Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • Page 0-12

VIEWS On April 5, Paula Deen brought her southern-style buffet and restaurant to the Chicago area via Casino, located at 151 N. Joliet Joliet. Even with all the publicity around Paula Deen and her health and style of cooking, it certainly stopped her in continuing to move forward in her endeavors. And thank goodness. Paula Kitchen and Buffet have seemed to have struck gold in partnering with Casino as her restaurants are featured in three of their casinos; Tunica, Cherokee, N.C., and the newest in Joliet, as well as at Horseshoe Casino in Southern Indiana.

Not suprisingly, the restaurant entrance lures guests through the Paula Kitchen retail shop. The shop is nothing short of a Paula Deen shrine with everything from Paula Deen brand cookware, kitchenware and apparel, to signed cookbooks and even Paula Deen Creme Brulee and Buttery Cinnamon Roll scented candles of course. decor is charmingly southern, complete with sea blue shutters, armoires adorned with roosters and everything one would expect to see at a Paula Deen restaurant. The buffet is the draw at Paula Kitchen, where guests can sample a little bit of each of her menu items. The menu offers all the classic southern faire such as black-eyed peas, collard greens, cheesy biscuits, green beans and potatoes, macaroni and cheese, fried chicken, prime rib and hoecakes.

A hoecake is basically a pancake but made with corn meal. The name itself stirs up giggles and pointers from guests who are not sure what it is and reluctantly ask the chef behind the counter to explain. very Paula Deen to have a huge sign above and laugh about it. I expected the food to be too salty, too fatty and too much. But instead, I found that it was all seasoned well and overwhelm me with fried this and that.

Although nothing I would say is amazing, this is exactly what I would imagine if I were actually eating at Paula own kitchen. My only regret is that Paula Kitchen at Casino instead of Joliet. I know a deal her brand has made with But with Casino being located much closer to downtown Chicago as well as having a better and more high-end look, feel and location, I think even more people would be able to come and experience eating at Paula Kitchen. Cook is an Aurora resident and mother of three. She is the founder of Momma Cuisine, a site devoted to her passion for making great everyday meals.

To read more, go to mommacuisine.com. The Dish: Comfort food at Paula Kitchen Paula Kitchen is now open at Joliet Hotel and Casino. Paula Johanna Cook TRIBLOCAL BLOGGER Momma Cuisine Remember the popular fi lm Weddings and a In the Year we are presented with four funerals and a wedding maybe. ese events plus a fi ve year time-lapsed engagement are at the center of a very long, drawn out Judd Apatow produced fi lm, an all too familiar annoyance that has occurred with other Apatow fi lms, in particular, People, Simply stated, considerably more of his fi footage should have ended up on the cutting room fl oor. Nicholas Stoller directs, pairing again with Jason Segel, as they co-wrote Sarah an even paced, hys- terically funny Apatow produced fi lm, repeating a similar character profi le that of a rejected, self-doubting, meek guy.

Segel (Tom) and Emily Blunt (Violet), a San Franciscan couple, meet, become engaged and relocate to Michigan, due to acceptance into the University of doctoral psychology program, all within the fi rst 15 minutes of the fi lm. We feel pain as he deals with drastic climate changes and his downgraded job (sous chef to deli sandwich maker), while Violet continually asks, you doing ok with typical reply is, Truth be told, Tom is not doing OK. In addition, sister (Alison Brie) nds herself in a precarious situation as she had a one-night stand with obnoxious best friend (Chris Pratt), which resulted in an unwanted pregnancy and a hurried wedding. Violet is crushed that she have the rst wedding in the family, but vows to Tom that their wedding will be amazing. Sadly, when the couple fi nally decides to plan their wedding (about two years later), Violet have the time nor, it seems, the interest and Tom takes over the duties.

While Tom is busy scouting out crazy wedding venues, tasting cakes, etc. with his knitting and deer hunting friend (Chris Parnell) and his zany deli boss (Eric Scott Cooper), Violet fi nds out accepted to the University of Michigan post-doctorate program, delaying the wedding yet again. We feel so bad for Tom and his situation that we get past the idea that these two should stop prolonging the wedding day and get on with their lives, one-way or the other. Violet is so wrapped up in her psychology college courses that she inadvertently analyzes every move, which broadens the wedge in their relationship. Even though their realistic chemistry rings true, we help but want to see them out of the miserable environment created for themselves.

Billed as a comedy, we are subjected to uncomfortable situations by not only the main couple but by their friends and families. Grandparents pass away one by one, causing both sets of the parents to engage in awkward conversations about the wedding date. In addition, Tom begins to loose his self worth and turns into a grizzly bearded guy who hunts deer with a mechanical bow while wearing a crazy, mis- matched, oversized sweater knitted by his buddy. And if at all queasy, be warned about a few scenes involving blood and lost appendages. 5-year-old niece acci- dently shoots her in the leg with hunting crossbow and, in another freak accident, a fi nger is severed and a toe is lost due to frostbite.

movie has too many sub plots and wacky physical comedy gags, such as those mentioned above and Segel leaping onto parked cars and bouncing onto the pavement. Th ese really add much to the storyline other than an attempt to create more sympathy for Tom. A standout in the fi lm is Chris Pratt. His expressions, mannerisms and comedic timing are similar to a young Jack Black. ankfully, the fi lm does have a sweet ending although somewhat predictable.

Bottom-line: Lack of much-needed editing leaves the audience yawning and looking at their watches. Segel and Blunt have wonderful chemistry and are very believable. resident Adamson is a freelance writer who writes articles at sarahs- backstagepass.com. Film Review: Five Year Engagement Sarah Adamson TRIBLOCAL BLOGGER TL05 TRIBLOCAL.COM MAY 3 2012 12.