TV Chef Sandra Lee Auctions Her Famous Tablescapes (and a Pow Wow) for a Cause

By Lauren Sherman
November 8, 2010

Sara Lee Auction

Cooking star Sandra Lee is known for making good tasting food on a budget. But she’s equally as famous for her tablescape ideas, the adorable table decorations she creates to complement every meal she prepares on Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee and Sandra Lee’s Money-Saving Meals, her popular Food Network TV shows.

In honor of one of her favorite charities, No Kid Hungry, Sandra Lee is auctioning 13 of those beautiful tablescapes to the highest bidder. And she’s doing it via eBay of course.

No Kid Hungry is a campaign created by Share Our Strength, a national charity organization that fights child hunger in America through community groups, activists, and food programs.

Every week since October 12 and for 10 more weeks, Lee is auctioning off one of her favorite tablescape designs, which include "Garden Party," "Chocolate Feast," "Rustic Comfort" and "Mom’s Tailgate."

Sara Lee Book

Semi-Homemade Cooking, a new book by Sandra Lee

Along with the tablescape, which includes everything from the tableclothes to the charger plates to place cards, the highest bidder also receives a copy of Lee’s recently-released The Complete Cookbook, a 570 page tome featuring 1000 recipes and 500 color photographs. The recipes are drawn from Lee's cooking shows, and include favorites like Mushroom Risotto—a creamy, decadent mix of Arborio rice, mushrooms, and soup that boasts a ten minute prep time—as well as Italian Baked Pork Chops, which requires only five ingredients! The book also offers fans a peek inside Lee's own home. The other great thing about the book is that it’s in binder form, which means you can pull out a recipe while you’re using it without tearing up the pages.

Sara Lee Tablescapes

Today’s auction, however, is even more special. Not only can you bid on a tablescape design, but you can also go snag the complete VIP Experience, including the opportunity to attend a taping of Sandra Lee’s Food Network TV show, tour her studio and meet her for an intimate conversation.

We recently chatted with Lee about the tablescape auction, her book, and her tips for finding tablescape materials on eBay.

The Inside Source: Why is No Kid Hungry such an important cause to you personally?

Sandra Lee: I was raised on welfare and food stamps. I understand the need to provide kids with the meals they might not be getting. In addition to supporting school lunch programs, we also have a backpack program, where we fill a backpack with food, so they can just take the backpack home and they're not embarrassed.

The Inside Source: You're so well known for your tablescape designs. Do you have any favorites?

Sandra Lee: I loved [the tablescape I designed for] the chocolate show, which is coming up. And the wine show was requisite--those are two my two favorites. Then—ooh, the one with fireflies. I think that one is airing on Sunday [November 7]. I think it's the comfort food show.

The Inside Source: You're also well known for being savvy about saving money. What kind of stuff do you search for on eBay, and what keywords do you use?

Sandra Lee: It depends on what it is. Lately, I've been looking for plates for my own kitchen, so I'm looking up "creamware" and "brown toile." I'm also looking for mantel urns by Lladro. It's always special stuff that's typically hard to find.

Roll over items for details

Creamware

Brown Toile

Mantel Urns by Lladro

TV Chef Sandra Lee Auctions Her Famous Tablescapes (and a Pow Wow) for a Cause

The Inside Source: It's almost Thanksgiving. What's the one key to making a Thanksgiving tablescape look good?

Sandra Lee: You can take whatever you have and be creative. It might be two vases hidden under your sink and put some gold balls in it. It doesn't have to be an elaborate piece. The dessert can be the centerpiece. Another idea is to take a pine cone from outside, wash it with warm, soapy water and let it dry. You can put a place card in a pine cone. The key is to be creative. Its more meaningful, more special. It also gives people something to talk about.

The Inside Source: And what's your favorite Thanksgiving dish?

Sandra Lee: Cornbread stuffing.

(images provided by Sandra Lee)

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