OF A GOLDEN AGE

Natalie Portman is a prominent celebrity vegetarian, appearing via testimonial in the vogue Babycakes cookbook and sometimes stirring up trouble with her statements about meat. I appreciate that she sticks with it and lives her convictions, and as evidenced by the appearances of Portman and vegan Zooey Deschanel this season, the chefs hit a dead panic when faced with any alternative diet. Heck, some of them resist instances when they aren’t allowed to use the specific meat they want . . . The ones who are way, way into pork are even a little disturbing.*

And yeah, the chefs majorly disappointed in the challenge, putting out unappealing food that — especially after a month when hundreds of good-looking vegan food blogs trotted out their best material — really missed any connection with a vegetarian mentality. More than that, it furthered some of the impressions vegetarians and vegans often get from mainstream foodlife, which is that, you know, most chefs resent us or think we’re nuts.

I laughed when Kelly threw a one-off remark about this disappointing episode on her delicious-looking post about butternut squash lasagna, which is a Giada De Laurentiis recipe. And then . . . Vegan Dad completely one-upped Top Chef with a beautiful dish: polenta with white beans, braised kale, and roasted pears.

* Sorry, Michael Symon, I still love you!

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