I came across a blog post I wrote back in 2013 that was a letter to a Top Chef producer to create a vegetarian cooking reality show. Since that still hasn't manifested even though Top Chef contestants were asked to cook vegan dishes for a pop up restaurant in Season 13 last year, I figured it would be a good time to repost my letter. Please share. :)
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Dear Top Chef Producer,
As someone with a passion for cooking and good food, I also have an obsession with the reality television show Top Chef.
It amazes me how creative some of the contestants are and how quickly they create their dishes. Obviously not everyone is great at the competition, but there have been a few contestants that have blown me away.
As much as I enjoy watching the show, it frustrates me at times that I can only make a handful of the dishes because a majority of the entrees and appetizers are not vegetarian or vegan friendly.
It is encouraging that award-winning vegan chef and author Chloe Coscarelli was the first ever vegan to win a culinary competition -- Cupcake Wars. But I think this needs to be a more frequent occurrence. What would it take for a reality culinary television show to be completely vegetarian?
I cook vegetarian and vegan meals all the time for myself, my husband, and other friends. I never have a problem coming up with ideas and experimenting. Usually the meals are inexpensive, easy, and delicious. There are so many meat substitutes available at grocery stores now, that it's easy to make a favorite chili, lasagna, or spaghetti with meatballs.
Wouldn't it be cool just to try a vegetarian Top Chef for just one season to see how the ratings are? I bet you would be shocked at the following.
Thanks for your time. And let me know if you need a contestant for a trial of your first-ever vegetarian reality television show.
Yours truly,
An avid Top Chef viewer and vegetarian/vegan amateur cook
***
Dear Top Chef Producer,
As someone with a passion for cooking and good food, I also have an obsession with the reality television show Top Chef.
It amazes me how creative some of the contestants are and how quickly they create their dishes. Obviously not everyone is great at the competition, but there have been a few contestants that have blown me away.
As much as I enjoy watching the show, it frustrates me at times that I can only make a handful of the dishes because a majority of the entrees and appetizers are not vegetarian or vegan friendly.
It is encouraging that award-winning vegan chef and author Chloe Coscarelli was the first ever vegan to win a culinary competition -- Cupcake Wars. But I think this needs to be a more frequent occurrence. What would it take for a reality culinary television show to be completely vegetarian?
I cook vegetarian and vegan meals all the time for myself, my husband, and other friends. I never have a problem coming up with ideas and experimenting. Usually the meals are inexpensive, easy, and delicious. There are so many meat substitutes available at grocery stores now, that it's easy to make a favorite chili, lasagna, or spaghetti with meatballs.
Wouldn't it be cool just to try a vegetarian Top Chef for just one season to see how the ratings are? I bet you would be shocked at the following.
Thanks for your time. And let me know if you need a contestant for a trial of your first-ever vegetarian reality television show.
Yours truly,
An avid Top Chef viewer and vegetarian/vegan amateur cook
