From Dody Denman

Special tickets provide a photo with Paula, brunch and theater seats

HOUSTON – TV cooking star and cookbook author Paula Deen has chosen September’s MetroCooking Houston to make her first public appearance since June, and as a part of that show, certain ticket purchasers will have the opportunity to get up close and photographed.

On Saturday, September 14, specially priced tickets will be available to attend a brunch featuring dishes from Paula’s latest cookbook, “Southern Cooking Bible,” then sit with the famed chef for a personal photo taken by a professional photographer. The photograph will be presented onsite and comes with an autograph.

There are two levels of tickets which may be purchased in advance by going to the show’s website. The first level, selling for $140, includes the brunch, a photo taken with Paula, a pre-autographed photo-sleeve and a general admission ticket to the Exhibit Floor. Tickets to the Celebrity Theater are additional.

The Paula Deen VIP ticket, selling for $400, includes all-day Saturday admission to the VIP Chill Lounge, brunch, a photo with Paula and a pre-autographed picture frame. In addition, purchasers receive admission to the Exhibit Floor, VIP seating to the Celebrity Theater featuring Paula, a pre-signed copy of “Southern Cooking Bible” and an apron.

Paula will not attend the brunch.

MetroCooking returns to The Reliant Center for its third year Sept. 14 & 15. This year’s extravaganza brings renowned television chefs, sports stars turned chefs, hundreds of specialty food exhibitors selling their products, cooking demonstrations, workshops and, a new feature, the Grand Tasting Pavilion with dozens of local restaurants providing samples of their signature fare.

Among the rotating roster of celebrities will be American Idol Taylor Hicks (yes, he cooks) on stage with Food Network Star finalist Martie Duncan.

Others in the celebrity lineup include actress Debi Mazur and her husband Gabriele Corcos from The Cooking Channel’s Extra Virgin; The Food Network’s Cooking for Real’s Sunny Anderson; the Grill Sergeant Brad Turner and The Food Network’s Extreme Chef Terry French.   In addition, Texas sports legends Earl Campbell will be on stage with his two sons to cook from favorite Earl Campbell’s Meat Products recipes and Dan Pastorini will showcase recipes from his Dan Pastorini’s Quality Foods spices.

Paula Deen will arrive with sons Bobby and Jamie, all of whom will take the stage cooking recipes from all of their cookbooks. Bobby and Jamie Deen will also host The Deen Brothers BBQ & Photo Op on Saturday, September 14 where attendees will enjoy Deen Brothers recipes and have their photo taken with them. Paula will swing by the BBQ for a quick “hey, y’all” as well.

More personalities are conducting a variety of workshops over the weekend, Mark ‘Uncle Millie’ Millis, the wild game cook known for his hunting, fishing, ironworking and mechanical skills; and SFC (Ret) Brad C Turner, Jr., the 20 year Army Veteran who loves to “Share the Love and Share the Food.”

Amidst the live discussions and demonstrations with chefs and the rest of the impressive list of participants will be a labyrinth of vendor booths featuring samples and wares from more than 150 exhibitors.  Local and international specialty foods and food-related products will be for sale throughout the weekend.

General Admission tickets are $24.50, children ages 4-12 are $12.50 and children ages 4 and younger are free.  General Admission tickets allow entrance to demonstrations, entertaining presentations, and vendor booths on the exhibit hall floor.  Additional tickets are required for special events, such as a VIP meet-and-greet with TV chefs, the one-day theater passes and entry to special lectures by the headliners (ticket prices range from $63-$400).  For a full listing of events and tickets, visit www.metrocookinghouston.com.

About the Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show

The Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show (MCES) is a two-day food-lover’s event featuring hundreds of exhibitors, cooking demos, tastings, workshops, book signings and appearances by national food and entertainment celebrities. With its first show in Washington, DC in 2001, MCES has expanded its national presence and takes place annually in three cities: DC, Houston and Dallas. MCES is owned and operated by The Tiny Kitchen, Inc.

Lemon Pudding Cake

Ingredients:

•          4 eggs

•          1 yellow or butter cake mix

•          1 instant lemon pudding mix  (4 serving size)

•          3/4 cup water

•          1/3 cup vegetable oil

•          1/3 cup lemon juice

•          2 cups sifted powdered sugar

Preparation:

In mixing bowl, beat eggs until thick and lemon-colored. Add cake mix, dry pudding mix, water, and vegetable oil. Beat at medium speed of electric mixer for 10 minutes. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake cake at 350° following directions on box, or until a wooden pick or cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. Combine lemon juice and sifted powdered sugar in a bowl to make glaze. Drizzle glaze over top of hot cake allowing to run down side of cake.