Part of my job as a food writer is to describe food. So my work on 'Top Chef,' I feel, is an extension of that. When we give a criticism to the contestant, we want to make sure we tell them why it's not working and why it would work if they did it a different way. Padma Lakshmi chefcontestantcriticism share on social
All chefs are like Jewish mothers. They want to feed you and feed you and impress you. It's an eagerness to please. Padma Lakshmi chefeagernessfeed Change image and share on social
You don't want your jewelry to make you look fat. A lot of what's out there now does - you just wind up looking like a Christmas tree. Padma Lakshmi christmasfatjewelry Change image and share on social
I'm not attached to things at all. I'm very lucky to have quite a few beautiful things, but if I look back at my life, I was often happiest when I had very little. Padma Lakshmi attachbackbeautiful Change image and share on social
My mom was scared of the old Times Square so I was never allowed to go. Now I'm scared of the new Times Square, so I still never go. Padma Lakshmi allowmomscare Change image and share on social
I was lucky to have a successful career as a model, but that was just a way to pay off my college loans. Padma Lakshmi careercollegeloan Change image and share on social
You don't need expensive classes and all kinds of weird equipment if you really want to be in shape. There are great ways to do it that are very economical, it just takes a time commitment, even if it means waking up a half hour a day before the rest of the household gets up because that's the only time you have. Padma Lakshmi classcommitmentday share on social
Whenever I'm in sync with the trends, it's always an accident. I still love wearing clothes I've had for ten years. I think understated luxury is the chicest thing. Padma Lakshmi accidentchicestclothe Change image and share on social
People are thrown off by someone who looks feminine, but is also strong. It's not that pretty girls aren't smart, it's that women aren't strong. Padma Lakshmi femininegirlpeople Change image and share on social
For a while, I became an atheist; now that I'm grown up, though, I'm not hard-edged enough to be an atheist. Even though I live with a flaming atheist, I love going to temple. I love all the rituals. Padma Lakshmi atheistedgeflame Change image and share on social