TheZymurgist
Well-Known Member
So I thought cooking competition shows were safe. I didn't think they would try, or even have the ability, to push a message. I was wrong.
Last night, I was watching 'Chopped,' and pretty early on, I noticed a theme. The contestants were a random forgettable guy, a woman whose restaurant focused on locally sourced ingredients, a vegan-turned-carnivore, and a carnivore-turned-vegan. In the interviews, the carnivore turned vegan stated multiple times that he chose to be vegan because he disagreed with the way animals are treated, which is respectable and understandable.
In the first round, the ingredients they were required to use included no animal products. This was somewhat predictable, but was glaring by the fact that the judges were ASTOUNDED by the fact that there wasn't a protein. 'This just HAS to be a Chopped first!' one exclaimed. To add to the hype, the vegan kept saying how happy he was that there weren't any animal products, and the he wouldn't know how to use them if there were. Come to the end of the round, and only one contestant, the random forgettable guy, incorporated any meat into his dish (which was noted over and over by the judges.) Very predictably, he was the first to be kicked off. While tasting the other dishes, the judges kept explaining how their thinking has been challenged and changed, and what a life changing experience this is.
Now I'm starting to get a little irritated. Not because I have any problem with being vegan or vegetarian, but the show is being obviously disingenuous. There's no way these judges (all very experienced and renowned chefs) have never heard of or considered cooking without meat, and I truly doubt this small cooking challenge has had any effect on their lives. Already I can predict the vegan will be the one to win. Granted, he's a good cook, but from what I can see and from what the judges are saying, so are the others.
Fast forward, the next to be kicked off is the woman with the restaurant, so the final challenge is down to the vegan-turned-carnivore and the carnivore-turned-vegan. So far, there have still been no animal products used. For the final showdown, CURVE BALL: Honey. Wait, what?? Apparently insects are animals now. Honey is considered an ANIMAL byproduct. Fine, I'll accept that on the basis that the vegan doesn't like how honey bees are treated. I respect that. The entire time these two are cooking, the both the judges and the vegan are talking about what a problem this is, and how it goes against everything he stands for. Ultimately he succumbs, and uses the honey. When asked by the judges if he had a problem with it, he goes into his diatribe, but then says he thought it was important to win.
So, he's vegan by personal choice, based on principle alone. But, his principles can be bought. For $10,000. He goes against 'everything he stands for,' his words, in order to win a competition, and a measly ten grand. I'm actually shocked the producers would air that, given the fact that they've been touting vegans as superior the entire show.
Again, I really have no problem with vegans, I can actually sympathize with them, even though I don't live the way they do. But don't try brainwash me into believing that it's a superior existence, and for God's sake, don't abandon your principles to win a stupid competition. I'm not sure I can watch this show again.
Ok, /rant.
Last night, I was watching 'Chopped,' and pretty early on, I noticed a theme. The contestants were a random forgettable guy, a woman whose restaurant focused on locally sourced ingredients, a vegan-turned-carnivore, and a carnivore-turned-vegan. In the interviews, the carnivore turned vegan stated multiple times that he chose to be vegan because he disagreed with the way animals are treated, which is respectable and understandable.
In the first round, the ingredients they were required to use included no animal products. This was somewhat predictable, but was glaring by the fact that the judges were ASTOUNDED by the fact that there wasn't a protein. 'This just HAS to be a Chopped first!' one exclaimed. To add to the hype, the vegan kept saying how happy he was that there weren't any animal products, and the he wouldn't know how to use them if there were. Come to the end of the round, and only one contestant, the random forgettable guy, incorporated any meat into his dish (which was noted over and over by the judges.) Very predictably, he was the first to be kicked off. While tasting the other dishes, the judges kept explaining how their thinking has been challenged and changed, and what a life changing experience this is.
Now I'm starting to get a little irritated. Not because I have any problem with being vegan or vegetarian, but the show is being obviously disingenuous. There's no way these judges (all very experienced and renowned chefs) have never heard of or considered cooking without meat, and I truly doubt this small cooking challenge has had any effect on their lives. Already I can predict the vegan will be the one to win. Granted, he's a good cook, but from what I can see and from what the judges are saying, so are the others.
Fast forward, the next to be kicked off is the woman with the restaurant, so the final challenge is down to the vegan-turned-carnivore and the carnivore-turned-vegan. So far, there have still been no animal products used. For the final showdown, CURVE BALL: Honey. Wait, what?? Apparently insects are animals now. Honey is considered an ANIMAL byproduct. Fine, I'll accept that on the basis that the vegan doesn't like how honey bees are treated. I respect that. The entire time these two are cooking, the both the judges and the vegan are talking about what a problem this is, and how it goes against everything he stands for. Ultimately he succumbs, and uses the honey. When asked by the judges if he had a problem with it, he goes into his diatribe, but then says he thought it was important to win.
So, he's vegan by personal choice, based on principle alone. But, his principles can be bought. For $10,000. He goes against 'everything he stands for,' his words, in order to win a competition, and a measly ten grand. I'm actually shocked the producers would air that, given the fact that they've been touting vegans as superior the entire show.
Again, I really have no problem with vegans, I can actually sympathize with them, even though I don't live the way they do. But don't try brainwash me into believing that it's a superior existence, and for God's sake, don't abandon your principles to win a stupid competition. I'm not sure I can watch this show again.
Ok, /rant.
