mom not only worked on the line, but did all the shopping, prepping, menu planning, serving and cleaning up after herself and all others for TEN years. Everyday. Seven days a week, three meals a day….with nary a sous chef in sight. So, Mr. New York Times op-ed comment person, kiss my butt. Let me climb down from my high horse. Jack Deen has started school and is fighting the end of summer as if his life depended on it….a real chip off the old block. Matthew at three months, also known as Moose, weighs in at 18 pounds and is stretching the boundaries of his six month onesie. Yes, another chip, same block. Thank y’all for checking back in, look for a more consistent schedule from me here at the blog. Summer is over for all of us. Do good things -jamie 2011-08-26T15:28:19+00:00 http://thedeenbros.com/index.php/jamies_blog/article/the_media/#When:15:28:19Z http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thedeenbros/MZrd/~3/Do4Knf1lcH4/ http://thedeenbros.com/index.php/jamies_blog/article/its_another_scorcher_yall/#When:17:27:10Z It’s been a hot month in Savannah, it’s only getting hotter! I share one of our favorite ice creams to help you cool off and Bobby’s got a new podcast. Stay cool y’all! Hey y’all, Jamie here and I’m back with another blog post. Man, this has been a real scorcher of a month here in Savannah. We’ve had so many days with the heat index near or over 100 degrees- it’s just about hot enough to fry an egg on your head. So Brooke and I have been trying to find ways to cool off with the kids this summer. Jack loves to play outside in the summer, and when he’s done, there’s nothing like a bowl of cool ice cream to help chill things out. Of course, Brooke and I can’t resist taking a spoonful here and there for ourselves as well. One of our favorite ice cream recipes to whip up is our Fresh Georgia Peach and Brown Sugar Ice Cream. It’s real creamy and sweet, and just what the doctor ordered to help beat the heat. Of course, little Matthew James isn’t quite old enough to enjoy grown up ice cream, but we figure he’ll take a liking to it as well when he is. Also, Bobby and Uncle Bubba sat down and did a podcast the other day. So I’m sure he’ll be posting that soon- be on the look out. Alright, I gotta run, but I just wanted to check in with y’all. Until next time… Do good things, Jamie 2011-07-20T17:27:10+00:00 http://thedeenbros.com/index.php/jamies_blog/article/its_another_scorcher_yall/#When:17:27:10Z http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thedeenbros/MZrd/~3/L6a6iFTXN4Y/ http://thedeenbros.com/index.php/jamies_blog/article/its_my_favorite_day_of_the_year/#When:20:16:47Z I love Father’s Day! This month has been so busy that this year I don’t want to do anything but spend time with my beautiful family. How will y’all spend it? Hey y’all, I’ve always enjoyed Father’s Day. It was a day that we always knew that we were going to take it easy around the house, ‘cause unlike Mother’s Day where Bobby and Daddy and I did everything we could to make Momma feel like a princess, when it was Father’s Day all Daddy wanted was to just take it easy- and to maybe go outside and do the grill, or stay inside and watch the race. So Father’s Day, when I was growin’ up, was always an eeeeasy day for us. And as I became a father, now I look forward to a day where, you know, Brooke and Jack kind fuss over me a little bit, and of course with Matthew here this year I get to double my love on my Father’s Day weekend. Jack has already started! Last week he gave me a homemade Father’s Day card and he came in the door yesterday and said, “Don’t look, Daddy! Don’t look!” So, I don’t know what he’s got planned for me. But I think what Brooke’s got realized, and what Jack doesn’t realize is that the only thing that I want on Father’s Day is to spend time with my boys and with Brooke, and a lot like my dad when I was younger- just to take it easy and have a nice quiet day without a lot of fuss or muss. I don’t ask for Brooke to cook me anything special. I don’t want or need anything in the world, except to be covered with kisses from Jack, and I’m really enjoying Matthew. We’ll take some sweet pictures this year. That’s a tradition that we started. I’ve got my Father’s Day pictures that I keep in my office at home of Jack and me. And Matthew will join the lineup this year. It’s been a long month, you know Matthew’s just turned a month old- and Bobby and I were in NYC. It was my first night away from home, and it wasn’t easy for me. I hate to be too far away from my family. And knowing that Brooke had two boys by herself- you know I was worried about her. But of course she did perfect. I got home and everybody was safe and sound. I’ve been so busy between work, and Jack is a million miles and hour during the day, and Matthew is – well he’s a month old, and you know how that goes. I tell people that I’ve got one that sleeps all day and one that sleeps all night. So we’re a well-balanced family. I might sneak out the door early on Sunday morning and do some fishing. I hadn’t had a chance to do anything off by myself. I haven’t been to the gun club, or gone out and play golf. So I think around 5 o’clock in the morning or so, I might get out and get some fishing done. I love being outside and enjoying the peace and quiet, and there’s no place quieter than a country pond at 5:30 or 6 o’clock on a Sunday morning. Well, y’all take it easy, and thank you for checking back in. I know I’m kinda got my blogs on a hit or miss right now. I know you understand that I’ve been so busy. I also want to send out a special big thanks to Deb M., Rose, and Andrea for sending me an early birthday present. I’ve got a birthday comin’ at the end of this month and those girls never forget me, and I never forget them. I appreciate it girls! So y’all get out there this weekend and do something good for your Daddy. And if you don’t have a Daddy, then get back out there and do something good for somebody else! Thanks for checking back in, y’all. And Happy Father’s Day to my own dad! I love you! Do good things, Jamie 2011-06-17T20:16:47+00:00 http://thedeenbros.com/index.php/jamies_blog/article/its_my_favorite_day_of_the_year/#When:20:16:47Z http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thedeenbros/MZrd/~3/0IzCyuoL9R0/ http://thedeenbros.com/index.php/jamies_blog/article/guess_what_im_a_daddy_again/#When:17:13:54Z Brooke and I happily welcomed our new son, Matthew James Deen, into our family, and let me tell you what- we have our hands full again, but we couldn’t be happier! Hey y’all, Guess what! I’m a daddy again! Matthew James Deen was born Wednesday before last, and we came home on that Thursday. Brooke did so well. You know, Jack was a cesarean. He had low birth movement, so we had to go and get him three weeks early. But Matthew decided to stay in until the bitter end. He was born on Brooke’s due date. We thought he was going to come a few weeks early, but we are so thankful to God that he stayed in there and didn’t come out until it was time. He’s a perfectly beautiful baby boy. Brooke was able to able to deliver through a VBAC, which is a vaginal birth after a cesarean, something like that… Anyway, we were able to not have to do the cesarean, and we were super thankful for that. We were able to come home the next day, and Brooke’s up and movin’ around. We’ve been a busy little family. It’s amazing what you can forget…it’s been almost five years since Jack was born. Did you know you can actually go on two, or three, or four hours of sleep?? And, it’s especially challenging at this point because Jack Deen’s schedule has not changed. He is just sun up, until super late- 900 mph. I have been doing A LOT of swimmin’ lately. Well, he swims. I float. The baby has slept four or five hours a night for a handful of the nights that we’ve been home, so we’re pretty lucky as far as that goes. I gotta tell you, I was super excited when Jack’s camp started this past Monday. That gives Brooke and I some time in the mornin’ to just kinda cuddle up with the baby, keep the house straight, and just sit still. We’ve been listening to some super peaceful what I call “old people’s” music. And it really helps a lot for us to be able to sit and bond with Matthew. I was on Mom’s show a couple of times this past week. I’m slow to get back to work. It’s, you know, hard for me to not plug into work. Havin’ a baby is about the only thing that’ll get me totally unplug. But I wanted to get a short, quick blog out this week, just to let y’all know that the baby is here and he is gorgeous. Christine Hall took some pictures, and they’re great. If I can’t do nothin’ else, I can birth some good-lookin’ babies. And just because they both look like my wife, doesn’t mean anything... Thanks for checkin’ back in, and I hope you’re doing just as well as I am. As always…do good things, Jamie 2011-05-31T17:13:54+00:00 http://thedeenbros.com/index.php/jamies_blog/article/guess_what_im_a_daddy_again/#When:17:13:54Z http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thedeenbros/MZrd/~3/Xh8l1PxazLQ/ http://thedeenbros.com/index.php/jamies_blog/article/im_back_yall/#When:14:39:41Z Missed me? I know, I know…it’s been a couple of weeks since my last update, but I promise I’ll make it up to y’all. From promoting mine and Bobby’s new cookbook, Get Fired Up, to helping Brooke prepare for our new baby, it’s been a whirlwind couple of weeks! Hey y’all, Missed me? I know, I know…it’s been a couple of weeks since my last update, but I promise I’ll make it up to y’all. From promoting mine and Bobby’s new cookbook, Get Fired Up, to helping Brooke prepare for our new baby, it’s been a whirlwind couple of weeks! No baby yet, but we’re expecting Brooke to deliver any day now and we couldn’t be happier. Jack is excited, too. He can’t wait to be an older brother. What else is going on? Well, the weather has been absolutely wonderful here in Savannah. I feel bad that we’ve been blessed with the weather we’ve been having, because I know that other parts of the country are still reeling in the aftermath of tornados and other severe weather conditions. Our hearts go out to all those affected, especially those in the South that have to start their lives over completely. Y’all are definitely in our thoughts and prayers. Bobby and I had a manager’s meeting this morning for The Lady & Sons. We’re trying to get everyone pumped and ready for the summer months. We’re comin’ up on our busiest time all year and we need to make sure that we’re all set to deliver the best service to all y’all that come to visit us. Me and Bobby love meeting y’all when you’re down at the restaurant. Remember the other week when I interviewed one of folks waiting in line for a reservation? Well that could be you! What are your plans for the summer? I know we’re comin’ up on Memorial Day, and I always love to grill out for this holiday. This year I’ll be busy with a new bundle of joy in the house, but I hope to still make time to make a special grilled meal for my family. Maybe something like Hot Buffalo Burgers with Blue Cheese and Grilled Red Pepper and Bow-tie Pasta Salad from our new cookbook? What do y’all think? Alright, I gotta get back to runnin’ around, but I’ll catch up again with y’all later! Until next time… Do good things, Jamie 2011-05-12T14:39:41+00:00 http://thedeenbros.com/index.php/jamies_blog/article/im_back_yall/#When:14:39:41Z http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thedeenbros/MZrd/~3/L1rmEgpvTWw/ http://thedeenbros.com/index.php/jamies_blog/article/were_on_the_road_again...well_almost/#When:17:08:36Z Bobby and I are leaving’ on a jet plane for our book tour, and Mama’s helping to raise money to fight breast cancer. Hey y’all, Just a quick update today. Bobby and I are getting hunkered down before our big book tour kicks off next week. I’m trying to spend every last minute I can with Brooke and Jack, because I always miss ‘em like crazy when I’m on the road. How many of y’all are planning on visiting with me and Bobby? We can’t wait to meet you all and hopefully get to try out some new food while we’re on the road. Which places should we stop to eat? Oh yeah, you can check out our full list of dates tour dates here. Something else that’s kind of a big deal to us Deens is the annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Savannah. Mama’s going to be there to help kick off and do her cheerleadin’ thing. She’s so good at getting people motivated, especially when it’s for a good cause. I know she’s really touched to be a part of something like this. It's an awesome event y'all. I hate that Bobby and I are going to miss it this year, but I know that a lot of our employees at the restaurants, store, and our corporate office are participating. I couldn’t be happier for them. I tell y’all what, I don’t know how we did it, but we sure are lucky to have such giving, wonderful and loyal staff members. So if you’re going to be at the race, and you see someone with a Deen Team t-shirt on, make sure you give ‘em a special little shout out from me! I hate to be so short today, but I gotta throw some clothes in my suitcase and wrap up some last minute stuff before I’m on the road again! Until next time… Do good things, Jamie 2011-04-15T17:08:36+00:00 http://thedeenbros.com/index.php/jamies_blog/article/were_on_the_road_again...well_almost/#When:17:08:36Z http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thedeenbros/MZrd/~3/1-VR_wNvBJU/ http://thedeenbros.com/index.php/jamies_blog/article/get_fired_up_yall/#When:20:06:08Z Bobby and I are getting ready for another book tour, I speak at the Savannah Mayor’s Small Business Conference, and Jack gets a milk mustache. Hey y’all, Boy, it’s been a busy week here in a Savannah. But the weather has been absolutely killer, so I can’t really complain. This week, I was honored with the opportunity to speak at the Mayor’s Small Business Conference, where I presented a keynote address. They asked me to speak about the challenges that Mom and me and Bobby had to over come as small business owners. It was really a special for me to be able to meet other local small business owners and share some of my family’s past experiences. The story of The Lady and Sons is one that I never get tired of telling. I started to get a little a choked up in the middle of my speech- I think it’s because I just swell with pride whenever I think about what my mom has built for our family. Y’all can catch the video of me speaking here- it’s a little longer than you might have time for, but I get asked all the time for some advice on how to get a business going, so you never know- you might find it interesting. Other than that, Bobby and I had a photoshoot for our next issue of The Deen Bros. Magazine. I’m super excited about it, because it’s going to be all about grilling. We’ve got a lot of exciting recipes for y’all to try. Also, recently I was able to take Jack to one of our local elementary schools, May Howard. He was a big helper that day. We were there helping support their new Media Center and Library. Y’all, they are the only elementary school in Savannah with a media center that has an exemplary rating. So that’s a pretty big deal. Here’s a picture of me and Jack with some of the teachers over there. Jack a big day going through all of the books and meetin’ everybody. And yes, that’s a milk mustache on his face. Can I get a drum roll? Bobby and I have big news comin’ up. Our next cookbook, The Deen Bros. Get Fired Up will finally be released this month on the 19th. It’s going to be awesome. Bobby and I are so pumped getting ready to head for the book tour. Check out our tour schedule to see if we’re coming to an area near you. We love meeting everybody that comes out for a signings. Who knows, I might even interview you for my blog! That’s about all I’ve got time for today, y’all. Thanks for checking in, and until next time… Do good things, Jamie 2011-04-08T20:06:08+00:00 http://thedeenbros.com/index.php/jamies_blog/article/get_fired_up_yall/#When:20:06:08Z