Deen's relationship with Food Network began in 1999, when her friend Erin Lewis introduced her to Gordon Elliott, who then introduced her to her then agent, Artist's Agency owner Barry Weiner. Elliott took her through the city for a series of "Doorknock Dinners" episodes. She also appeared on "Ready, Set, Cook!". Deen was invited to shoot a pilot named "Afternoon Tea" in early 2001. The network liked it, and eventually gave Deen her own show, "Paula's Home Cooking", which premiered in November 2002. "Paula's Home Cooking" was originally taped in Millbrook, New York at the home of Gordon Elliott, the show's executive producer. Deen mentioned on the March 13, 2006, edition of "The Daily Buzz" that the next batch of episodes of her show would be taped at her home in Savannah, Georgia. According to the first of those episodes, actual production at her new Savannah home began in November 2005.