Paula Deen closes restaurants, but her summer recipes surprise fans

Highlights:

• Celebrity chef Paula Deen continues sharing recipes on social media despite recent restaurant closures
  
• Deen has posted summer pasta and peanut butter-inspired dishes to engage her followers
  
• Earlier this month, she announced the closure of two long-running restaurants, including The Lady & Sons
  
• She will now focus on her remaining four Family Kitchen locations across the US
  

Recipes keep fans engaged

Celebrity chef Paula Deen, 78, has remained active on social media, posting new recipe ideas despite the closure of two of her restaurants earlier this month.

On 19 August, Deen shared a selection of summer pasta dishes, writing: “Pasta isn’t just for cold weather! With the right flavour profile, it’s perfect even in the dog days of summer.” She encouraged followers to visit her website for the full recipes.

Two days earlier, on 17 August, she posted another recipe set inspired by peanut butter. “Most kids love peanut butter (and most adults, for that matter),” she wrote, describing the collection as “delicious kid-friendly peanut butter recipes.”

Restaurant closures announced

The upbeat posts came shortly after Deen confirmed the permanent closure of two of her restaurants. In a statement on 1 August, she revealed that 31 July had been the last day of service for The Lady & Sons in Savannah, Georgia, and The Chicken Box.

“Hey, y’all, my sons and I made the heartfelt decision that Thursday, July 31st, was the last day of service for The Lady & Sons and The Chicken Box,” the Facebook message read.

She thanked customers and staff for their support over the past 36 years: “We have endless love and gratitude for every customer who has walked through our doors. We are equally grateful to our incredible staff—past and present—whose hard work, care, and hospitality made The Lady & Sons what it was.”

Focus on other ventures

Deen explained that her attention would now be directed towards her four remaining Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen restaurants, located in Pigeon Forge, Myrtle Beach, Nashville, and Branson.