Sandra Lee: Food Network Didn't Want Cocktails, Hopes Career Is As Long As Julia Child's

Sandra Lee has made a name for herself with her signature cocktail and tablescapes, but originally the Food Network said no when she told them that alcohol was going to play a big part in her show.

"They told me I needed to be different and I wanted to make a cocktail -- I'm from Wisconsin -- and the Food Network told me I couldn't do that and we can't put alcohol on TV -- 'you can't wake up at 10 AM saying here's a cocktail,'" Sandra told me when we sat down together for a drink.

Fifteen seasons later the network must be happy they listened to Sandra, who believes in creating her own path.

"I don't think there are any footsteps to be walked in. No one else has taken things that you can buy at the grocery store and put them together. I hope that I have a career as long as Julia Child," Sandra said before making me a margarita.

"Did you know that margaritas are the #1 cocktail in America?" Sandra asked. When I responded by asking if that was because of the success of former Real Housewife of New York Bethenny Frankel's cocktail line, Sandra looked blank. "Who? I don't know who that is."

My entire interview with Sandra can be seen Thursday nights at 8pm on HDNet's talk show Naughty But Nice with Rob.

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Comments

[Christopher Daemon]

08:56 AM on 03/18/2012

never take advice from anyone who believes "tablescape" is a word.

[maxfax]

08:58 PM on 02/20/2012

"Sandra looked blank. "Who? I don't know who that is." Sure.

[TSRVT]

12:59 PM on 02/14/2012

People who think she is a good cook probably also think a good dinner is when you open a can labeled 'FOOD' and put it on a paper plate in the microwave.

[RationalCaliGirl]

04:33 AM on 02/14/2012

Her cocktails and decorating ideas are the only things worth watching. The so called food that she makes is absolutely awful. The average 12 year old could make the swill that she calls food.

[O K Ali]

09:26 PM on 02/12/2012

Kwanzaa cake. SMH!

[conscioushope]

08:26 PM on 02/12/2012

Yes , she comes across as a shallow flitty woman. But, I learn from her shows....except the tablescape part.

[redsetgo38]

02:02 PM on 02/12/2012

She is the worst representative for a good cook possible on that channel...the least serious the most superficial and who would EVER compare her to Julia Child in the same breath?Her style of what they call cooking is the laziest as well as the most uncreative and why would any one emulate her?

[chaapai]

02:06 AM on 02/12/2012

Those two names should never be mentioned in the same sentence.

[maxfax]

08:59 PM on 02/20/2012

This isn't cooking.

[rcmfla]

06:25 AM on 02/11/2012

I'm less surprised Sandra Lee had no idea who Bethenny Frankel was and more surprised the columnist suggests Frankel's cocktail line had anything to do with making margaritas the #1 cocktail in America.

[Stephen Thorpe]

06:16 AM on 02/11/2012

Sandra: Today, tomato soup.

Step 1 take one can of Campbells tomato soup.
Step 2 take can opener.
Step 3 open the can.
Step 4 empey the contents into a pot.
Step 5 mix in one can of water. ( tap water is okay but my tip, use bottled water for extra goodness )
Step 6 heat the pot.
Step 7 Stir the soup that's in the pot.

Step 8 have a double vodka with V8, text girl friend and share the recipe. Gossip about boyfriend, Governor Cuomo's underwear.

Step 9 Freak out, having burned the soup.

[puffandpie]

03:49 AM on 02/11/2012

The food channel is coming to KC for BBQ. That is like going to Philly and checking out Subway, going to Mexico for crunchy tacos with lettuce and cheddar cheese, going to Louisiana and seeing what's good at Long John Silvers.. Puff & pie การบินไทย
http://www.puffandpie.net

[logic-a-go-go]

11:33 PM on 02/10/2012

Major alcoholic.

[ray newman]

12:28 PM on 02/10/2012

Uh ?? Sandra ?? There is a difference between actual cooking and opening cans !! I've known Julia Childs, You are no Julia Childs !

[RedRat]

06:02 PM on 02/10/2012

Nowhere did she say that she was another Julia Childs. Her approach to cooking is aimed at a completely different audience than Childs'. Nothing wrong with her approach, it is aimed at the busy home cook who just does not have the time, energy, or kitchen equipment to make all of those wonderful recipes that Childs had in her books. Lee wants to make preparing food simple and quick. Why not used canned or frozen foods that are readily available. Yes, perhaps a homemade tomato sauce for pasta might be better, but buying a ready made one save me time and mess in the kitchen.

[ray newman]

10:15 AM on 02/11/2012

Read your tag line , It is applicable to you for that Childish rant

[conscioushope]

08:28 PM on 02/12/2012

I tend to agree with you, RR. I learn from her many times....get ideas for cooking.

[MissCupcake]

12:43 AM on 02/11/2012

Child. Julia Child.

[ray newman]

10:16 AM on 02/11/2012

Pardon my "s" lol

[SteveDenver]

12:15 PM on 02/10/2012

I didn't realize she is still on TV.
As long as Jell-O makes boxes of instantCRAP, Sandra will be concocting semi-food.

[RedRat]

06:04 PM on 02/10/2012

NO! It makes food. Food is fuel. It really get a bit tiresome seeing people romanticizing foods and placing mystical, if not mythological properties, on stuff made from "scratch" in the kitchen. Hey, if you are inclined to spend hours hacking away and making fancy dinners from scratch, go for it. However, some of us have other things to do then spend hours in the kitchen--we do have lives.

[saskatoonie]

06:56 PM on 02/10/2012

However, many scratch items don't take much longer than pre-packaged if you do a little prep ahead of time and it's much better for you!

[SteveDenver]

02:57 AM on 02/11/2012

I don't spend "hours" preparing food that is free of preservatives, emulsifiers, enhancers and other chemicals. Have a great life, not simply "a life."

[Shewolf68]

12:12 PM on 02/10/2012

Considering Snooki has a TV 'career' at all, I'm sure Sandra Lee will be tormenting us all for years to come, deservedly or otherwise.