We're still waiting to see whether a judge thinks we're entitled to more details on how the producers of Top Chef will spend the estimated $400,000-plus the state paid to see its brand integrated into the show, which the show has thus far accomplished with lots of boots, Texas flags, and dishes that sound like fancy versions of the KFC famous bowl.
In the meantime, the state has apparently spent some more dough to promote the show that's promoting it, by launching a micro site devoted to exploring Texas food and the show.
Read on for the press release announcing the new site, along with emails between state tourism officials and their Dallas-based advertising company, TM, which, according to those emails, helped plan the web site.
Texas Tourism has launched a culinary microsite that features delicious tours, videos, Top Chef filming locations and other helpful resources for Texas-bound food lovers."From barbecue, Tex-Mex and seafood, to upscale restaurants and down-home Southern comfort food, Texas cuisine is as storied as our history and as varied as our culture," said Julie Chase, Tourism Director for the Office of the Governor, Economic Development and Tourism, in a release.
"Our world-class destinations allow visitors to experience innovative culinary offerings from a broad spectrum of cuisines in every region of the state."
Texas has long been famous for Gulf seafood, barbeque and steaks, and is the birthplace of Tex-Mex; the hamburger (Athens) and its quintessential companion, onion rings (Dallas); chili (San Antonio), Dr Pepper (Waco) and the corn dog (Dallas).
Home to the Hill Country Wine Trails, Texas is the nation's fifth largest wine producing state, with more than 220 wineries.
Thanks to this rich history and emergence as a culinary powerhouse, the Lone Star State was selected as the location for the ninth season of Top Chef, which premiered on Nov. 2. Dubbed Top Chef: Texas, this season is the first to showcase an entire state, including three separate cities, and features a variety of Texas locales and cuisines. San Antonio - which is home to The Culinary Institute of America, San Antonio, one of only four CIA campuses - serves as the season's host city, with the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and Austin also featured throughout the season.
Tourism in Texas provides information on Texas travel events and vacation destinations
