Yes, usher in the golden age of semi-homemade dinner parties

sandra leeFrom a NYT profile of the relationship between Andrew Cuomo and Food Network star Sandra Lee:

In Albany, which is not known for its cuisine or its social scene, the most anticipated question about Ms. Lee is whether she will move into the governor's mansion and usher in a golden age of dinner parties and cocktail hours. (Ms. Lee creates a new drink for nearly every episode of her show. Her Christmas concoction: a Gingerbread Martini, made with ginger beer, hazelnut-flavored liqueur and butterscotch schnapps.)

As Joshua David Stern notes at Eater, Lee does enjoy a cocktail -- and, when armed with a can of Pam, could have quite the effect on Albany.

The Cuomo-Lee relationship also sets up an interesting possible situation: that the governor of New York's significant other could be both richer and more famous than he is.

By the way: Cuomo is expected to maybe/probably/oh-who-really-knows officially declare that he's running for governor next week. [Bloomberg]

Earlier on AOA: New York's next First Lady-friend?

photo: Food Network

Comments

May God have mercy on our souls.

I hate her show concept. Semi home made? Show me *real* cooking.

But I saw a biography about how she was basically on her own in the world as a teenager and made a life/ career for herself and now I hate her less.

At the very least she would continue her work on feeding our poorest children.

More famous? I've honestly never heard of her. Now, Sandra Dee, I've heard of.

Maybe she'll make her famous Kwanzaa Cake.

http://tinyurl.com/dnmdv4

I love how Cuomo hasn't even announced his candidacy yet, but is such a rubber-stamp the the most highly anticipated question in Albany is whether or not this semi-domestic goddess will usher in a golden age of finger foods fashioned from pop-tarts and canned crab meat in martini glasses. Who cares? How about a budget, Albany?

E-Mail correspondance between me and my mother:

ME: I guess our Attorney General and candidate for governor goes out with Semi-Homemade Sandra Lee! Sheesh. Not sure if I'll vote for him now, knowing that he probably has some crazy "tablescape" going.

MOM: Now, Elaina, might I remind you the value of a crafty woman at the side of a powerful man. Sandra’s tablescapes are just perfect for the Governor’s mansion, and think how proud Mr. Cuomo will be to show off his grand dinner table full of semi-homemade food. Sandra is perfect in every way, no reason for us to hate her. Her taste might not be the same as ours, and we have to overlook her lack of self-respect by getting mixed up with a public official, whom all of us gals know are arrogant egomaniacs with a proclivity to cheat on their lovely wives. Tolerance, dear, please. Thanks for the tasty tid-bit of gossip, though. I hope you’re having a great Tuesday.

I love you;

Mom

If it means semi-regular news reports of this semi-homemade gal's semi-drunken exploits around the capital district (not that I expect her to set foot outside of Saratoga), I'm highly intrigued by this development.

Say Something!

We'd really like you to take part in the conversation here at All Over Albany. But we do have a few rules here. Don't worry, they're easy. The first: be kind. The second: treat everyone else with the same respect you'd like to see in return. Cool? Great, post away. Comments are moderated so it might take a little while for your comment to show up. Thanks for being patient.

What's All Over Albany?

All Over Albany is for interested and interesting people in New York's Capital Region. In other words, it's for you. It's kind of like having a smart, savvy friend who can help you find out what's up. Oh, and our friends call us AOA.

Search

Recently on All Over Albany

Thank you!

When we started AOA a decade ago we had no idea what was going to happen. And it turned out better than we could have... (more)

Let's stay in touch

This all feels like the last day of camp or something. And we're going to miss you all so much. But we'd like to stay... (more)

A few things I think about this place

Working on AOA over the past decade has been a life-changing experience for me and it's shaped the way I think about so many things.... (more)

Albany tightened its rules for shoveling snowy sidewalks last winter -- so how'd that work out?

If winter ever gets its act together and drops more snow on us, there will be sidewalks to shovel. And shortly after that, Albany will... (more)

Tea with Jack McEneny

Last week we were fortunate enough to spend a few minutes with Jack McEneny -- former state Assemblyman, unofficial Albany historian, and genuinely nice guy.... (more)

Recent Comments

My three year old son absolutely loving riding the train around Huck Finn's (Hoffman's) Playland this summer.

Thank you!

...has 27 comments, most recently from Ashley

Let's stay in touch

...has 4 comments, most recently from mg

A look inside 2 Judson Street

...has 3 comments, most recently from Diane (Agans) Boyle

Everything changes: Alicia Lea

...has 2 comments, most recently from Chaz Boyark

A few things I think about this place

...has 13 comments, most recently from Katherine