Who: Patrick and Gina Neely, co owners of Neely’s Bar-B-Que restaurant and hosts of Food network show Down Home with the Neelys, authors of New York times bestselling cookbook Down Home with the Neelys
Where: The show Down home with the Neelys is filmed at their home in Memphis Tennessee.
When: Their show Down home with the Neelys debuted on Food network in February 2008. In July 2008 their second show Road tasted with the Neelys aired and in May 2008 their first cookbook was released “Down home with the Neelys”
How: Pat (Patrick) started working in the family business (Neely’s Bar-B-Que as young as 15 years old. He and his brother Tony picked up a great deal of skills and barbeque techniques from Uncle Jim Neely. After acquiring the necessary skills and determination, the Neely brothers opened their own restaurant in Memphis. The Neelys received a 2007 Business of the Year and Blue Ribbon Small Business awards for Neelys BBQ.
foodnetwork What: Pat and Gina were high school sweethearts that rekindled the love at their 10 year high school reunion and later married. How bout them apples? They merged forces since Gina was holding it down as a branch manager for a bank in Memphis and later an events coordinator for a public relations firm there. She took her talents to the Neelys BBQ business. Gina heads up the catering division of the business and manages the company’s product line. They are both members of several business affiliations including the Memphis Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Women’s Empowerment Summit for the Memphis Housing Authority.
Both Gina and Pat help the youth in their community by making it possible for 25 kids to attenf the NBA Memphis Grizzlies home games. They support several high schools including their own as well as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Basketball Tournament.
They not only manage their business, television programs, and publish cookbooks, but are also parents to two beautiful daughters. This powerhouse couple reminds me of the couples I read about in the several history books that speak of how black families in earlier times taught their children how to maintain homes, run small businesses and support their communities. It shows that this not only is a possibility, but also that this type of family success still exists.
For show times and to watch recorded episodes of Down Home with the Neelys visit:
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