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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
