Brush with Fame in Chi Town

I just got home from Chicago earlier this week for a work trip manning the Gibbs Smith booth at the International Home and Housewares trade show. This show was HUGE! The Today Show was even broadcasting live featuring all the latest in home and kitchen gadgets. It was fun to see all the latest in peelers, pans, cutlery and even water bottles.

The Grand Dame of Southern Cooking, Ms. Paula Deen (make sure to say that with a sweet southern drawl), was one of several Celebrity chef guest speakers. Paula was scheduled to speak at 7:30 a.m. Sunday and for a brief moment I thought it would be fun to go see her, but ... that's awfully early to wake up for a lecture, even if it is the Queen of Butter! 

Once we had set up the booth Sunday morning, I got word that Paula was actually signing autographs at her booth, just down from ours! So I ran down, completely unprepared for this celeb siting. Just as I turned the corner and saw her stunning, perfectly coifed silver mane, I turned on my heel and ran back to grab my camera! But what was I going to have her sign? I asked if they were selling copies of her cookbook at the booth, but was out of luck! So I had to setting for a signature on expo badge. Pretty good memento of the event, right? 

So with a signature on my badge, a fun conversation about her beautiful hair and a couple of snapshots, I still wasn't quite ready to completely say goodbye to Paula. Her publicist, however, shuffled us all along our way, so my visit was cut short. BUT... my boss later informed me that there was a booth selling her books! Not wanting to miss her, I RAN to the booth, quickly paid for the book and jumped in the Meet-and-Greet line once again. 

While Paula was signing my books, her other publicist, GiGi, commented on how beautiful my smile was. "Don't you think she as a beautiful smile, Paula?" she said. "Well, yes she does!" Paula enthused in her sweet drawl. "Well, Paula brings it out in me," I said with a grin. (Doesn't hurt to schmooze any way you can, right?) 

So, even though my visit to Chicago was fun, the food amazing and the trade show was pretty enjoyable, nothing could quite hold a candle to meeting Paula Deen!