Why Did Padma Lakshmi Quit 'Top Chef' If She Was Only Going To Host Another Cooking Show?

By Dustin Rowles | TV | September 11, 2024 |

By Dustin Rowles | TV | September 11, 2024 |

Back in June 2023, Padma Lakshmi told Harper’s Bazaar that one of the reasons she left Top Chef was because of the amount of calories she had to consume. “It was really taking a toll on me physically to digest that much food in a day,” she told the outlet, saying that — during her perimenopause era — her “tits get huge,” and “I live in the f**king gym now.”

For what it’s worth, Lakshmi also said that she left Top Chef to focus on other projects and areas of her career. One of those projects, apparently, is … another cooking competition. This one is for CBS, as Deadline has announced. Details, so far, are scarce, but we do know that Lakshmi will produce the series and host it.

Then why leave Top Chef? Maybe this series gives her a producing credit and ownership that Top Chef could not, in addition to more creative control. Or she was exhausted with the travel. Or maybe she was just tired of working with Tom and his silly hats! Or maybe Gail is secretly the worst behind the scenes (Gail is definitely the best!). Either way, it means we get Top Chef with Kristen Kish and a new cooking competition with Lakshmi. Win-win.

Also, a reminder that Lakshmi has never made the Pajiba 10, to my recollection. And honestly, you have to wonder: What is hotter? This?

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A post shared by Padma Lakshmi (@padmalakshmi)

Or this?

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A post shared by Padma Lakshmi (@padmalakshmi)

Again: Win-win.