BP sends Gulf chefs to Olympics

Eight well-known southern chefs—including John Folse and Galatoire’s Michael Sichel—will journey to London this month to cook for Team USA and other Olympic notables at a special series of “Spirit of the Gulf” events. But the company behind it has some up in arms. BP, the same company responsible for the disastrous Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, is footing the bill to send Folse and the other chefs across the pond. BP’s presence as a sponsor of the 2012 Olympic Games has already garnered controversy—many of their billboards were vandalized with “oil” and “BP Free 2012” stickers, and oil-soaked stuffed animals were stacked outside of well-known London tourist attractions.

In a press release, Crystal Ashby, BP’s vice president of government and public affairs said, “BP is proud to use the power of the London 2012 Olympic Games as another way to promote the Gulf Coast, draw new visitors to the region and demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the community.” The events are expected to draw 1,000 people per day during the four days of the “Spirit of the Gulf” events. —Rachael Upton