Somedays when you work hard, you get to go to Barneys.
I didn't say that. SJP did. Or something like that. But I like it, and I believe it.
And so on a very rainy Tuesday night, and after a very hard day, I headed uptown to Barneys with my buddy Drew to the party for Lee Schrager 's Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival Cookbook. It's full of recipes and behind-the-scenes stories from America's hottest chefs and Food Network Stars. And the party was wall-to-wall with foodies. I'm hungry.
Spotted: Anthony Bourdain, Jamie Oliver, Mario Batali, Bobby Flay and the beautiful Stephanie March, Gail Simmons, Emeril Lagasse, and Cathie Black, the former grand dame of Hearst Magazine empire and soon-to-be chancellor of New York City Public Schools. And then there was Paula Deen.
I'm pretty sure that Paula is going to give this nation one giant heart attack. But it's working for her. She was dripping in diamonds and surrounded by security. I couldn't resist a photo with her, and in my very best Southern accent I said, "You cook like my mama." Drew snapped the photo, and she looked me in the eye, touched me on the cheek, and said "That's the nicest thing you could ever say to me."
There you have it - I've been touched by Paula. And I feel like cooking.