Sandra Lee in D.C.?!?!
Sunday, January 18, 2009 | posted by Mike
Hey, maybe you're not a fan of Sandra Lee. But you've come to grips with your feelings about her because you know that she really has no access to the levers of power. What if you were no longer secure in that thought?Sure, it' a long shot, but check out my latest entry on Endless Simmer to find out how she could expand her Semi-Homemad empire.
Labels: Sandra Lee
Working for the Weekend
Friday, November 09, 2007 | posted by Mike
I'm beat. Working a full-time job, commuting a considerable distance, writing for this site and drywalling a basement (not my own, mind you) in the evenings can take it out of you. So a restful weekend would be nice right now. Unfortunately, there is more drywall to be done on Saturday, so I'll have to settle for a restful Sunday. On the other hand, I get to look forward to the finale of Next Iron Chef, which has been an extremely pleasant surprise. I'm not sure how often they can trot out another one of these competitions, but I hope to see more of this sort of thing in the future.
Well, we struck out on our solicitation of stories and pictures from the recent personal appearances by Rachael Ray and Anthony Bourdain (ooooh, what I would have given for those appearance to have been together!). But all is not lost. Madeline over at Everything Rachael Ray has a recap of Rachael's appearance at a mall in Moorestown, NJ. She's got a link to the video, too.
I've been to that mall a million times. It was great...back in the 80's, they actually had a narrow "pool" that ran down the center of the main corridor that had ducks swimming around in it. Strange, I know. But this is New Jersey, where there are more malls than people, so I guess they had to do something to differentiate themselves.
Tony, meanwhile, was down in DC, and Washingtonian.com has a recap of the event. I wonder if he ever gets tired of dreaming up new and creative ways to describe the celebrity chefs that he despises.
On Sandra Lee: “Charles Manson and Betty Crocker’s love child. She gets that glassy Squeaky Fromme look when she’s talking about her tablescapes. I want to call security.”
Guess not.
He does talk a little bit about the DC food scene, which I'm quietly filing away for reference in the near future. More on that next week...
Also next week, we'll have a post about a close encounter between a member of the crack TVFoodFan Reporting Team and a certain TV food personality. It will be fun, I promise.
Labels: Anthony Bourdain, Gordon Ramsay, Sandra Lee
Sandra Lee's Memoir: The Early Reviews Are In...
Sunday, November 04, 2007 | posted by Mike
Like I said...I ain't reading it.Fortunately, we have TVFF regular Spooneroonie, who sent along this message:
Mike--
I have finished reading the Sandra Lee Epic, and my brain hurts. The best thing for me to do is to tell you to go here. Seven full pages of snark for your entertainment.
I have to go lie down, now.
Thanks to everyone over there for this valuable service...it's like a wise-ass Cliff's Notes.
Labels: Sandra Lee
Sandra Lee's Memoirs: Fun with Social Tagging
Tuesday, October 23, 2007 | posted by Mike
I don’t read nearly as much as I should. Scratch that. I read plenty, but it’s usually Web sites, e-mails and various other things that don’t really qualify as literature. And, yes “other things” includes this site, so don’t think I’m being snooty or anything.
I’m talking about books, honest to goodness printed volumes that have been written, edited and published, which would assume that there’s at least a modicum of thought and care put into them. With this in mind, I’m proud to supply you with a link to the upcoming Sandra Lee memoir, Made From Scratch. That’s right – you can order it now and have it shipped to you as soon as it’s out. (And, of course, if you use that link over at the top of the post, you’ll be contributing a tiny little bit to the TVFF beer fund.)
I’ll just be honest with you. I’m not going to read it. Why? Because (a) I have a stack of books to read a mile high and (b) the folks at Television Without Pity will do a much better job of tearing this thing to shreds than I’d ever do. Yes, I’m looking at you, Spoonie!
But I did want to share with you one funny thing that I found. If you check out the listing on Amazon, they’re now allowing people to “tag” products with words that are relevant to the item in question. My guess is that you can search on those tags and find similar materials. Now, what could possibly go wrong with that?
Well, the folks at Amazon must have anticipated some shenanigans, because they took the time to write up guidelines, including:
By default your tags are public so everyone can view them. You should not use:
-
Profane or obscene language, inciting or spiteful tags
delusions of grandeur
alkyhol-hic
corn nuts
kakes of kultural insensitivity
crimes against food
in need of a sammich
In case you were wondering about “corn nuts” and “kakes of kultural insensitivity,” take a look at this oldie but goodie. Do yourself a favor and check out the full list and feel free to leave your top choices in the comments section below.
DISCLAIMER: TVFF does not condone, support or advocate the misuse of social media tools like tags to defame any person or institution. Unless it’s really, really funny – like this.
Labels: Sandra Lee
Sandra Lee, Academically
Thursday, May 31, 2007 | posted by Mike
You know how I like to take a "serious" look at food TV every once in a while. That's a product of nearly six straight years of academic training in the social sciences. And, yes, there are two degrees involved...I wasn't on the Bluto Blutarsky plan.
And so I'd like to take a moment to point you toward an article about an academic conference, the 76th Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, taking place this week in Canada. Among the many topics covered at the conference will be food and popular culture. One paper, written by a Ryerson University (Ned Ryerseon?!?) grad student Sarah Kornik, examines one of our favorite topics, Sandra Lee.
Still, she argues in her paper Nostalgia: Eating the American Dream, there is inherent nostalgia in the host's name, with a reference to Sara Lee products: "Like the show itself, the name suggests the nostalgia for home and comfort through baked goods while retaining a processed presence."
...
But some of these homecooking claims may be no more than an illusion, says Ms. Kornik, who has been watching the Food Network since she was 13. She offers the example of Semi-Homemade with Sandra Lee, which is purported to be a home-cooking show.
The problem, Ms. Kornik says, is that the show features many recipes that recommend certain store-bought items and as a result it is transformed into "a half-hour advertisement for the packaged products incorporated into the recipes."
Ouch! That's pretty harsh language from someone in a field where they usually deal in coefficients of imbalance and regression analyses. Usually we just make fun of her for using Duncan Hines frosting. Maybe that's why we don't have our Ph.D.
The nostalgia angle is certainly a big part of the allure of these shows, and in particular the appeal of folks like Paula Deen, Ina Garten and Lidia Bastianich, who don't fit the typical "television" profile as much as they embody the maternal provider that we all wish would keep cooking for us. We'll probably have a lot more to say on this topic if we can track down the paper on the InterGoogle.
Yippee...time for another TVFF Quiz: The two comedy movie references in the first two paragraphs have something in common with one another. What are the two movies and what is their connection? As always, the first person with the answer in the comments will win themselves the envy of TVFF Nation by being mentioned in a post next week. In other words: Sometimes winning is its own reward.
Labels: Sandra Lee
Come On, Sandra Lee!
Friday, May 25, 2007 | posted by Mike
I know I'm supposed to be in a good mood. It's Friday, this is a long holiday weekend, TVFF HQ's pool is opening up tomorrow and I'm swinging by Triumph for a beer after work today, so there's no reason for me to be angry. And yet I am. Why is that?
Sandra Lee.
More specifically, it is this recipe which nearly sent me into convulsions.
Now, I'm not really sure why this one got to me. I think we've all seen enough of the "curtains of many colors" and the belief that "cocktail" deserves a full course on the menu to know what we're getting. And the 70/30 thing offends many a sensibility, but it does let me put chopped leftover cilantro on my Taco Bell Chalupa and pretend that I'm somehow making a meal that is "semi-homemade."
I was trying to figure out how you could "semi-homemake" what looked like a pretty tasty dish: Bacon and Scallion Potato Salad with Balsamic Dressing. I don't really consider using jarred mayo as a "cheat," so where was the 70% store bought going to come in? There it is, in the ingredients list -- "One 16-ounce package precooked rosemary and garlic potatoes."
Fine. Whatever. I happen to take a bit of pride in the fact that, when I make potatoes, they're pretty good. I usually roast them with garlic, rosemary and duck fat and they're in the oven for the better part of an hour (after blanching them first), but I understand that this is going "above and beyond" what most people would do. Am I thrilled about the precooked potatoes? No, but I suppose I could live with it.
What set me off was the first step of the preparation:
Place potatoes in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover with plastic wrap; microwave on high setting (100 percent power) for 5 to 7 minutes.
Why the hell did I just buy precooked potatoes?
I know what you're thinking: "Hey, TVFF, there's nothing tastier than a warm potato salad!"
An excellent point, and one reinforced by the recipe's contention that you can "[s]erve warm or chilled," but seven minutes on high does not constitute "taking the chill off." You're cooking the precooked potatoes.
Oh, yeah, and the pre-chopped garlic drives me nuts. Just suck it up and use the real stuff.
That's it...I feel better. Thanks for listening.
Labels: Sandra Lee
Random Thoughts From the Chefography Marathon
Monday, March 26, 2007 | posted by Mike
Saturday was spent preparing the new TVFF HQ building for our big move, but Sunday was spent on the couch. Left alone and without a car (courtesy of the idiotic SUV driver who dinged my passenger side door outside the grocery store a few weeks back), I was able to kick back a bit and watch some culinary programming on Food Network (and PBS) in between loads of laundry.
As you probably know from having tuned in yourself over the past week or so, FN is busy getting its money's worth from the series Chefography. This week featured the debut of the second batch, and I was a little surprised that they didn't go back and recut the older episodes to include some of the new events in the lives of folks like Giada (there was no mention of Weekend Getaways). Having been sucked into marathons of other shows like Top Chef and various shows on MTV (which has been notorious for marathons of Real World and others), it was pretty easy to open up a bag of pretzels kick back and knock off a bunch of Chefographies.
Just a few comments...
Where's Alton? - Round 2 and still no Mr. Brown. We've heard that Alton is, in fact, a pretty private person when it comes to his personal life, so that might be why. I can't imagine why FN would skip over one of their most likable stars.
Giada - I don't think there is an episode as watchable as the Giada bio. I had seen it during the first run, but had no problem sitting through it again. It's probably because it's light on the manufactured drama that shows like that often rely upon. The only time it "goes serious" is when it talks about the illness and death of her brother. Still, it's a fun show, and you're left with the impression that her development into the celebrity we know today is complete and total chance. Although you might think that she was destined for television with her looks, it's a minor miracle that she has a show today. Those demo reels are bad...B-A-D. Hats off to Giada for letting them use the tapes.
And I would completely hang out with the couple she cooked for as a personal chef. They seem like a blast.
Tyler - I had a little bit of "inside info" when it comes to the Tyler episode, as I have a friend who used to work at one of the restaurants with Tyler. It's one of the spots shown in a montage illustrating the various places Tyler worked once he went to NYC. We talked about the episode and she recounted a couple of stories about the place (not about Tyler himself, but about that kitchen in general). She even recognized an ex-boyfriend in one of the pictures. He's now known as "Satan," so I'm guessing that she doesn't think back fondly on her time there.
Mario - Probably my favorite new episode for two reasons:
- Mario, as a teenager, looked completely deranged.
- They spent a solid three minutes on Stuff Yer Face, the New Brunswick stromboli place that has hosted a number of TVFF happy hours. One of the reasons that I love Mario is that he always says something good about his time at Stuff. When you think of a "respected" chef, you picture the kind of person who wouldn't want to talk about his or her time slumming in a pizza joint. But that's not Mario. He embraces it and the experience that he gained from it. Great stuff. Plus, they showed them making the chicken and broccoli boli, which is my favorite.
Sandra - Wow. I don't even know what to say. I could probably devote a whole post to it, dissecting it and analyzing it shot-by-shot, like I would if I were writing a paper about it back in one of my communications classes in school. I could do that...but I would probably shoot myself in the head.
This is about all I can muster:
What the hell was going on with those curtains?
Mary Hart and Florence Henderson?
At one point or another, she says something like criticism of her style of cooking (the semi-homemade thing) as being a slap in the face of women who work hard to put food on the table. Excuse me...there's a difference between cutting corners and using prepared ingredients and what is often shown on her show. Two words: Kwanzaa Cake.
I've taken a few shots at Sandra now and then, but I've never been as critical as some. But hiding behind working women to deflect criticism of goofy ideas is not cool.
Sandy, you just talked your way on to TVFF's Crap List.
Labels: Giada De Laurentiis, Mario Batali, Sandra Lee, Tyler Florence
Sandra Lee Teams Up With (I Kid You Not) Heartburn Medicine
Friday, March 23, 2007 | posted by Mike
I'm not going to lie to you. Running a blog can be hard work. There are times when you don't feel like writing a story or you just flat-out can't think of anything interesting enough to warrant sitting down and banging out a post. But sometimes -- and this is one of those times -- it's just a little bit too easy.
A press relelase from Procter & Gamble (actually, the PR agency hired by P&G, to be precise) is out on the wire right now talking about Prilosec OTC's sponsorship of the 2nd Annual Bunco Tournament. They're nice enough to include a paragraph explaining what the hell "bunco" is, and you can bet that I'll be running right out and starting up a bunco league with all of my friends.
But the best part of the whole thing is that they've managed to get Sandra Lee to sign on and help promote the event:
"For the women who play Bunco, it's not merely a game, but a reason to connect with female friends for a home cooked meal, good gossip and just plain fun," said Sandra Lee, celebrity chef. "I'm excited to be working with Prilosec OTC to help Bunco ladies across the country prepare for a great Bunco party - from easy recipes and decorations to great entertaining ideas. With just a little planning, anyone can throw a Bunco party that friends and family will be sure to enjoy."
Now, I get the whole connection between the sense of community (which is a great thing) and the idea of entertaining in your home, so Sandra's participation isn't that far off. But the idea of her teaming up with a HEARTBURN product is a bit more of a head scratcher. "My food gives you heartburn," is not the kind of message that I would want to send out, even subconsciously.
And another question: Why is Prilosec sponsoring a bunco tournament? When folks in a PR department have a sponsorship, they'll sometimes try to come up with a nice way to tie-in their product with the event. Sometimes they'll even commission some sort of study or survey as part of it. I had a professor in college who worked on a study that showed the self-esteem and confidence benefits to girls and young women who participated in organized sports, and the sponsor was one of the big shoe companies, so there was a logical connection. So, why is Prilosec involved?
"We found that twice as many frequent heartburn suffers play Bunco regularly compared to the general population," said Karen Klei, Brand Manager of Prilosec OTC.
Sorry to go off on a research methodology discussion, but I have to justify that college education somehow: Huh? Although the numbers might say that, what is the logical reasoning for that sort of relationship? Why are heartburn sufferers more likely to play bunco? This, folks, sounds quite a bit like what is called "data fishing." That is, of course, unless BUNCO CAUSES HEARTBURN!!!!!!!!!!!!
Labels: Sandra Lee
Anthony Bourdain Has a Few Thoughts on the Food NetworkYou know, Anthony Bourdain should really learn to speak his mind...
Friday, February 09, 2007 | posted by Mike
You know, Anthony Bourdain should really learn to speak his mind...
If you give chef Bourdain an outlet, you're almost certainly going to get his candid, honest opinion on whatever topic he's thinking about. Today, he has the outlet (in the form of a guest blogging stint over at Michael Ruhlman's site) and he has some thoughts on what's good and what's not so good about the Food Network, and he wasn't afraid to name names.
His post, which runs under the title "Nobody Asked Me, But..." gives a full rundown of many of the big names on the Network and an accompanying paragraph containing his thoughts on each. Or, as he puts it, "Some thoughts on the Newer, Younger, More Male-Oriented, More Dumb-Ass Food Network."
Basically, he likes Mario, Alton and Giada. He feels that complaining about Rachael is no longer worth it. I might be mistaken, but I don't think he likes Sandra Lee.
SANDRA LEE: Pure evil. This frightening Hell Spawn of Kathie Lee and Betty Crocker seems on a mission to kill her fans, one meal at a time. She Must Be Stopped. Her death-dealing can-opening ways will cut a swath of destruction through the world if not contained. I would likely be arrested if I suggested on television that any children watching should promptly go to a wooded area with a gun and harm themselves. What’s the difference between that and Sandra suggesting we fill our mouths with Ritz Crackers, jam a can of Cheez Wiz in after and press hard? None that I can see. This is simply irresponsible programming.
Now, I know about the whole "Rachael Ray Sux" group. From the coverage that they get, you would think that Rachael is the most reviled person in food TV. But, if you look around on the web, the one person that really gets everyone's toque in a twist is Sandra Lee. If it's not the pre-packaged food and the over-the-top tablescapes, it's the constant presence of cocktails on the menu or the "Stepford Wife" references to her appearance. I know that the whole Semi-Homemade thing is a bit of cottage industry these days, but I would put the vitriol she draws up there with the criticism of either Rachael or Martha.
Labels: Anthony Bourdain, Sandra Lee
Friday Happy Fun Time – 7/7/06
Friday, July 07, 2006 | posted by Mike
I want to keep things light, interesting and (hopefully) funny around here on Fridays, so we're going to have an ongoing feature called "Friday Happy Fun Time." I'll see if I can't come up with something a little offbeat and share it with you. Certainly, if you come across something fun/cool/snazzy, shoot me an e-mail at TVFoodFan@gmail.com and you'll receive full credit and your name in pixels.I think that today's gem qualifies as "Happy Fun Time."
I came across a blog named "Sparkles Plenty," written by Kristina, which caught my eye thanks to a creatively titled post called I'd Like to Punch Sandra Lee in the Face.
Now, I'm not a big fan of Semi-Homemade (known around TVFF.com headquarters as "Semi-Halfassed"), but I don't think I would go so far as to advocate violence against Ms. Lee. However, once you get to the part about the Kwanzaa cake, you'll understand where Kristina's coming from.
Check it out.
Labels: Sandra Lee
