Patrick Neely - Down Home With the Neelys: A Southern Family Cookbook

Women hold up the world in so many ways, and that is why God blessed me with daughters. For Spenser and Shelbi, who taught me the meaning of unconditional love. Girls, go dream your dreams!

Love, Mom

Very few men are as lucky as I am to have three gorgeous ladies in his life. Gina, Spenser, and Shelbi, this is for YOU.

Pat

WHEN MY BOYS, BOBBY AND JAMIE, rolled into Nashville a couple years ago, looking for great food to feature on their show, Road Tasted, they struck it rich. They not only discovered fabulous barbecued ribs and pulled pork and barbecue spaghetti and baked beans at Neelys Bar-B-Quethey discovered Patrick and Gina Neely. I think the story went something like this: When my boys sat down to film the segment, they discovered that Pat was a gem, the kind of guy theyd want to hang out and have a few beers with. In between takes, they also found out that Gina was no shrinking violet and as spicy as the hot sauce they were shaking all over those ribs. Soon enough, the four of them were laughing and carrying on so much they practically forgot about the cameras. Then, like good boys, Bobby and Jamie called their momma and said, I think weve found something really special here.

Indeed they had. Patrick and Gina Neely are not just extraordinary restaurateurs (they have restaurants in Nashville and Memphis) who have spent years in the trenches (like all of us in the business) serving great food, they are also warm and wonderful people and that rare thing, a husband and wife who actually work and cook together. And Ill be damned if they dont get along awfully well to boot. Whats more, they have had the good sense to pay attention to the cooking of their parents and grandparents, and are passing on those traditions to their darling daughters, Spenser and Shelbi. Thats what I call gettin it.

Before long, I had to get the Neelys to Savannah to see what all the fuss was about. I hosted them on Paulas Party, to which they brought most of their kin, and then things really got out of hand. As we all got to know each other, we realized we had much more in common than Southern food. In fact, their family mirrors mine in many waysboth the Neelys and the Deens faced challenges growing up, including losing parents at an early age. And both clans knew the value of hard work and the joy associated with providing something better for our children. Did I mention we also like to eat?

When my television producer and dear friend, Gordon Elliott, met the Neelys, he was instantly smitten. Mark Schneider, Gordons partner at Follow Productions, flew to Memphis to see the Neelys in action and immediately called Gordon and said hed found the perfect couple to star in a television series of their own. I wasnt the least bit surprised. And thats how Down Home with the Neelys was born.

Pat and Gina didnt go looking for televisionit found them. Thank goodness! Now we all get to share in the warmth and laughter and good food that inspired Down Home with the Neelys the television series, and now this lovely cookbook. With the following recipes, we are all given a place at the Neely family table, and its a seat I would take any day of the week. So what are yall waiting for? Turn the page and dig in. Their recipes and heartwarming family anecdotes will fill your stomach full.

Savannah, July 2008

Gina: We started out as friends, but I knew that wouldnt last, because I was attracted to that man.