By Denver Louis, BlackVoices.com

They're Back!!!

After the success of their first show 'Down Home With the Neelys' -- which became the highest-rated series debut in the five-year history of Food Network's "In the Kitchen" weekend block, the Neelys are back with a second helping.

Beginning this month, the Neelys will host a second Food Network show, 'Road Tasted with the Neelys,' a cross-country search for specialty stores and family-run businesses that make hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind edibles.

With the knowledge of what it takes to launch a successful family business and a passion for all things food, they'll also show viewers how to get these fabulous food stuffs delivered right to their doors.

Once again Black Voices' own Denver Louis had the opportunity to speak to this fun loving couple about their new show, their amazing success and their family life.

'Road Tested with the Neelys' premiered Tuesday, July 22^nd at 9:30pm ET/PT

So you guys are superstars now!

Gina: No we're not! We're still Pat and Gina.

You do have the highest rated series debut in the 5-year history of the Food Network with 'Down Home with the Neelys'

Pat: It's really, really, really been a fun rise so far. When we first took on this venture, we didn't even approach the Food Network, the producers approached us and for the show to shoot off as it has, has been incredible. And then in a short period of time, we get a call from some executives from the Food Network asking us if we would be interested in hosting a primetime show. I'm like wow! I mean, we're currently writing a book, the restaurants are doing extremely well, so as I tell people, it's a good time to be a Neely.

So it wasn't really your idea to launch the new show?

Gina: Well the show was already formatted on the Food Network called 'Road Tasted.' It's a travel show and the basic criteria are that you have to be able to have a website and ship particular product that is shown on the show. The Deen brothers hosted that show and we actually appeared on the show as they highlighted our Nashville restaurant. It's so funny because that was the actual show that Pat and I got discovered on and now we're hosting it, how crazy is that? It's like it came full circle.

Pat: Who would have imagined that? We were just regular folks and now we're hosting that show. It's really remarkable because Gina and I are able to see businesses from both sides. We're able to see it as hosts and see it as the person who has the national exposure come to them because we've actually experienced that side. We have a real good idea and appeal for the people who we are going to visit; a lot of family-owned businesses and small businesses that need the exposure but have a huge passion for their business that they have started from the ground up. We're enjoying it because we can really and truly connect with these people because they were just like we were several years ago.

Last time we talked I told you, you would have your reality show and look, you're almost there...

Gina: (Laughing) Yeah they got us on there prime time, but they still edit us, I don't think they're going to ever let us go full throttle, but it's a start.

Pat: Well the biggest thing I tell people is that we are always going to be ourselves, we can't help it. I mean God forbid they ever tell us to act, we have got to be Pat and Gina. Whenever you watch you are going to get us.



How do you select the cities that you visit?

Gina: Well that's up to the research team that the Food Network has in place. They do all the research, they make the selection and we go out and visit those places.

Pat: There is collaboration between us though...

Gina: They'll ask us what are some of the places we ever thought about visiting or would like to visit. For example, we always thought about going to Montana, so we ended doing a show in Montana.

How does it work, is it a road trip in your car or do you fly to destinations and then drive around?

Pat: We do a little of both. We fly around when there are long distances and sometimes when we get to certain parts of the country, we may drive to two or three different cities. And of course when we're in a particular city, we drive from location to location.

What has been your favorite destination so far?

Gina: I think San Diego so far and Montana as well, those have been my favorites.

Pat: I tell you what, I really enjoyed Denver. The weather was beautiful, and the mountains were incredible. And I must say Montana as well. You just don't expect to see mountains that are so beautiful; they call it big sky country. It's like looking at a huge wide screen television. What else that was amazing about Montana was the people, they were so nice wherever we were whether they recognized us or not. Hell, I thought I was in Memphis!


Are there any future destinations that the two of you are looking forward to visiting?

Gina: I'm looking forward to visiting San Francisco and some southern states as well.

Pat: I'm thinking next season we'll get to visit some southern states. One thing about our production team is that they really try to select cities that are seasonably comfortable for us. We did a lot with the eastern coast and northern cities. In the immediate future, I'm looking forward to Sun Valley.

How will the new show affect the already successful 'Down Home with the Neelys?'

Gina: It just makes us busier. We still keep a tight schedule and it's just a matter of getting everything off the schedule so we can get it done. I think that's the toughest part, the calendar, and just getting it all worked out.

Pat: I also think that it will enhance 'Down Home with the Neelys' because there are people that haven't seen our shows and these people that may be working during the day will be able to tune into the primetime show and hopefully they will start Tivoing 'Down Home with the Neelys.'

With all the success and all the traveling, when do the two of you find time for family?

Pat: When we're home...

Gina: It is an adjustment. Every time we have some down time, we definitely try to get everybody together even if it's just hanging out. We have to take that down time to keep the normalcy and balance to what we do.

Pat: For the 4th of July, we were around for the third, fourth and fifth and sure enough 55 to 60 people were over to the house. We had bbq, steaks, macaroni and cheese and all the things that we love.

Gina: Also, we're such a close knit family that we make sure that our family doesn't feel like we've taken on this new life. We want to make sure that we reiterate that we're still here and we're still Pat and Gina and the family is still important to us and keeping our priorities straight.