From the moment Food Network star Pat Neely danced onto the stage, he and wife Gina served up an hour of Southern-fried food and fun, liberally spiced with their trademark flirtation, at Sunday’s She expo.
The Memphis couple and Jillian Michaels, the tough trainer on “The Biggest Loser,” were featured celebrities during the two-day She: An Expo for Women, sponsored by the Chattanooga Times Free Press. More than 160 vendors’ booths were set up in the Chattanooga Convention Center offering health information, makeovers, jewelry, samples of new products and services.
Jason Taylor, president and general manager of the newspaper, estimated 2,600 guests visited the expo Sunday.
The Neelys have become hosts of their own cable TV shows, “Down Home with the Neelys” and “Road Tasted With the Neelys,” in just over two years since being discovered by Paula, Jamie and Bobby Deen.
Mr. Neely and brothers Gaelin, Tony, and Mark Neely were first known for the barbecue restaurant they opened in downtown Memphis in 1988. Mr. Neely said the family now operates two restaurants in Memphis, two in Nashville (one of which is in the Nashville airport), seven concession stands in Memphis’ NBA arena and they’ve written a best-selling cookbook.