Famous Food

Darryl Strawberry's not living up to his name ... because according to a new lawsuit, he stiffed a produce company on a massive fruit and vegetable bill -- to the tune of $2,694.

New V&J Produce Corp has filed a lawsuit against Strawberry and his NYC restaurant Strawberry's Sports Grill, claiming it recently made multiple produce shipments to the establishment worth a total of $2,694.

According to the lawsuit, V&J has made several attempts to recover what it's owed ... but Strawberry has yet to pay up.

V&J is now suing for the full sum, plus $500 in attorneys' fees ... a total of $3,194. That's a lot of produce.

11:52 AM PT -- Paula's rep issued a statement to TMZ ... saying, "Ms. Deen does not condone or find the use of racial epithets acceptable. She is looking forward to her day in court.”

When Paula Deen was asked, under oath, if she has ever used the N-word -- she responded, "Yes, of course" ... and the shocking admission was all captured on tape.

Deen was being deposed in connection with a pending sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a former employee who claims she was subjected to a barrage of racist, sexist and generally inappropriate comments while she worked at Paula's Oyster House restaurant in Georgia.

Here are the highlights from the jaw-dropping depo:

Lawyer: Have you ever used the N-word yourself?
Paula: Yes, of course.

Lawyer: Okay. In what context?
Paula: Well, it was probably when a black man burst into the bank that I was working at and put a gun to my head.

Sidenote -- Paula was held up at gunpoint during a bank robbery in 1986.

Lawyer: Okay. And what did you say?
Paula: Well, I don't remember, but the gun was dancing all around my temple ... I didn't -- I didn't feel real favorable towards him.

Lawyer: Okay. Well, did you use the N-word to him as he pointed a gun in your head at your face?
Paula: Absolutely not.

Lawyer: Well, then, when did you use it?
Paula: Probably in telling my husband.

Lawyer: Okay. Have you used it since then?
Paula: I'm sure I have, but it's been a very long time.

Lawyer: Can you remember the context in which you have used the N-word?
Paula: No.

Lawyer: Has it occurred with sufficient frequency that you cannot recall all of the various context in which you've used it?
Paula: No, no.

Lawyer: Well, then tell me the other context in which you've used the N-word?
Paula: I don't know, maybe in repeating something that was said to me.

Lawyer: Like a joke?
Paula: No, probably a conversation between blacks. I don't -- I don't know. But that's just not a word that we use as time has gone on. Things have changed since the '60s in the south. And my children and my brother object to that word being used in any cruel or mean behavior. As well as I do.

We reached out to Paula for comment -- so far, no word back.

Millionaire choke artist Charles Saatchi -- the guy who says he was only "playfully" strangling his wife in public last week -- surfaced in London today for a dinner date with himself.

Saatchi has been hounded by the U.K. media ever since photos surfaced showing the ad mogul getting a little too hands on with his celebrity chef wife Nigella Lawson.

But today, Saatchi arrived solo to the the swanky 34 Restaurant in London.

US Open winner Justin Rose -- the first English golfer to win the tournament in 43 years -- definitely isn't Jewish ... because he celebrated his historic victory last night with the least Kosher meal of all-time.

The owner of The Gypsy Saloon in West Conshohocken, PA, tells TMZ, 32-year-old Rose and his crew dropped by last night after he took the title -- beating out Phil Mickelson by two shots -- and ate "like a king."

We're told the kitchen had been closed for hours by the time Rose and his team got there, but the owner fired everything back up just for the new champ ... dishing out heaping plates of lobster mac and cheese, strawberry and caprese salad, calamari, wings, NY strip steak, chicken, pasta, and eggplant rolls.

No surprise, we're told Rose was in great spirits the entire meal -- chatting up the waitresses and other customers -- and the champagne did flow.

We're told Rose was with a party of 6 (including his wife) and the bill came to $550 ... plus a "very generous" tip. The trophy didn't leave his side for a second.

As for Tiger Woods ... dude didn't even crack the top 10.

Houston we have a Tang problem ... Buzz Aldrin says his anti-Tang comment was blown WAY out of proportion and he has no problem with the spaceman juice.

Our photog ran into Buzz at LAX on Friday and just had to know what was up with his "Tang sucks" declaration while presenting during Spike TV's Guys Choice Awards.

The 2nd man on the moon gets was a little annoyed about the whole thing and said his comment was just a joke ... not meant to be taken seriously.

Buzz also explained how he allegedly enjoyed Tang up in space ... and it sounds way more gross than this old-timey commercial leads on.

The people behind Flavor Flav's Michigan chicken joint claim their landlords DON'T DESERVE RENT ... because the guys who own the building exposed them to POISON GAS!!!

We broke the story ... Flavor Flav's Chicken & Ribs was hit with eviction papers last month because the landlords claim the restaurant hasn't paid a penny in rent since the place opened back in December.

But Flav's people claim they have a damn good reason to stiff the landlords -- the place had a faulty heater that was leaking carbon monoxide into the restaurant ... endangering everyone inside the building.

Flav's partners filed a lawsuit against the landlord ... claiming they had a duty to fix the problem, but failed to do so ... causing FFC&R to temporarily close its doors.

The chicken joint has since re-opened ... and we're guessing the problem has been remedied because no one has since died (... to the best of our knowledge).

A lawyer for Flav's biz partners tells TMZ, the rent on the property IS currently being paid ... but into a court escrow account, where it will stay until all these messy legal matters are settled.

Flavor Flav's run as a fast food mogul could be over in a matter of weeks ... because the last of his fried chicken joints has been hit with eviction papers ... TMZ has learned.

Flavor Flav's Chicken & Ribs in Sterling Heights, MI has been accused of stiffing its landlord out of rent since the day it opened back in December 2012.

FYI -- FFC&R is the last of 3 fried chicken joints Flav has tried to open in the past few years ... one sputtered out in Iowa in 2011 and the other one died a slow painful death in Vegas in 2012.

Now, according to court docs obtained by TMZ, the Michigan location is also on the ropes ... unless it finds a way to come up with $25,000 (missing rent + late fees + damages).

The papers show ... FFC&R was late in making its monthly $3,500 monthly rent payment back in Sept and October -- and stopped paying altogether in November.

The landlord warned Flav's restaurant about the problem back in January ... and just a few weeks ago, went back to the court in hopes a judge will kick Flav to the curb, stat.

We called Flav about the crisis ... and he told us he had no idea the restaurant was in trouble. But the rapper insists, "I'm gonna figure out what's going on and get to the bottom of this ASAP!"

Buzz Aldrin says he HATES TANG ... and due to the fact he's been married to 3 women, we're guessing he meant the drink.

Of course, Tang (the drink) shot to fame as the stuff the astronauts like John Glenn sipped on during space missions back in the day.

Tang is to astronauts ... like crack is to whores -- or so we thought! Because at the taping for Spike TV's Guys Choice Awards this weekend -- Buzz shockingly proclaimed, "TANG SUCKS."

And why the revelation?

Buzz was presenting an award to Felix Baumgartner (the Austrian skydiver who jumped from space last year) ... when he began talking about how jealous he was of Baumgartner's Red Bull sponsorship.

Buzz proceeded to gripe about how no corporate sponsor ever paid HIM to go to space -- not even Tang -- and that's why he didn't feel bad trashing the drink.

Wonder how he feels about Astronaut ice cream ...?

Can you guess which stars posted these not-so-appetizing photos of their food right before they stuffed it into their famous face?

Herschel Walker is UNDEFEATED in the world of MMA ... but the 51-year-old former NFL superstar tells TMZ he wants to get in the ring one more time ... and it could happen before the end of the year.

Walker famously signed a deal with Strikeforce back in 2009 ... and proceeded to annihilate his first two opponents.

But this week, the former Heisman Trophy winner told us he's still got gas in the tank ... and he ain't ready to hang up his gloves just yet.

Fun Fact -- Herschel isn't just a stellar athlete, he's also a stellar businessman who owns a very successful food company called Renaissance Man Food Services.

According to Herschel, RMFS is "one of the largest in the United States" ... and primarily deals with chicken.

Fish and chips ... Crumpets ... Russell Brand ... hating the Irish -- these are things British people LOVE. Oral sex, however, does not belong on that list ... so says authentic British person Lisa Vanderpump.

In related news ... Lisa shot back at a report someone ate box at her restaurant -- cardboard box that is.

LV says the allegation that a patron found cardboard in a Villa Blanca salad is ridiculous ... but says even if it were true, the patron should be GRATEFUL ... 'cause cardboard is high in fiber.

Forget winning $30,000, national Spelling Bee champ Arvind V. Mahankali is about to get the greatest prize of all ... Matzoh Ball soup from one of New York City's most famous delis!!!

Arvind won the competition by spelling the word "knaidel" -- which means small mass of leavened dough cooked by boiling water (i.e. a matzoh ball) -- but has reportedly NEVER tried it.

TMZ spoke to the Carnegie Deli in NYC -- arguably the most famous deli in the Big Apple -- and in honor of Arvind's win, the deli is making it their mission for him to try it.

They told us, "Carnegie Deli will be sending three portions of knaidel to Mr. Mahankali to fill him up after all that spelling."

FYI -- each bowl runs about $9.50. Mazel Tov.

It's like a peace pipe with ketchup -- Dina and Michael Lohan buried the hatchet Wednesday night over burgers ... for the sake of their daughter.

Our spies tell us ... Lindsay Lohan's extremely dysfunctional parents had dinner at the W Hotel in Hollywood, and it seemed like it went beyond concern for their daughter.

We're told Dina and Michael were laughing a lot and visibly friendly. We're told they spent time talking about Lindsay and mending the family.

Dina's mood obviously changed a lot in a matter of hours -- earlier in the day at LAX, she sounded a lot less enthusiastic about Michael visiting Lindsay.

Pretty boy Andrew Keegan has been BANNED FOR LIFE from a fancy L.A. bar/restaurant after drunkenly attacking a bouncer outside ... then ramming the guy with his motorized skateboard -- this according to new legal docs.

TMZ broke the story ... Keegan sued James' Beach restaurant in Venice, CA back in November, claiming several bouncers beat him up in 2010 for no reason ... while he was minding his own business on the street.

But the bouncers are now telling a much different story, seeking to countersue Keegan for assault and battery -- claiming the former '90s child star attacked them first ... all because they refused to grant him entry into the restaurant.

The bouncers claim Keegan was visibly drunk/high and could barely stand -- and when they told him to buzz off, he flipped out ... pushing and battering the bouncers, then ramming one bouncer in the shins with his motorized skateboard.

According to the docs, filed by attorney David Diamond, the owner of James' Beach then informed Keegan he was banned for life.

Keegan allegedly continued his assault until the cops arrived ... and then took off on his board ... only to return minutes later. The bouncers claim they had to call cops a SECOND time to get rid of Keegan for good.

San Antonio Spurs star Tony Parker was denied a table at a Memphis restaurant last night -- but the restaurant said it has nothing to do with the fact his team is playing their Grizzlies in the NBA playoffs.

Parker was turned away from the popular Restaurant Iris on Friday night, says the Houston Chronicle, because he did not have a reservation. Parker and the Spurs are in town to play the Griz tonight.

The incident quickly went viral in Memphis, prompting the restaurant to put up a statement on their website, saying in part, "Due to the size of our restaurant, there is currently a two week delay for a weekend reservation ... We would not cancel a reservation that a guest made -- and waited two weeks for -- in order to make room for someone else without a reservation -- celebrity or not."

They did add at the end, "We are proud to be a part of Grizz nation and are excited to cheer on our team tonight."

Exactly two years ago, "Macho Man" Randy Savage died in a car crash in Florida -- and today, the wrestler's family is honoring his memory by eating at a restaurant dear to his heart ... the Olive Garden.

Randy's brother Lanny Poffo tells TMZ he and his 86-year-old mother Judy decided to celebrate Randy's incredible life with a special lunch ... and they picked Olive Garden in Tampa, FL because it was always the go-to spot for family functions.

Lanny says ... the family shared so many happy memories at the O.G. -- so today, they wanted to focus on his life and the good times ... and not his death.

As for Randy's widow, Lanny tells us ... she's still having an especially tough time getting through the day, considering she was a passenger in Randy's car when he suffered a heart attack and veered into a tree back in 2011. He was 58.