HOUSTON – Sandra Lee knows a thing or two about baking. She also knows a few things about blue ribbons and county fairs. Long before her popular television show ‘Semi-Homemade,’ which ran for 15 seasons on the Food Network, Lee won a blue ribbon in the LA County Fair for display and design.
Now, in a full-circle moment, the state fair is at the heart of the concept of her brand new show, ‘Blue Ribbon Baking Competition,’ now streaming on Netflix.
Lee serves as executive producer and as a judge on the show, which will feature blue ribbon winners from state fairs across the country competing for a $100,000 prize.
“We wanted to find the most competitive bakers in the U.S.,” says Lee, who describes the show as a sort of culinary bootcamp.
The contestants come from a range of backgrounds, and include award-winning bakers who specialize in all kinds of baked goods: pies, cakes, cookies and brownies.
“One of our competitors has 700 ribbons and he is in it to win it,” Lee explained, underscoring the talent of the contestants.
After a tumultuous decade that included fighting cancer, a move to the west coast and a very public breakup, Sandra Lee is ready to get back to doing what she loves. ‘Blue Ribbon Baking Championship’ is a show she has wanted to produce for more than a dozen years, and now the timing is finally right.
Check out Sandra’s conversation with Houston Life’s Derrick Shore and catch ‘Blue Ribbon Baking Championship’ streaming now on Netflix.