Behind the Scenes: Paula Deen's Family Kitchen Grand Opening

I am just so ecstatic at the outpouring of support for our new restaurant, Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen, at the Island in Pigeon Forge. My family and I had such a wonderful time spending the weekend with friends, old and new, to celebrate its official opening.

The new restaurant is nothing short of amazing. You’re going to love the family-style buffet at your table with some of my favorite recipes. And you’ll have a great view of the Island’s show fountains from anywhere you sit! If you love to shop, you’re gonna love all the selections in the retail store downstairs, especially the new kid’s section featuring Melissa & Doug toys made exclusively for us.

I am so proud of all the hard work of my team to make this happen. I hope you enjoy a look into last weeks festivities and hope you will visit us soon!

Paula Deen - As a young girl growing up in Albany, Georgia, Paula Deen never dreamed she would become an American icon. As a young mother, Paula was living the American dream — married to her high school sweetheart and raising two adorable boys — when tragedy struck. Her parents died, her marriage failed and she began a prolonged battle with agoraphobia. With her boys in their teens and her family near homelessness, Paula took her last $200, reached deep inside her soul and started The Bag Lady, a home-based catering company that marked the start of Deen's professional cooking career. With sons Jamie and Bobby delivering lunch-and-love-in-a-bag, beginning in June 1989, Paula turned her life around by sharing what she knew best, traditional Southern cooking.