Oct29
Natalie Portman 'Top'-ples 'Chef's' Meaty Ways
Posted at 11:59 AM | Permalink
| 
Comments (12)
I know we just talked about Natalie Portman yesterday, but let's face it, she's kinda magical. How magical? Enough to make a steakhouse go vegetarian—at least for one night.
It all went down on last night's episode of Top Chef. (Warning: Spoilers ahead for those who haven't seen it yet.) Like my fellow PETA Files blogger, Missy—who gave us a heads-up about this treat back in July—I'm a fan of the show despite its constant emphasis on serving up, well, dead animals (which the contestants bizarrely insist on calling "protein," as if they're nutritionists instead of chefs).
True to form, the opening "Quickfire Challenge" involved creating TV dinners inspired by iconic TV shows, and all of them ended up meat-centered. So when the chefs were told that the "Elimination Challenge" would take place at judge Tom Colicchio's Vegas steakhouse, Craftsteak, they eagerly began planning which cut of meat to use and how to cook it.
But Top Chef loves its surprises, and this week's came in the lovely form of guest judge Natalie Portman, who told the cheftestants, "I love food. I love eating. I'm pretty adventurous with flavors and different cuisines, and the one thing is, I'm a vegetarian." Cue the dramatic music and shocked faces.
 |
Some of the chefs, like Robin and Mike I., professed confidence in handling a veggie challenge, while others were apprehensive, including Kevin, who had earlier proclaimed, "Cooking meat is me in my element!" But more surprises were in store, as meat-loving Kevin won the challenge with his hearty ensemble of mushrooms, smoked kale, candied garlic, and turnip purée.
I hope this episode provides aspiring chefs—both on and off the show—with food for thought (sorry).
Posted by Jeff Mackey
TAGGED:
Comments
Finally! I'm a Top Chef fan--I wrote to producers at the end of the season to ask them to have a damn vegetarian challenge already. I'm sure i wasn't the only one who did.
The veg episode was done with a wink--after all, they still showed live lobsters crawling around--and next week they'll probably have a veal challenge just to appease meat-addicted "foodie" fans. Still, it was great to see and I love Natalie.
Posted by: Lulu | October 29, 2009 12:43 PM
You have Natalie Portman listed as Vegan below and than call her Vegetarian here#!@?with all due respect this is a perfect example of why it is so dangerous for PETA to give the mixed message of Vegan aka Vegetarian.They are NOT one in the same.Being a vegetarian one still supports just as many thousands of animals being held prisoner, being neglected tortured and murdered.PETA you yourself have posted many videos documenting the horrific animal mistreatment and outright cruelty most recently at a dairy farm where a cow had their bodies infested with infection and actual insides hanging out.You have also posted a lot of info on how Dairy is incredibly unhealthy and frankly vile.Yet you continue to say vegetarian all over your site thus confusing a hell of a lot of people.Most people are a real challenge to get them to change for the better, once they go vegetarian "because Peta promotes it " they often are shocked that they have to go even further and than give up entirely out of sheer frustration.Every person I have shared the realities of animal cruelty with I have not sugar coated or tip toed around the subject I dive straight into Veganisim and almost all of the people I speak to go Vegan, not sort of Veggie not Vegetarian but Vegan.If you are all about animal cruelty being stopped than I encourage you to be straight up and lay it on the line.Being the largest animal rights group please take responsibility for what you put out there and be more clear.Your messages are often mixed and confusing and while I don't blame the everyday person who is unknowingly ignorant YOU at PETA DO know better.fuck vegetarianism it's just as cruel, unnecessary , unhealthy, immoral and unethical as eating full on flesh dairy is rape it is also liquid meat.
Posted by: simara delilah rose | October 29, 2009 02:42 PM
natalie is the perfect woman.
couldn't watch the vid. :(
Posted by: lowercase v | October 29, 2009 05:02 PM
WEIRD THAT YOU WOULD POST AND POST ABOUT THE GLORIES OF BEING VEGETARIAN.AREN'T YOU THE SAME SITE THAT POSTS ABOUT HOW DAIRY IS BAD FOR YOU AND DON'T ANIMALS DIE FOR DAIRY?
THIS IS REALLY WEIRD PETA.
Posted by: GREG | October 30, 2009 06:10 PM
HI, what I don't get is why you guys think it's cool to tell people to be vegetarian?some of us at school were talking about this today and it doesn't make sense.You have a video on your site about all these poor cows and chickens and yet you keep telling us to be vegetarian.Frankly PETA I think YOU need to do some revamping to your site.I normally agree with you but not on this.Why don't you just say Vegan?I used to tell people all the time to go to your site but not anymore because it confuses them.On one part you say Vegan and on another part you say Vegetarian.I thought you fought for animals????why just animals used for meat?don't you care about animals killed for Dairy?
Peta did not used to be this bizarre in a bad way, maybe someone new is running PETA or maybe you guys are just getting careless with who you hire to blog but I don't trust you anymore .
Posted by: Leslie | October 30, 2009 06:33 PM
I was VERY pleasantly surprised by this episode of Top Chef....
Posted by: Pam Ernest | October 31, 2009 10:41 AM
Shut up Leslie...
Posted by: carla | November 2, 2009 02:57 PM
Well, the reason they have to encourage vegetariansim too is because evey little bit helps in saving the lives of animals, if people can start by going vegetarian then that is already a big achievment. PETA is very smart about apreciating all its supporters. Even though beings Vegans is the ultimate goal they are still very happy to hear that people are starting by taking meat out of their diet. If you cannot understand this then maybe your not fully informed or ready to take on the responsability of being an animal activist.
Posted by: Thomasina | November 2, 2009 04:47 PM
YOUR REACTION CARLA IS PATHETIC, IMMATURE AND COWARDLY AND THOMASINA GET YOUR OWN FACTS STRAIGHT , IF YOU ARE GOING TO PREACH THAN BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF FIRST.VEGETARIAN IS AN EQUAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE MILLIONS OF ANIMALS MURDERED.
Posted by: GREG | November 3, 2009 03:39 PM
Would you say that some one "only" being molested is better than being raped?Would it have been a good "improvement" if the "some" victims of the Holocaust were only beaten whilst others were murdered?fuck no.
when another being violates, tortures, or murders another it is alllllll bad.Animal cruelty for ANY animal is horrible and must end.It doesn't help if the supposed largest organization of animal rights is pushing for conditions "a little better" and pushing for the end of just some of the torture and murder.PETA is not some uneducated person with mass mentality they themselves know what happens to the animals that support a "vegetarian" diet.Pushing vegetarianism is just as bad as the people who murder the animals for that yogurt cheese milk or leather.
I don't care if you agree with me, as this is not a matter of opinion or belief like your favorite band or religious choice this about facts.
You are not hurting me or anyone else you lash out at on here or anywhere you throw a hissy fit-if you are hurting anyone it is you and your contribution to the animal lib movement.and in the end the ones who are hurt the most are the animals.
I think you need to re-think your comment it just makes you look threatened by the truth that the other commentators posted and instead of using this as an opportunity to really grow and be a positive advancement in your own journey as as what you wish you were as an animal activist you are making excuses for those who are supporting animal cruelty.PETA is not GOD they are an organization made up of humans and humans are flawed and like us all PETA has room for improvement.Don't put PETA on a pedestal where they can do no wrong and get away with anything just because they have done a lot of good.and they have done and do a lot of good,I always say so when they do.I am not here to JUST point out areas I feel PETA are not doing good but I am not going to turn a blind eye to them either.I am a Vegan and have been for years but I am not perfect and have room for growth, everyone does.
Posted by: simara | November 4, 2009 04:05 PM
So your saying that i might as well just eat meat because being a vegetarian does nothing to make a difference?
Well that is just the most ignorant thing i have ever heard. You STILL dont get it, all PETA was doing was commending Natalie Portman for speaking up about vegetarianism, and i'm pretty sure that not eating meat is making more of a difference then someone who eats all animal products. So calm down and accept the fact that no matter what you say and how "self righteous" you are acting PETA has done more and will continue to do more to end the suffering of animals then you EVER will.
Oh and P.S
you may want to check your Caps Lock......you sound a little out of control when you yell everything :)
Posted by: Thomasina | November 6, 2009 03:41 PM
Look, all i wanted to say/ meant was think about how much PETA depends on the support of citizens, if they turned to every vegetarian and said "no, thats not good enough" imagine how pissed off people would be and then PETA would be nowhere. I already said that the "ideal" is Vegan of course, but alot of people cant just jump to that. I never said PETA was perfect but I think they've done pretty well and I dont think this is worth critizing them over.
Posted by: Thomasina | November 13, 2009 07:52 PM