One of the stars of the cable TV show “Queer Eye for the Straight” guy is in Iowa for a fundraiser for the Iowa Pride Network — a gay rights group. The show uses gay men to give straight men and women a makeover of their clothing, food, living areas and other aspects of their life. Ted Allen is the food expert on the show and is in Iowa for the fundraiser. Allen recently released a cookbook.
Allen says he called the cookbook “Food You Want to Eat,” because it’s food he likes to eat and includes a mix of “American comfort food,” along with fish and salads that Allen calls an eclectic mix. Allen says the book has food you can whip up quickly and easily. He cites an example of a salmon dish that you can cook in 20 minutes, and Allen says you can cook it if you’re not a gourmet chef.
Allen says the new season of “Queer Eye” begins next week. He says its the start of their fourth season and begins with a series of shows shot in Las Vegas — shows he calls “the best we’ve ever made.” The people who’re the subject of the makeovers undergo some dramatic changes in their lifestyles.
Allen says the subjects seem to keep up the changes after the cameras go away.
Allen says many of the guys do stay with it and sign up with personal trainers and keep their weight down and do other things. Allen says though, there are other guys who he’s sure the minute they leave are back to piling dirty dishes in the sink. Allen says they can “lead a guy to culture, but we can’t stay all the time to make sure he sticks with it.”
Allen says he’s been to Iowa before and is happy to be back for the fundraiser at the Crave restaurant in West Des Moines. Allen says there’s going to be wine, cheese, fondue and he’ll do a book signing. The event cost 50 dollars per person. For more information, call the Iowa Pride Network at 515-243-1110.