Taco Bell Calls Lorena Garcia a 'Master Chef'

[DainBramaged]

aco Bell uploaded a video to YouTube today that calls Lorena Garcia a "master chef." Now Lorena Garcia is the chef/owner of a single airport restaurant and a consultant for Taco Bell who helped the company rip off Chipotle's menu. But just because you were a contestant on Top Chef Masters, it doesn't make you a "master chef."

Anyway, the video is some wildly sad green/health-washing — Garcia goes to a cilantro farm in California to see where the company's cilantro is grown. "This is my biggest and most proudest moment in my relationship with Taco Bell, which is really showing to the world the truth what's happening from the inside out," says Garcia. "Not only from the decision that Taco Bell has made to partner up with me and making this menu, but from the positive impact that we're creating." Future positive impacts apparently include a "Chicken Caesar Burrito."

Writer Regina Schrambling recently asked, "Is there a more abused honorific than Chef?" But leave it to Taco Bell — maker of the "Doritos Locos Tacos Supreme" — to amp it up even further. The only logical end for this is just to call Lorena Garcia the "Doritos Tacos Master Chef Supreme." Here's video:

http://eater.com/archives/2012/10/04/taco-bell-calls-lorena-garcia-a-master-chef.php

[Duer 157099]

1. Taco Bell knows what cilantro is???

That in itself is a revelation!

[Gorp]

31. Yes, but do they know where corriander comes from?

BWAAA HAAA HAAA HAAA!

[WCGreen]

2. When I stopped drinking and staying out late...

my taste for taco bell somehow disappeared.

[white_wolf]

24. Now that you mention it...

the only time I really want taco bell is when I'm drunk. Maybe that explains their fourth meal.

[WCGreen]

27. You don't see a lot of people in their homes enjoying a taco bell meal with the family...

The whole idea is you gotta eat (to counter the beer n your stomach) and you might as well eat this crap because it comes in easy to munch form.

[Demo_Chris]

39. I do, but I spend a lot of time peeking in windows...

[onehandle]

3. Peta has 'applauded' Taco Bell for its nearly beef-less beef (It's only 35% beef)

And are encouraging them to go full vegan, since they are most of the way there.

http://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-being/blogs/peta-applauds-taco-bells-almost-veg-meat-recipe

Taco Bell is actually one of the few fast food restaurants where vegetarians and vegans can get actual protein.

[zappaman]

4. Taco Bell?

[ZRT2209]

5. "Doritos Tacos Master Chef Supreme." - lol

[Earth_First]

6. Pandora runs an advertisement for Taco Bell featuring Garcia

I cringe every time I hear it.

[GoneOffShore]

33. One of the reasons I upgraded to Pandora One.

No cringing now.

[Earth_First]

36. I'm close to pulling the subscription trigger myself...

However I think I'm opting for Spotify Premium.

[Ikonoklast]

7. Why does Taco Bell need a "master chef", let alone a regular chef? Do they sell food now?

When did this start?

Damn the things that happen when you don't pay attention.

[Motown_Johnny]

8. They didn't say "Certified" Master Chef... not that you are wrong

but the term "Chef" is fairly ambiguous. Calling it an abused honorific is one way to look at it. I just think that most people don't understand that there is a certification process for the title.

I have a degree in Culinary Arts and have struggled for decades with people calling me a "Chef". I have been employed as a Chef, but it was just a job title. I do not have the CFA certification. The same is true for the majority of people I have worked with/under. If certified at all most are CWCs and I did work under a couple CECs. I took classes under some CMCs but that is pretty rare. I believe there are only about 60 in the country at this point.


In this context it is a matter of opinion. A bit of a stretch maybe but hardly anything that approaches false advertising.

[Arcanetrance]

12. I know exactly what you mean I was a chef before getting the title officially.

I believe people use the term chef because most don't know the difference. I personally tried that taco bell burrito a couple weeks ago while on a road trip with friends. It's really not bad it's better than most of taco bells menu

[riderinthestorm]

23. Taco Bell's bean burrito is the only fast food I buy. Its pretty good

How do you screw up re-fried beans, cheese and a tortilla?



A belated welcome to DU by the way!

[OKNancy]

13. I checked out her bio

Garcia first embraced a love of food as a child, most bountifully at family gatherings while growing up in Caracas, Venezuela. She earned a law degree from Santa Maria University and immigrated to the U.S., She finished her associate degree and paralegal studies while learning English, but she soon realized her heart wasn’t in it. Garcia left the legal world behind her and enrolled at Johnson & Wales University, graduating with a degree in culinary arts. With a world of choices ahead, she set out on a tour of countries known for great cuisine. In Paris she took her first job as an apprentice at the Ritz-Carlton, subsequently working her way through Italy, Japan, Korea, Thailand and China. Returning to the U.S., she spent three years under acclaimed chef Pascal Oudin at the Grand Bay Hotel. She continued to hone her chops, and helped prepare a few, doing time at Jeffery Chodorow’s China Grill and Red Square.

Rest of it is here: http://www.cheflorenagarcia.com/page/biography

[DainBramaged]

17. She blew ANY semblance of credibility associating herself with Taco Smell

I don't care if she was the chef school teacher for Olive Garden or not.

[BainsBane]

25. Top Chef is associated with Lean Cusine

and that includes Tom Colicchio and Eric Ripert. Are you asserting they aren't chefs?

Other chefs that appear on Top Chef: Thomas Keller, Wally Dufresne, David Chang,
and of course Lorena Garcia who made it to third place in Top Chef Masters.

[white_wolf]

26. I think she lost all credibility by working with Olive Garden.

Worst Italian food ever. There aren't any local Italian places near me, but even by chain standards it sucks. I much prefer Carrabal's.

[obamanut2012]

34. If she went to Johnson & Wales, she's a chef

She may be a bad one, or may not be, and she's a sell-out, but she's a chef.

[sir pball]

38. CMC != "Chef"

You can call yourself "chef" once you're >sous, or at least that's what they taught us at The French Culinary Institute, but yeah, "Master Chef" is generally reserved for CMCs which Lorena sure isn't.

[AverageJoe90]

9. I dunno about "green washing".....

But yeah, this whole thing is obviously not quite what it was cracked up to be. Now, granted, I've had a couple items from the Cantina menu, and they're decent, but you're liable to get better stuff at Chipotle or even Del Taco, IMO.

[kentauros]

10. She'll next be seen as the Master of Ceremonies

for the (insert corporate sell-out city) "Doritos Tacos Master Chef Supreme Bowl"

[OKNancy]

11. I loved her on Top Chef Masters

I enjoyed her... but it's always fun to tear down people isn't it?

[DainBramaged]

15. Such is life........

[redqueen]

18. It's an ad campaign for a fast food chain.

I'm having trouble understanding how this shit is supposed to be at all meaningful. To anyone.

[BainsBane]

28. I just find it odd

that of all the people who endorse products, the one that raises scorn is a Latina woman.

[Incitatus]

30. It has nothing to do with that.

It's the humor of Taco Bell associating itself with a "master chef" when their food is shit, trying to create the perception that they serve decent food.

[BainsBane]

37. yet the posts are about skewering Garcia

more than Taco Bell.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

14. anything with cilantro i actively avoid...

just cannot stand the flavor. other than that, i am sure she is a fine chef but taco bell cuisine is hardly worthy of a 'chef'...

sP

[datasuspect]

16. yo quiero taco bell

[Dirty Socialist]

19. I'm Sorry, but

I don't get the runs for the border. :p

[BainsBane]

20. She was on Top Chef Masters

and got quite far. I have little doubt she could out cook anyone here.

[Floyd_Gondolli]

22. That's sort of what I was thinking

[obamanut2012]

35. +1

[pinboy3niner]

21. This is too complicated for me to figure out today...

Ask me tamale.

[WinkyDink]

29. She's a chef. Time to get off el caballo alto.

[Raine]

32. Well she was on Top Chef Masters and is a chef. All those on Chopped are called chef and that show

is lesser than Top Chef Masters. Geesh Taco Bell tries to improve the menu and all they get is flack. I guess no one should ever try to change or improve anything.

[DainBramaged]

40. For those of you wringing your hands over this, Taco Bell is owned by YUM brands

Yum! operates or licenses Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut, and WingStreet restaurants worldwide.


Let that roll off your pursed lips for a minute


Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut


glorious bastions of the culinary arts.


Not.


If you think you're offended because I think this is a bogus campaign by a shitty company trying to make itself whole by using a 'chef' to promote it's fat-inducing swill, I am so so sorry you don't appreciate the irony of this advertising campaign. Maybe you think the 'chefs' at Olive Garden really go to a chef's school in Italy too.


Please enjoy another round of unhealthy crap on me. And have a nice day.