Sandra Lee could be the next first lady of New York?

[DGresh]

This was news to me, and I live in New York

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/15/nyr...

[Phaedrus]

So, it seems to me like the Governor elect is getting the milk for free as they say. What would Sandra Lee's title be? The governor's booty call? Or are they going to make it official?

[observor]

She makes a perfect prissy first lady, king and queen of the world. Yuck.

[kjonas]

Love it. Hopefully the NYTimes will keep running articles on her time in the Governor's Mansion.

[HillJ]

Think of the tablescapes yet to be!

[ChefGirl412]

Ohhh, those waste-of-time-and-money tablescapes!!! I can't remember, do the tablescapes, match the kitchen curtains, appliances, the meal AND her outfit??? Sick.

[toomuchfat]

She's hot. Go New York!

[Chemicalkinetics]

People are jealous because she may become the First Lady (of the United States)

[LindaWhit]

I can only imagine what the world would think of THOSE state dinners!

[Chemicalkinetics]

I don't think First Ladies cook these dinners anyway. I mean, no one worried if Hillary Clinton is a good cook when Bill was president.

[LindaWhit]

Ummm...yeah, I know that. I'm talking about how she'd attempt to influence the table settings.

[Chemicalkinetics]

That is ok. Foreigners won't know. In fact, it is never the foreigners you need to worry about. Let's say the knife and fork positions are switched, the foreigners will simply assume this is the proper American table manner.

[Withnail42]

'Foreigners' know crap when they see it.

[hueyishere]

That's a good one

[LindaWhit]

Foreigners' table manners are often a bit more refined than many Americans.

[Chemicalkinetics]

"Foreigners' table manners are often a bit more refined than many Americans."

Yes, but that is more the reason why they may not know what is proper in US.

Let's say you attend a wedding in China (or whatever country), and there they serve you a cooked snake and tell you to eat it with hands. You may not what is the proper table manner in China for eating snake, but since the hosts told you so, you assume he/she is correct.

I think the same can be said about any new addition Sandra may bring to the state dinner. Foreigners will just assume it is the US custom. Kwanzaa cake? Sure, the Chinese leader will just assume it is a normal American tradition. They will probably take the leftover home.

[LindaWhit]

I'm pretty sure they all have protocol officers to let them know what is proper and what is not. I think they'll figure out that she's batty as a loon if she serves a freakin' Kwanzaa cake with corn nuts.

[Chemicalkinetics]

You are right. I was just hoping. Although you have to admit that foreigner leaders will find the Kwanzaa cake amusing. (I don't remember the corn nuts thing).

[suites]

Give the lady a break. Ya'll are just plain mean.

[John E.]

I don't know, I don't thing Lee gets enough grief for the Kwanza Cake. There's even an urban dictionary reference to it. If I ever ran into Tony Bourdain I'd ask him about it. She apparently ran into him once and told him he was naughty for talking about her and her cake.

[Chemicalkinetics]

Which lady? LindaWhit or Sandra Lee? Hey, I had been pretty nice to Sandra Lee -- read some of the things (up above) I said in defense of her.

[ChefGirl412]

Oh that horrible Kwanzaa cake with corn nuts and canned apple filling. Egads! And will she change the kitchen curtains to match whatever "meal" is being served. And wear a matching sweater, like when she made polenta and wore a yellow one. She's a nightmare of a role model.

[DGresh]

I don't think she's so bad. She's certainly won over Cuomo's daughter (I saw her interviewed on the news last night) http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/11/0...

[FoodChic]

She may be nice, but she has no business in the kitchen. Because she continues to pass off that slop as cooking, it is the very reason she is subject to, and deserves, constant ridicule.

[ChefGirl412]

Agreed! Maybe she should devote the time she spends changing her kitchen to color match her meals to helping other needy, less fortunate people. She is a waste of time and money,,,for sure.

[DGresh]

Well it is official now! The NY Times even had an article last week about the Halloween decorations at Cuomo's house:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/01/nyr...

[joeyz]

Yep - scary!!!! :)

[eller]

Cuomo's mom trashes Sandy's cooking: http://gothamist.com/2010/06/16/cuomo...

[Phaedrus]

Don't F___ with the lasagna, Capiche?

I like this, this is getting nasty on a New York level.

[C. Hamster]

Personally, I am more horrified by her use of canned tomato soup in lasagna.

I read her bio for the laffs. She somehow escaped her abusive mother who was addicted to nasal spray and ended up living with her father, which may have been in Wisconsin. She attended UW (a regional campus, I think, not madtown) for a year or two until she took off again to make Kurtains.

But not before she stole her favorite Wisconsin recipe for mayo-based guacamole from a local restaurant.

[rozz01]

redrum redrum...

[bookhound]

The NY Times made Sandra Lee's lasagna; their verdict? They've had worse.

http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.co...

[Withnail42]

Ah...East coast liberal media elite of course they like it...;-)

(Sorry couldn't resist seems the only plausible and conspiratorial way they they would like it.)

[LindaWhit]

It's the NYTimes. Will be interesting to see who they'll endorse in the race.

[Chemicalkinetics]

Hey hey hey. You can also argue that NYTimes represents NYorkers better as well.

:)

[ChefJune]

<...East coast liberal media elite of course they like it...;-)

(Sorry couldn't resist seems the only plausible and conspiratorial way they they would like it.)>

Reread that. They didn't say they LIKED it, only that they'd had worse. Not the same thing.

[chowser]

Exactly, if you had a dinner party and someone said, "I've had worst," that's not a compliment!

[chowser]

"Tasters at the Dining section found the results “cafeteria-style” and sweet, even “ketchuppy,” but most of us agreed: we’ve had worse."

LOL, that's a compliment. Campbell's condensed tomato soup and cottage cheese... Sounds like she's giving Lidia Bastianich a run for her money w/ Lidia's home made noodles.:-)

[LindaWhit]

"Asked about the use of cottage cheese, Cuomo suggested that ricotta was scarce in Wisconsin where Lee grew up: "I thought she was very industrious, Sandy, coming with cottage cheese when she couldn’t come up with ricotta cheese."
~~~~~~~
Ricotta was scarce in Wisconsin where Sandy grew up? Andy, Andy, Andy. You're a politician. Thought you'd learn to get your facts straight before speaking. Oh wait. You're a politician. Never mind.

From what I can find, she was born in L.A. in 1966, lived there until 1972, when her mother divorced her father, remarried, and they moved to Washington State. When was she in Wisconsin? IMDB *AND* her own bio at the SemiHo site shows her as attending the University of Wisconsin - so that would have been in the late 1980s, right? Wisconsin didn't have ricotta in the late 1980s?

I call BS, Andy.

[ChefJune]

Wisconsin was MAKING ricotta in the '80s! It's a major cheese producing state. Duh!

[wincountrygirl]

Time to move

[Boswell]

I don't feel strongly about Sandra Lee one way or the other, but I'll admit I found this very funny:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLMNZ6...

[Chemicalkinetics]

Ha ha ha. I am sorry. It is funny, but it is also mean.

[C. Hamster]

I should have worn adult diapers since i just wet my pants here at work watching that!!

*wiping tears of laughter*

Not "mean" in the least.

[Chemicalkinetics]

I actually laughed at all the drink parts. It makes her look like some kinds of an alcoholic. That is "mean" :P

[C. Hamster]

I would agree if she didn't make such a huge deal about "COCKTAIL TIME, THE BEST PART OF THE DAY." Her words, not mine.

I was surprised the video had her EXpressoing over and over but not Vu-NELLA-ing, too. Vunella vodka is dear to her heart, it seems.

[Chemicalkinetics]

"COCKTAIL TIME, THE BEST PART OF THE DAY" ... ha ha ha.

I laughed and then I felt guilty about laughing it and then I laughed some more. :D

[C. Hamster]

In her defense, she does have a point ... :-)

[wincountrygirl]

True!

[Up With Olives]

Absolutely -- but no pudding mix for mine!

[LindaWhit]

I loved the several times that "lush" was inserted into her "cocktail...cocktail...cocktail" segment. :-)

[southernitalian]

Did you see the way she dumped that cinnamon into the teaspoon?

[SanityRemoved]

Sorry Andrew, Sandra Lee AND Bob Duffy? That's more than I can take.

[Chemicalkinetics]

Do we hate Sandra Lee because we are jealous of her success?

[Phaedrus]

I personally dislike her shows because of it's insistence on being mediocre and ready acceptance of the good-enough and never striving for the better.

[Chemicalkinetics]

I actually have never watched her show, but I slowly realize many people dislike her. Obviously, I am sure many love her and watch her. Otherwise, her show cannot survive.

[rozz01]

Frozen ravioli sauced with cheeze whiz from a jar... think of the money saved on state dinners

[Up With Olives]

The funny thing is it always seemed to me that her shtick of packaged mixes and processed foods would make the shopping bill come out at twice the price of real food. Time-saving maybe but not a bargain.

[wincountrygirl]

Especially with all that vodka!

[mels]

Oh no, the U R just jellis claims. I would give most people on these boards more credit than that.

I watch her show from time to time because it is unintentionally funny (see cake link). Mediocre doctored-up processed food is how she earns her cash. It is easy to see why she isn't popular on Chowhound...her style is essentially the anti-Chowhound. There is a demographic out there that loves her but I am assuming that most of us who are passionate about food consider many of her recipes a crime against humanity (see Kwanzaa cake).

[Withnail42]

The jealous thing is old. She is really a buffoon. She really is nothing more that a glorified cable access show...with lots of booze thrown in. Her food is an abomination.

[Chemicalkinetics]

Mels,

I am not accusing people on these boards for that -- ok, maybe just a little bit. I am sure we won't dislike her if she is less famous and less successful.

I am just curious how did we end up dislike someone so much. I have been cheated by homeless people at Berkeley and I had got in a fight with drunks in Davis. I were unhappy about those incidents, no doubt, but usually those feelings are short-lived and I don't think about it after a few hours. I have a feeling that some of us dislike Sandra Lee more than I dislike those drunks who jumped on me.

Don't you think some of us dislike Sandra Lee as if is a criminal?

I will admit I dislike Oprah but that is another story.

[gloriousfood]

What I never understand is how people who dislike her so much know so much about her show, style, etc. Comments like "I had no choice but to watch it b/c I was at someone else's house it" or "I watch it sometimes b/c it's funny" don't fly with me.

I have no strong anti or pro feelings about her since I've never been able to catch her show. As a woman, I admire any woman who rises to the top in her field. Oh, and if she started off by depending on other people's weath, even more power to her that she decided to start her own empire instead of relying on someone else for the rest of her life.

[stet]

I don't understand that. Shouldn't you admire women that rise to the top of their fields because they're skilled and promote responsible living? Why admire someone whose field is relegated to turning processed, store-bought foods into other processed, store-bought and fussed with foods? She's promoting unskilled cooking and irresponsible eating habits, that's not to be admired regardless of her sex.

Similarly, if people who didn't like her had never seen her show, they'd be accused of judging without any proof. Why is it bad that people have watched her show and THEN decided she has nothing to offer them rather than deciding that and refusing to look at her show even once?

[SanityRemoved]

I would call it facade cooking. It's like having a million dollar kitchen to impress friends while having the inability to master a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

I watched her a few times before I even read anything about her online. The reason I watched a few times was because I couldn't believe what I was seeing and figured it must be a one off episode since she put so much effort into her table settings.

Her forte is truly table settings, not that I'm a fan of that type of setting but for those who like that sort of thing she most likely is godlike to them.

Her cooking does nothing to empower anyone and any poor soul who tries to impress guests by duplicating her recipes is headed for a night of head in hands with a box of tissues nearby.

[chowser]

Facade cooking is a good phrase. Living in suburbia where she's really popular, I see it happen often. Or, moms taking the time to do the tablescapes. pretty food but not spend time on the food--eg. someone brought store-bought cupcakes but topped them w/ marshmallows skewered and decorated to look like snowmen. It must have taken hours but the cupcakes tasted terrible. People oohed and aahed over them. It all depends on priorities and SL's crowd are more into appearance than substance. And, yes, I've seen many tablescapes (I think we can thank her for that word, too).

[bookhound]

Sandra Lee explained in 2:58. It really doesn't take long to figure out what she is all about. I don't know anything about her as a person but as a cook I don't think much of her.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/videos/kwa...

[ratgirlagogo]

You might find that your unhappiness continued a bit longer if the Berkeley homeless folks and the David drunks had parlayed their activities into a continuing TV show, which people kept raving about to you. And then, when you tried to explain your unpleasant history with these Berkeley/Davis folks, their new fans suggested that you were "jealous" of them because they were famous and successful and on TV.

[Chemicalkinetics]

.... do I know you in person? :) Because you wrote something that which I don't expect any random people know of me. Unless, I accidentially wrote too much on this CHOW thing.

[eamcd]

See your post above -- Jun 05, 2010 06:25PM -- yes, you posted those details.

[Chemicalkinetics]

Thanks

[pitu]

"Do we hate Sandra Lee because we are jealous of her success?"

I hate her because she makes lasagna with canned tomato soup.
http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.co...

Srsly, if anything could make a dent in the love Italian-Americans in NY feel for the Cuomo's (solely via Mario Cuomo) it's lasagna-gate. If there are any viable Dem challengers, now is the time.
: )

[Phaedrus]

This could potentially be a fun campaign.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/05/nyr...

[Withnail42]

That is very funny in a sad way! Spitzer, Patterson and now this!

She refuses to talk to The Times but gives her 'exclusive' interview to some half wit blogger.

It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

[paris221966]

Good for you Sandra Lee! You were once a nobody, became famous on TV (Food Network), published cookbooks, and managed to wrap your long legs around a wealthy, famous politician!

Way to go girl!

[FoodChic]

Not the first wealthy guy. That is how she got a career. First husgand was CEO of KB Homes and philanthropist Bruce Karatz, then she shacked up with FoodNetwork producer Gordon Elliott and now she's got Cuomo.

[SanityRemoved]

Well if he wins it could create an opening on the Food Network. But the ad will probably read "Cooking experience preferred, but not required."

[Chemicalkinetics]

I just want to add that Andrew Cuomo has officially enter the NY governor race. I know it is not a huge surprise, but it is still an update:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/...

[al b. darned]

The caption to the picture accompanying the article in our paper said:

"State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo — with his wife Sandra Lee (right) and father Mario (left) — acknowledges his supporters today in City Hall Park in Manhattan after officially announcing that he will seek the governor's job once held by his father. "

[attran99]

His wife? They got married?

[NYCkaren]

No they are not married. If the photo caption said they were, it was an error.

[ChefJune]

I read the other day that his mother adamantly disapproves of Sandra's lasagna made with Campbell's Tomato Soup (lol).

[NYCkaren]

I heard a few years back that they were an item and I must admit I find it fascinating. He has always seemed like such a jerk, I don't see how any woman could get along with him. And her tablescape-and-cocktails schtick doesn't seem like it would play in the governor's mansion.

[Up With Olives]

Ommona predict NY will see a rise in sales of pudding mix, "Italian seasoning" and lotsa vokka.

[C. Hamster]

This is pretty old news, I have to say.

She even had his daughters on her show -- awhile back. Maybe 2 years ago.

Kwanzaa kake nothwithstanding, I wonder if Andrew is concerned about losing the Jewish vote because of Sandra's Star of David angel food kake that featured an 8-pointed Star of David and non-kosher marshmallows. And she got the colors of the Israeli flag backwards.

[Chemicalkinetics]

Ha ha ha.

[DGresh]

may be old news for those who know her more than him; i'm in the group that only knows her from the kwanzaa cake reported here :) I'd just never seen her mentioned in the context of news about him, which I'm much more familiar with.

[Phaedrus]

http://heartsfordinner.wordpress.com/...

Found the picture. This site also has her worst of cakes. I would think that she is capable of single handedly destroy his political career.

[rockycat]

Re: Single Layer Birthday Cake
"Who wants to bet that a five year old can create a better cake?"

Seriously, that looks amazingly like the cake my then 3-year-old made for her daddy when he had the bad luck of having to pull an emergency work shift on his birthday. Maybe now that she's a mature 8-year-old she can get a "lifestyle" show of her own?

[FoodChic]

LMAO...is this true? I have to find that video!

EDIT: So thankful for youtube!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sj89Ax...

[housewolf]

Wow, I had no idea. I often wondered why, on her shows when she invited guests for a meal, she never had a companion. She had a very hard early life and has managed to turn her skills and gifts into a raving success. I don't cook semi-homemade style, but wish her well. I guess becoming the NY Governor's wife would get her out of the kitchen!

[Chemicalkinetics]

??? I guess I don't know anything about her. All I know is that she is a host for a cooking show. I have not watch a single show of hers and really know her name like a year ago when people were talking about Rachel Ray and Giada De Laurentiis and mentioned her. What sort of hard life she ahd?

[small h]

Follow DGresh's link. Learning about her past made me respect her more. Although I could hardly respect her less, since all I knew about her pre- reading the article was that she makes food I wouldn't eat and drinks I wouldn't drink. And the tablescape thing is just beyond me. But whatever. She earns her money legally, which is more than I can say for Elliot Spitzer's lady friend (not judgin', just sayin').

[Chemicalkinetics]

I can tell many people dislike her by reading the posts here.

[DGresh]

Personally I don't dislike her. I saw exactly one of her shows while channel surfing. It was "how do I make a store bought sheet cake from Sam's club look amazing". After she had decorated it with (store bought) cupcakes and ribbons and do-dads it looked, well, amazing. Not in a good way. But it doesn't make me dislike her. She's made a big career for herself through her own talents (which are clearly appreciated by many out there).

[Chemicalkinetics]

I am so glad that I have never watched her because she must be really bad to stir up all these negative feelings.

[Up With Olives]

Bad for food, funny for TV.

[ChefJune]

<Bad for food, funny for TV.>

sorta sums up how I feel about TVFN in general.

[Chemicalkinetics]

Funny news. I see Sandra Lee is doing well.

[Phaedrus]

I was going to post the article until I saw that you had. I used to like Andrew Cuomo. Oy.

But then I thought, be positive, think of the positive. Having labor problems? Have the union guys and the management sit down to one of her famous cocktails. And of course, the are a million and one table scape to be designed and implemented all around the state.

Lest we forget, she and her Kwanzaa cake will have a tearful and grateful African American population flooding the polls for Mr. Cuomo.

[BabsW]

I don't think anyone, least of all the African-American population in NY state, is grateful for that Kwanzaa cake.

[LindaWhit]

"Lest we forget, she and her Kwanzaa cake will have a tearful and grateful African American population flooding the polls for Mr. Cuomo."

= Snark. *Major* snark. :-)

[Phaedrus]

Linda, You know me too well my friend.

[LindaWhit]

As you do with me and my love affair from afar with Eric Ripert. ;-)

[LindaWhit]

It looks like that snark worked, Phaedrus. I can only imagine what the tablescapes at the Governor's state dinners are going to look like. @@

[Phaedrus]

So looking forward to the special tablescape representing the state of New York during the inaugural reception. And the lovely tea parties with all involved getting sloshed on rum punches.

[LindaWhit]

Oooh! Cakes in the shape of the country of the visiting dignitaries would work, too!

[Phaedrus]

Yes! And decorated in the colors of the country's flags. With little figurines representing the stereotypes of the people from that country.

[LindaWhit]

But don't forget the country's national alcoholic drink to be served alongside. Cannot forget the drinkie-poos!

[Phaedrus]

Oh goodenss no. That is the main reason for the tablescapes: to get wasted so that you are thus inspired.

[BabsW]

Yes, I saw the snark. I suppose I should have added a winky-poo to my post. ;-) <--Like that. lol

[pitu]

this is the Kwanzaa cake referred to elsewhere as "a hate crime", right?
: )

[FoodChic]

Actually, I think the phrase is "edible hate crime."

[observor]

It's an "ate" crime