Written by Vegetarian Star on October 8th, 2009 in Animal Issues, Reality TV.
This week’s Dancing With The Stars was supposed to feature a chimpanzee as a guest judge.
However, after some efforts from Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, International Primate Protection League and PETA that included writing to executive producer Conrad Green, Dancing officials decided against airing the segment.
Like Paul Abdul, the chimp judge is out of a job.
But we hear he’ll be okay.
One piece of material sent to Green was a video about Great Apes in showbusiness made by Anjelica Huston.
Anjelica was also quick to speak out after Travis the Chimp died earlier this year when law officials had to kill him as he would not stop attacking and mutilating a friend of his owner.
“I sincerely hope that this tragedy will make people realize that great apes should never be kept as pets or exploited for films, television, or advertising,” Huston said of Travis’ incident. “Their lives are miserable from the day that they are taken from their mothers: They endure abusive training—usually beatings—until they are cast off to roadside zoos or meet a violent end, as Travis did in this tragic case.”
Best of luck to the unemployed chimp judge. We know he’ll find something better than show business.
via peta.org
Possibly Related Posts:
Written by Vegetarian Star on October 8th, 2009 in Chefs, Food & Drink.
Comments Off on Top Chef Tre Wilcox Found Challenge Pleasing Russell Simmons
Top Chef Tre Wilcox
Tre Wilcox is a renown chef who appeared on Season 3 of Top Chef.
He’s worked as a private chef, appeared in Iron Chef America on The Food Network channel, competing with the Rathbun brothers against Bobby Flay as their only sous chef.
But one of his biggest challenges to date was making a meal for hip hop guru Russell Simmons.
“Russell Simmons was one of my favorites,” Wilcox told nbcdwf.com. “He came back for more. He’s vegan, so it was a challenge for me.
Did Russell request Tre make his favorite vegan risotto?
Tre is currently the Executive Chef at Loft 610 in Plano, TX.
Possibly Related Posts:
Written by Vegetarian Star on October 8th, 2009 in Actresses, Events, Food & Drink.
Comments Off on Alicia Silverstone “New York City Wine And Food Festival” Demo
The Kind Diet
Alicia Silverstone will be giving cooking demonstrations at the 2009 New York City Wine and Food Festival this Saturday October 10 between 9:00 AM and 9:45 AM.
Alicia will be using recipes from her upcoming vegan diet and fitness book, The Kind Diet.
Tickets to Alicia’s demo are $35 and can be purchased online.
Yes, 9:00 AM on a Saturday may be asking a bit much for those weekend late sleepers.
But for cooking lesson from Alicia, it’s worth downing a morning Espresso and taking a cold shower to help you wake up.
via nycwineandfoodfestival.com
Possibly Related Posts:
Written by Vegetarian Star on October 8th, 2009 in Animal Issues, Broadway and Stage.
Comments Off on “The 101 Dalmatians Musical” Shelter Dogs
The 101 Dalmatians Musical is using more than a dozen shelter rescued dogs for the production.
Animal trainer Joel Slaven had some trouble getting shelters to hand over the pups, as they feared what the renewed popularity for the breed would mean to Dalmatians across the nation.
Back in both 1996 and 2000 when the live action Disney “101 Dalmatians” and its sequel came out, as expected, there was a rush to pet stores and breeders. But the dogs were returned just as quickly when families and individuals found out they weren’t quite the right fit.
“The toughest thing I’ve ever done is finding the dogs,” Slaven told the Associated Press. “When the movies came out, they were overbred and that made the breed, which already has some health problems, even worse. People got the dogs, couldn’t afford vet bills, found the dogs untrainable, or didn’t get along with kids. Shelters, Humane Societies and rescue groups don’t want anyone to use these dogs for entertainment, and they don’t want to help someone who’s going to do this again.”
Slaven vows to educate the public this time.
“I knew we’d have to do it differently than the movie. We have to explain about the stars that, just because they’re cute, doesn’t mean you should get one for the kids tomorrow.”
For more information on The 101 Dalmatians Musical and tour dates, visit The101dalmationsmusical.com.
Possibly Related Posts:
Written by Vegetarian Star on October 8th, 2009 in Chefs, Food & Drink.
Celebrity Chef Cat Cora, unlike Gordon Ramsay, doesn’t feel vegetarians are a pain at all.
In fact, sometimes The Food Network Iron Chef star and her family even, gasp, joins them!
From afterellen.com:
My wife is a vegetarian, so I have to ask: Do you find it annoying to cook for vegetarians or do you approach it as an invigorating challenge?
CC: I find it a fun challenge. In the Cora family, there are nights when we go all veggie, it is cleansing. So, I appreciate where vegetarians are coming from.
Cat’s no stranger to vegetarian cooking.
If you remember, Cat joined forces with Morningstar Farms to teach families to prepare delicious, quick, and healthier meals into the diets.
She said of the partnership:
“Morningstar Farms and I have come up with some easy ways to make eating well more manageable for the home cook. I want families to understand that good food doesn’t require hours in the kitchen.”
Cat also catered the vegan dinner served during Nigel Barker‘s screening of A Sealed Fate.
So cool that Cat practices what she preaches!
Possibly Related Posts:
Written by Vegetarian Star on October 8th, 2009 in Celebrity Sightings, Food & Drink, Male Singers.
Weird Al Yankovic has been spotted at Green Leaves Restaurant in LA. From vegan-la.com:
“I know people aren’t fans of Green Leaves, and neither am I after hearing about the problems. This sighting was before I knew about the unfolded drama on Green Leaves. My wife and I spotted Weird Al Yankovic eating at the West Hollywood location. I hadn’t known he was vegan, maybe he isn’t. He had a baseball hat on…who knew you could get all that hair under a baseball hat.”
The “problems” at Green Leaves refer to some independent tests done that suggested some of their vegan food contained casein and eggs.
Weird Al’s first book, When I Grow Up, has been acquired by Harper Collins.
A description from a press release says, “With gleefully dizzying wordplay, an exuberant eight-year-old tells his patient teacher and amazed classmates about the astonishing variety of humorous and inventive careers he plans to pursue when he grows up.”
“I’ve always wanted to write children’s books,” said Yankovic. “And now, it’s not only a goal, it’s a contractual obligation.”
When I Grow Up is due for release in Winter 2011.
Will Weird Al be spending lots of time on his laptop in vegan restaurants until then?
Possibly Related Posts:
Written by Vegetarian Star on October 8th, 2009 in Food & Drink, Male Singers.
Adam Yauch of the the Beastie Boys is recovering from cancer treatments after being diagnosed with the disease in his salivary gland in July 2009.
Yauch took a trip to India to take advice from Tibetan doctors, who recommended eating a vegan, organic diet, however, Yauch found eating vegan in India is not as easy as expected.
In a message to his fans, Yauch, better known as MCA, explained:
“so i just got back from dharamsala, india. went over there to see some tibetan doctors, but as it worked out, the Dalai Lama was giving a 3 day teaching, so i was able to attend that as well.”
“i’m feeling healthy, strong and hopeful that i’ve beaten this thing, but of course time will tell. i’m taking tibetan medicine and at the recommendation of the tibetan doctors i’ve been eating a vegan/organic diet, which surprisingly enough was harder to do in india than it is now that i’m back home. here i can just shop for the right food and cook… a lot easier than depending on restaurants.”
Fellow Beastie Boy Mike D also found vegan food to be a charm, and even hired his own personal chef at one time.
The tumor was said to be in a location that did not affect Yauch’s vocal cords, but the new release date for the next album Hot Sauce Committee Part 1, which was originally set for September 15, has not been determined.
via nytimes.com
Possibly Related Posts:
Written by Vegetarian Star on October 8th, 2009 in Business, Food & Drink, Restaurants.
Comments Off on Heather Mills V Bites Bites Differently Than Thought
We reported earlier that Heather Mills had opened a U.S. version of her V Bites vegan restaurant and cafe.
He, he, he, just kidding.
Actually, reports on the web were slightly incorrectly and the center in Bronx is the Hunts Point Alliance for Children (HPAC) community gathering space and distribution center.
So while the restaurant isn’t up yet, perhaps there is chatter going on at HPAC headquarters?
HPAC is the charity that Heather used to donate over a million dollars in vegan food to the area last year.
More information on the distribution center can be found here.
via boogiedowner.com
Possibly Related Posts:
