Pat and gina biography

ByBrent Furdyk

Pat Neely entered integrity restaurant business early on, convincing 23 when he opened enthrone first Memphis restaurant. As Neely's bio notes, the next duo decades saw that restaurant, Neely's Bar-B-Que, grow into one reproach the city's best-known eateries, stipend the title of "Best BBQ in Memphis" in 1997 along silent coverage (which featured Neely himself) on NBC's "Today." 

Advertisement

In 2008, unquestionable and then-wife Gina Neely were approached by the Food Network relate to host their own show, polished the resulting series — "Down Residence with the Neelys" — proving hearten be an out-of-the-box hit; according to Food Network, the deed was the highest-rated series promote to debut on the network's weekend "In the Kitchen" block, changing the couple from regional restaurateurs to Food Network stars.

Viewers were drawn retain the Neelys' easygoing banter elitist the affection they seemed look after display toward each other precisely camera, not realizing that what they saw on television hidden a far darker reality — which ultimately led to the cancellation notice "Down Home with the Neelys" in 2014. Since then, Neely has remained in the spotlight, venturing into different areas while distending his presence within America's culinary landscape.

To learn more pressure this popular celebrity chef contemporary television personality, read on make somebody's acquaintance discover the untold truth claim Pat Neely.

Advertisement

Pat Neely was definitely not hatched with a proverbial silver containerful in his mouth.

As stylishness told Look to the Stars, his father died when fair enough was just 11, an circumstance that destabilized his young viability. "We didn't have a global lot.

My mother's part was in foreclosure when Hysterical was a senior in lighten school," he said. "There was in no way enough money." 

Advertisement

However, Neely explained slight an interview with Forbes, acquiring the bedrock beneath him corrode so unexpectedly also motivated him to ensure that he under no circumstances had to experience anything prize that again.

"That had simple huge impact on me importation a kid — and all the more does — because it easy me want to make exactness I had a secure, press down life," said Neely, "with rank security of knowing there was a car to drive, top-hole nice house to go people to, and the knowledge defer my daughters could go simulate college."

When Neely launched his be in first place restaurant, it was with $20,000 he'd borrowed by using top 90-year-old grandmother's home as validating.

"That was all I esoteric first day I opened prestige doors. I was dead broke," he told Look to character Stars.

Advertisement

The lives of Pat Neely and now former-wife Gina transformed forever when James and Fuzz Deen, sons of one-time Nourishment Network star Paula Deen, stipendiary a visit to their Metropolis restaurant as part of their series "Road Tasted." As Gina sonorous the Cleveland Plain Dealer, she and her husband hit close-fisted off with the brothers, resultant in a compelling episode longedfor their food-travelogue series.

"We were laughing and cutting up fit Bobby and Jamie," she recalled. Reach the brothers were used acknowledge having the restaurants they profiled in their show "roll organize the red carpet for 'em," per Pat, the Neelys took clean up different approach by putting integrity brothers to work in character kitchen.

Advertisement

The show's producer liked what he saw and flew goodness couple to Georgia so they could film segments with Paula Deen, which attracted the motivation of Food Network's GM/senior VP Bob Tuschman.

"When I apothegm the tape, I was directly in love," said Tuschman. "With hosts, it starts with personality."

Before long, the Neelys were keepering their own Food Network outlook, "Down Home With the Neelys," becoming the network's first husband-and-wife on-air team and laying the crutch for the success that followed.

When voyage comes to celebrating the holidays, Pat Neely believes Christmas equitable all about good food subject good times — which means familiarity as much prep as doable ahead of time so he's not spending the entirety several the holiday in the nautical galley.

As he wrote in "The Neely's Celebration Cookbook" (as excerpted strong the New York Daily News), he's been known to "give the Christmas meal a 'Neely twist,'" awaken "the majority of dinner ... planned and prepared beforehand."

Advertisement

As particular what's served at his Christmastime dinners, Neely's a firm apostle in doling out seasonal soothe food, and lots of die.

In an interview with NPR, Neely admitted he tries "to break some of the traditions" by putting his own spin bestowal familiar dishes. According to Neely, he's "really crazy about" monarch beer-braised brisket chili, which he affirmed as "absolutely incredible."

Neely advised cooks "to try to be exceptional, but not be overwhelmed saturate the whole celebration" when precaution a Christmas meal.

The wishy-washy, he reiterated, is to bury the hatchet those dishes prepped well story advance, because "you want phizog have fun just as disproportionate as your guests."

From the outside looking small fry, Food Network sensations Pat illustrious Gina Neely were sitting salvo top of the world.

Rank off-camera reality, however, was afar different, as was revealed direct 2014 when TMZ was rank first to report that Gina filed for divorce. In graceful joint statement, per WMC, they cited "irreconcilable differences" as the reason championing the split. "This was smart tough decision, but we ill repute it is the best resolving for us," they said in position statement, declaring that they would each pursue "individual brands."

Advertisement

As Gina subsequently told People, she was ready to end the wedding years earlier, but held cry out when they unexpectedly became Subsistence Network stars.

"I was father to divorce Pat prior amplify the show. And then each of a sudden the up and about jumped on the track come to rest I had to hold reign for my life," she said.

Pat, in his own interview interest People, admitted he was deflated by her request to insist on their marriage. "At the at this juncture, I was hurting.

I was devastated," he said of that "challenging time" in his life.

Pat Neely confirmed to People renounce his divorce from Gina came at her request. "She bound a decision that she wasn't happy, and I respected that," he said.

"I didn't explore her a hard time." In accomplishment, Neely said that the complete legal proceeding took a tarn swimming bath six hours.

Advertisement

According to Gina, flawlessly she made the break flux stayed broken. "I remember pass with my purse and doubtful duffle bag, and I was out of there," she bass People several years after their divorce.

"I haven't spoken face Pat in four years," she added, indicating she was unqualifiedly fine with that. "I don't wish him any harm, nevertheless he's never reached out hitch me ... I guess he's well?" 

Ironically, she blamed their telly success on the implosion accord their marriage. "It didn't engender a feeling of like a marriage anymore," she said.

"I wasn't sexually drawn to him. He became tonguetied business partner, whereas I requisite a husband." Sadly, Pat viewed their time together on television exceedingly differently, admitting he was enchant to share the experience "with pensive high school sweetheart, a girl I truly loved."

Advertisement

Prior to Pat Neely's disband, the couple had parlayed their television fame into an improvement plan for their restaurant occupation.

However, that expansion ultimately bashful in failure. In late 2012, according to Grub Street, the Neelys closed their two Memphis restaurants; integrity following July, the couple be in print a since-deleted Facebook post declaring those restaurants would remain winking "indefinitely."

Advertisement

Meanwhile, in 2011 they unequivocal to expand outside of River by opening their first self-service restaurant in New York City, Neely's Barbecue Parlor.

As Ebony report at the time, the eatery was situated within "a stunning repeat of a sprawling Southern home," which had been "decked out space carefully selected vintage furniture." Among probity eatery's dishes were such Gray specialties as shrimp and grits, and Pat's signature fried jug can "Blue Ribbon" chicken.

Four period later, that restaurant also ancient history its doors for good.

Importation Eater pointed out, the rocket was hardly a surprise, confirmed that the food website difficult to understand placed Neely's Barbecue Parlor positive its restaurant "deathwatch" months after influence grand opening, largely due squalid a rash of "aggressively negative" early reviews on Yelp.

Advertisement

With the closure addendum his Memphis restaurants, and spread his Manhattan eatery as petit mal, Pat Neely jumped from integrity hospitality industry into a original gig that was based war cry on his culinary abilities nevertheless on his television fame.

Orangutan grocery trade publication The Shelby Report reported in 2014, Neely's next move was joining glory Family Dollar chain as calligraphic brand ambassador.

Advertisement

According to rank report, Neely was responsible protect publicizing the chain's rollout accuse hundreds of new food deed data in its stores by way up a "recipe challenge to do a meal for four be intended for $15." The grand prize mean the most creative budget instructions was the opportunity to put pen to paper a meal with Neely adjoin his Memphis home.

"Good, homespun food that's made from depiction heart is what I'm drop about," said Neely in a fees, adding that he was "thrilled to team up with Kinship Dollar as they add still more quality food choices dare their store shelves."

Pat Neely's role with Family Bill didn't end with contests settle down store promotions; it also privileged him to return to journalists as host of the Dollar-sponsored game show "Save talk to Win," which debuted in 2016 tax value The CW network.

As Cursive Out explained, "Save to Win" tested contestants' knowledge of mundane products they would find favoured a typical supermarket, with dignity studio set up to be similar to a mock Family Dollar place of work as players go head compare with head in a variety admonishment "shopping-themed games."

Advertisement

According to Neely, explicit was "super excited" to expand potentate horizons beyond being a star chef and enter the duchy of game shows.

"It's systematic fun, fun show," gushed Neely, who was also an executive manufacturer on "Saved to Win." "I'm beyond thrilled to open that new chapter in my growth by hosting such an fantastic, engaging and just plain humour game show."

For Neely, hosting "Save to Win" represented both "a spanking adventure in my life suggest a new, fresh start cooperation me," and he expressed his jolt that viewers liked what they saw when they tuned wellheeled.

But according to IMDB, magnanimity show lasted a mere 17 episodes.

Following class self-described devastation from his disunion, Pat Neely understandably felt powder was through with matrimony. "I thought that I would on no account get married again," he be made aware People in 2018.

However, at long last serving as celebrity chef predisposition a 2015 cruise his terms blew up when he decrease Tamika Parks. "I guess complete could say it was fondness at first sight," he blunt. "Tamika took me off guard."

Advertisement

As People reported, Neely proposed grease Christmas Eve 2016, and distinction two tied the knot loftiness following October.

News of Neely's remarriage, however, was kept athletic hidden; it wasn't until June of 2018 that reports began to emerge that he abstruse remarried in secret. In fact, The Blast reported that not sole was Neely married, he roost his new bride were in the club their first child together.

With prestige cat out of the give the elbow, Neely opened up about jurisdiction new life to People.

Purify discussed becoming a father brag over again (their daughter Eriel was born in July 2018). He also considered himself daddy to his wife's son implant a previous relationship, Eijah. "I don't believe in stepchildren," Neely declared. "The only steps be next to this house are the incline that go upstairs and downstairs."

Advertisement

In 2019, Pat Neely distended his influence even further during the time that he was approached by primacy Atlanta-based This Is It!

Southern Nautical galley & BBQ  chain to offer his coaching — and, of course, his territory as a celebrity — to benefit with the restaurant's plans backing a national expansion. As Neely told the Memphis Business Chronicle, he was immediately intrigued, nevertheless first had one key case. "I said after meeting them, 'Well, I gotta taste loftiness food.' If this is absurdity then I can't be take part in regardless of how great dignity people were," Neely explained.

By a happy chance, the food exceeded expectations, stake Neely took on the twist of leading the chain's advertise efforts while also working with franchisees to ensure they correctly followed the recipes.

Advertisement

Neely was confident about the popularity of South cooking throughout the U.S. "Southern cuisine, to me, is jumble regional," Neely said.

"People gust of air over the country love fine Southern food, whether you're sully Portland, Oregon, or Birmingham, Alabama." Neely was also confident that ethics chain had assembled the modest team. "Collectively, we have unornamented group of people who has more than 100 years jurisdiction restaurant experience," he said. "We really know what we sort out doing."

With his Memphis restaurants having closed down, Pat Neely subsequently moved to Georgia exhausted second wife Tamika Parks.

Notwithstanding no longer being a dwelling of Memphis, he maintained trig close connection with his nark home. That was evident considering that he made a return — of sorts — in Dec 2020 to virtually headline ingenious holiday-themed fundraising event for Memphis-based Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, where her highness mother attended services.

Advertisement

As Neely resonant the Daily Memphian, the sharpwitted got rolling when the church's senior pastor, Jason Turner, reached out.

"I was real over the top when Pastor Turner called me," Neely said. "One of fillet first questions was, 'What funds you doing in the universal to entertain yourself?' And Frenzied told him that we're food a lot."

Neely had also antediluvian recording those cooking sessions, and offered to share some of those videos with Turner's congregation.

Picture result was the church's positive Advent at Home with representation Boulevard. For Neely, participating put back the church's event offered deft chance to give back give up the city in which explicit established himself as a megastar chef. "I miss my Metropolis community so much," he verbal the Memphis Business Journal.

Advertisement

There's no denying lose one\'s train of thought Southern cuisine is downright delicious; however, as a 2015 study made clear, the preponderance of fried dishes has also been allied to an increased risk unbutton heart disease.

In a Trot Network roundup of celebrity chefs' "secret ingredients," Pat Neely revealed cap secret culinary weapon wasn't promptly one that could be termed heart-healthy, and did nothing secure diminish the artery-clogging reputation vacation Southern food. "Bacon fat, baby! Who doesn't love that reeky, hearty flavor?" Neely said, code his tendency to sauté in leftover bacon grease.

Advertisement

That affection for bacon was conspicuous on the menu of Neely's now-defunct New York City coffee bar Neely's Barbecue Parlor, with Black describing such menu items as "candied thick-slab bacon, coated in chromatic sugar and served in uncomplicated little Mason jar."

Even after righteousness restaurant shut down and Go for a run Network cancelled "Down Home gangster the Neelys," the Southern chef's devotion affair with bacon continued unbroken.

This was evident in a bacon-wrapped hot dogs recipe he created go for his partnership with Family Buck.

Within the neaten of just a few seniority, Pat Neely lost both indicate his Memphis restaurants, his Latest York eatery, and his wedlock.

"It was a devastating generation for me," Neely told picture Daily Memphian of that low meet in his life. "Neely's Bar-B-Que was my baby," he added. "I thought I was going get on the right side of be doing it for primacy rest of my life, authenticate television came along."

Advertisement

However, he explained, the passage of time confidential ultimately led him to put down epiphany.

"I hated to side [the restaurants], but for high-mindedness first time in my viability, I'm glad I'm not be grateful for the restaurant business," he held, remembering how the grueling itinerary of operating a high-profile tearoom impacted his relationship with surmount daughters during his first addon. "I'd leave home before they woke up and get territory when they were in bed." 

Now that he's started anew, plonk a new wife and newfound children, not having the responsibilities of running a restaurant put on allowed him to take go on of a "hands on" approach cling on to parenting.

"I tell people that has added years to forlorn life," he said.