Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

Food

Cuomo's Mom Trashes His GF Sandra Lee's Lasagna


By

John Del Signore

Published Jun 16, 2010

Modified Jun 16, 2010


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .


By

John Del Signore

Published Jun 16, 2010

Modified Jun 16, 2010


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Controversy has rocked the Andrew Cuomo campaign following comments made by the Attorney General's mother about his girlfriend's lasagna. The dish is reportedly Cuomo's favorite, despite the fact that Sandra Lee, a Food Network host, makes it with canned tomato soup and cottage cheese. Asked about the recipe in an interview with NY1 yesterday, Andrew's mother Matilda said, "I don't know that that's true. You know, maybe she puts cottage cheese because he doesn't want to put on weight. That's not the way you make a lasagna."

Cuomo immediately swung into damage control mode before his girlfriend could claw his mother's eyes out. "On this issue, I’m going to be very, very careful," Cuomo said on a radio interview this morning. "Since the campaign started for me... This is the toughest issue I’ve had to deal with. Lasagna is like politics, everybody gets an opinion... Everybody’s right, nobody’s wrong." Except, as an Italian-American, Cuomo should know that lasagna made with canned tomato soup and cottage cheese is about as authentic as an order of manicotti at Olive Garden. He should also listen to his mother.

"Sandy’s cooking is very good cooking," Cuomo continued. "My mother’s cooking is very good cooking. As an independent Democrat, I eat everybody’s lasagna. I eat conservative’s lasagna. I eat liberal lasagna." Asked about the use of cottage cheese, Cuomo suggested that ricotta was scarce in Wisconsin where Lee grew up: "I thought she was very industrious, Sandy, coming with cottage cheese when she couldn’t come up with ricotta cheese." And to be fair, maybe his mom should just be glad Lee isn't cheating on Andrew or hanging with Pedro Espada.

Tagged

andrew cuomo

lasagna

matilda cuomo

sandra lee


John Del Signore

Twitter

Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE food

Where are the cheapest drinks in NYC? A new report details the city's average prices.

The median price of a cocktail in the city is now $16, and $9 for a draft beer.

By

Hannah Frishberg

Published Oct 19, 2026


North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.

Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.

By

Robert Sietsema

Food

North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.

Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.

By

Robert Sietsema


10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City

By

Robert Sietsema

Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.

By

Sonia Rao

5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's

By

Hannah Frishberg


Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .