NY's next first lady? A Food Network star.

[cali]

Sandra Lee, a sunny on-screen chef with a homey Midwestern manner, has built a media empire around how-to advice.


Through books, television shows and magazines, the self-described “lifestylist” has taught time-pressed women that they can create domestic happiness by drawing on what is around them: spicing up packaged cake mix with peach juice, transforming artichokes into striking table centerpieces and displaying humdrum hand soap in an elegant crystal decanter.

Her latest domestic project? The Cuomo family.

Ms. Lee, the companion of Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo, has invited his young daughters onto her Food Network show to bake cupcakes. “Good job, sweetheart!” she exclaimed after Mariah, one of Mr. Cuomo’s 15-year-old twins, expertly applied icing.

She takes Mr. Cuomo’s mother, Matilda, antiquing in upstate New York, and bakes brownies for Mr. Cuomo’s staff.

She has even become a rallying cry in the attorney general’s office. When Mr. Cuomo is flustered by a bureaucratic logjam, he is known to complain that the hyper-organized Sandy “could have gotten this done already.”

Mr. Cuomo rarely talks about Ms. Lee in public and is eager to shield her from the slings and arrows of the campaign trail.

But she is expected to join him for a kind of political coming out when he announces his candidacy for governor about a week from now. Their relationship of five years has already put her at the center of a political dynasty and raised the possibility that the state’s next first lady will be a celebrity chef, decorator and party planner whose wealth and star power outstrip that of the governor himself.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/15/nyregion/15sandralee.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

[Warpy]

1. One hopes the governor's mansion will have a real chef

and who won't duplicate Lee's cooking.

Oh, she tries her best. It's just that there are always one or two things in her recipes that turn them from plastic but edible to gag inducing.

If you doubt this, Google "Sandra Lee Kwanzaa Cake." It might have been fine without the canned apple pie filling and of course those full sized tapers. As it was, it was vile to look at and to eat.

[supernova]

2. Terrible thing to do to a new holiday

trying to get established.

[LaydeeBug]

6. That Kwanzaa cake was MUST SEE TV, and you know it

LOL!!!

[Xithras]

3. I've never understood her fame.

It's pricey, bad food. She screws up her own recipes on a regular basis, she makes food that is laughably bad, and her favorite segment of the show is the part where she makes drinks and gets sloshed.

I know it's un-PC, but foodies call her fans "Leetards". I'm not a foodie, just pointing that out ;)

[saracat]

5. I know nothing but the article but she really seems to be a great businesswoman if nothing else!

And she is great looking. I admire someone who can create themselves that way. I might not like her product, I have never even seen one, but she is selling it! And it is nice that Cuomo seems to have found happiness after that nasty divorce.

[TwilightGardener]

7. Even alcoholics are in awe of her devotion to cocktail hour.

[saracat]

9. I don't get the snark here. So what if she creates drinks. Is that a bad thing?

[TwilightGardener]

15. No. I am just amused by her endless cocktail inventions.

She really, really loves happy hour.

[Lilyeye]

8. I like Sanda and respect her as a business woman

but her show isn't very good IMO. I've tried to watch it a few times, but I don't care for her recipes.

[saracat]

10. I can understand that. I have never seen her show but I really don't get the snark some are

dealing out to this woman. I might not like her recipes either. Who knows? But it is apparent she is successful and seems to make Cuomo happy.

[saracat]

4. Wow. Thsat is really cool. She is stunning. Wouldn't that make her the 1st unmarried

First Lady of a state????

[Stevenmarc]

11. Oh good god, she'll Tablescape Albany within an inch of its life.

[saracat]

12. I used to live in Albany. It cannot be tabletopped. Its not possible.

[Gold Metal Flake]

13. Amazing how DU becomes The New Temperance Movement at the mention of Sandra Lee.

Used to have weekly "bartender" threads in the Lounge. But mention Sandra Lee and you get The Noble Experiment Redux. :eyes:

[saracat]

14. Guess they just dislike attractive successful women with a rags to riches story.

There are a lotta folks who really don't promote women lately. From denigrating choice to mocking the looks of SCOTUS appointees to blaming victims of rape. I find it very disheartening.

[monmouth]

16. Sandra Lee had a pretty sad childhood from what I understand. Her

mother was pretty unstable (bi-polar episodes) so Lee assumed head of household at a very early age. I like her very much and if Mr. Cuomo is happy along with the rest of the Cuomos then good for them. She is beautiful, smart and one hell of a business woman. She did not come from wealth and is very familiar with "tough times."

[madokie]

17. I think New Yorkers would be wise in electing Cuomo as Gov.

Us Okies have us a sweetheart of a first lady too, Kim Henry http://www.ok.gov/governor/first_lady.php

The media told us for 2 or 3 years prior to the election that Steve :puke: Largent was going to be our next governor but us good folks didn't listen to them and voted for Brad Henry instead. He's done good in spite of having to deal with a :puke: legislature his whole time in office too.