Food Network star Sandra Lee Set to Host Blue Ribbon Baking Championship

Sandra Lee, a television chef and author, is bringing the spirit of state fairs to Netflix.

The Former Semi-Homemade Cooking star recently discussed her new show on the streamer, the Blue Ribbon Baking Championship. The competition, which airs on Netflix on August 9, features 10 blue ribbon-winning bakers from state fairs across the United States. Contestants will compete in a baking competition for a chance to win top place and a cash prize of $100,000.  

This project has been in the works for the past 12 years. American Pie star Jason Biggs will cohost with Lee. The judging panel also includes White House pastry chef and Baker’s Dozen host Bill Yosses, former pastry chef to past Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Talented artisan baker Bryan Ford is also set to join. The first state fair was in 1765. 

“You could say food competitions have been around since then. You have vintage recipes, antique recipes, and all sorts of recipes. It was just incredible this show has been brought to life. It is the ultimate in food competition and also how-to baking. It is a marriage of the two. I created this show 12 years ago. Now partnering with Netflix has been a dream. It’s going to air in 190 countries, so I’m thrilled,” Lee told TV Insider.  

The competitors also bring in a variety of skill sets.  One baker won 700 Blue Ribbons, and some are skilled in pies, cookies, cakes, and cake decorating. 

Competitors must be former Blue Ribbon winners to be eligible. Each judge takes a different approach to the judging portion of the show. Lee says that Yosses is very technical about how the baked items come together and how precise they need to be, followed by the flavor.

Lee says she is more visual and big on design elements and flavor. Meanwhile, Ford is more about the restaurant and its commercialism, which is what state fairs are all about.  

“When you go to a state fair, you’re looking for the next big baked item or your favorite you’ve had. A lot of what comes out in the culinary world and the zeitgeist annually comes from the state fair,” Lee added. “In the next six weeks, I would say you have 24 of the biggest fairs in the nation launching. It is perfect timing, and I’m excited people get to watch it.”

She continued: “I can promise if you watch the show through to the end, you will learn how to identify flavors and taste food a little differently while incorporating your own culinary experiences.”