A friend of mine told me that Jim Cramer did a special on Mad Money about Hardee’s/Carl’s Jr. Apparently he loves their stock, but “…wouldn’t enter a Carl’s unless 24‘s Tony Almeida had planted a canister full of pathogen there, millions of lives were on the line and [he] was the only person who could diffuse it.”

As a result, Andy Puzder (the CEO) came on the show to talk with Cramer about his company, their burgers and, most importantly, their sexy ads with Padma Lakshmi and Paris Hilton. In the end, Cramer tried one of their burgers and loved it.

Looks like I’m not the only one who enjoys a burger from Carl’s Jr.

As the host of Top Chef and the writer of healthy cookbooks, I originally wrote Padma Lakshmi off as vegetarian health nut. All that changed when I saw the picture to the left. There are few things that make me happier than seeing a beautiful woman taking down such a well-prepared piece of meat.

I also have found out that she will be doing ads for Hardee’s (Carl’s Jr.) Bacon Western Thickburger. It’s enough to make me run out and find the nearest Hardee’s.Although I’m sure that burger comes with unvegan no-goes like lettuce, tomato and onion, I have to believe that Lakshmi likes it for the bacon and beef. After all, it ain’t easy being a beautiful unvegan hero.

For modeling with meat and bacon burgers and looking gorgeous doing so, Padma Lakshmi, you are a true Unvegan Hero.