After submitting a recent post on the slowly but surely growing presence of herbivory in the mainstream, I coincidentally received a casting call notice that was looking for vegetarians. This call wasn’t for chefs though, nor actors looking to be the next star, this simply wanted vegetarians to come…EAT. Easy enough. I like to eat. I clicked and soon after got an email from one of the producers who wanted to know more about me.
Some emails later, including a request for a “veggie bio” and options on what I should wear, I found out that this wasn’t for a little show where diners are in the background eating vegetables at a new vegan restaurant—this was for something cooler, and bigger. This was for the show MasterChef.
While I haven’t watched much of the show, I was aware of the star judge and chef, Gordon Ramsay. The colorful, loud, brash, opinionated chef who yells at contestants, restaurant owners, and anyone within hearing distance. I was very excited to see what was going to happen, but half concerned about the possibility of being torn apart by Chef Ramsay. I’ve seen his restaurant makeover shows and Hell’s Kitchen, half in awe and half in horror. He’s a good man, but in a ticking time bomb kind of way. Having him being part of a vegetarian-related anything was intriguing.
But on to the show. I can’t spill the beans – or lentils – too much on this episode. (That’s the only hint I’ll give you.) It was filming for the new season and is scheduled to air this summer. I also wasn’t allowed to take photos of the amazing set nor of course the beautiful dishes presented to us. But I can tell you that I was there, and that mainstream media will air a cooking contest reality show that had a vegetarian challenge. That is the awesome step into mainstream we need.
During the casting it was made clear that strict vegans apply with caution—that the rules for the show would be vegetarian, not vegan, so it would be up to the contestants whether or not they would still include the likes of dairy and eggs. While that could be seen as disappointing, keep in mind this is a major network airing something already groundbreaking, and reminds me of the mantra “progress not perfection.” Being on the set, rubbing elbows with much of the Californian vegetarian community was already surreal. This wasn’t a veggie convention, this was a cooking show that regularly practices something none of us can live with. My dinner dates, my fellow herbivores, food lovers, animals lovers, all enjoying a meal for national television. I was ecstatic.
Being on the set of a cooking show does kill a little bit of the magic that comes through our TV screen, and going along with what producers and cameramen have to do is all part of it. But the magic that is still undeniably there is the excitement of being on a set, experiencing all the commotion and craziness that is a production, and seeing TV personalities in real life. While sitting at our tables, I did hear the shouting and the clanging of pots and pans (blocked from our view) as the timer ran out. After that we got to see the food we would be eating but couldn’t eat it yet. We were asked first impression questions as cameras got close up shots of us. The producers asked us individual questions, and we got to admire the presentation of the teams’ dishes. Then, the large cameras rolled in and the show “started.” The close ups would be interwoven in post production.
The sliding doors opened and the larger-than-life judges walked in to introduce themselves and chat with us. In Ramsay’s undeniable style, he graciously welcomed and thanked us for being there and that this was a first for the show, having an all vegetarian challenge. He told us that as members of the vegetarian community, we would not only be eating but doing the judging as well! And then closed with, “so this is for you, all you f%#*ing vegetarians.”
The meals came out once more (complete with a waitstaff filling my glass with wine) and my fellow diners and I chatted, in as much foodie style as we could. Savoring but critiquing every bite, eventually deciding on a difficult choice. When asked my thoughts, I vaguely recall what I said each time. What I recall more vividly though, is wow that’s so surreal, Gordon Ramsay is standing there listening to ME say what I think about these dishes, and wow his hair really is that fluffy.
I hate seeing myself on screen but this show I can’t wait to tune in for. I want to see my new friends I spent the day with, I want to see what the producers kept and didn’t keep for the final version of the episode, and I want to see how the teams created their fantastically delicious meals. One team ended up winning the challenge and my heart went out to the losing team since they did so well and put so much into the meal. But for me, the overall winner of the first ever vegetarian challenge on reality TV is us. Us f*&%ing vegetarians.
Image source: Fun107.com
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