Padma Lakshmi Makes Her Own Rules

We all know Padma is powerful, but did you know she has a superpower?

When you hear the name Padma Lakshmi, a few words come to mind: Confident. Worldly. Brilliant. Food lover. When you see Padma on your screen, her composure and sense of self seem effortless. 

But on the latest episode of Longer Tables, Padma confesses that, even as the star of the hit show Top Chef, she had to work to overcome imposter syndrome and feeling like an outsider. It’s a good reminder that even successful people feel like they are struggling to to make it. 

Padma and I talked about a lot of things on this episode: the second season of her show, Taste the Nation and the time I lost my temper while guest-judging on Top Chef. (I promise you, people, it’s not what you think.) 

As a host, Padma sees her role as bringing out the best in people, but that doesn’t mean she sugarcoats her words. She tells it like it is, whether she’s critiquing an unpleasant dish on Top Chef or rewriting the story of American cuisine to include the creativity and labor of immigrants. I love her for that. 

As I always say, tell me what you eat and I’ll tell you what you are. Padma agrees that food is so much more than just what goes in your mouth. Her opinion is that everyone has an interesting story to tell, you just have to be willing to listen to it. Well, my friends, I hope you enjoy getting to hear some of Padma’s stories. 

Oh, and one more thing. Our caller on today’s episode wanted to know how to perfect romesco sauce. Lots to say on that subject. If you want to try making it yourself, here’s a favorite recipe.