Every country I would go to, even if it was just on a modeling job, I would go to their markets. If I went to Morocco for 'Elle' magazine, I would be in the spice markets during my off time and just come back with a suitcase full of stuff that I really wanted to try. Padma Lakshmi backcountryelle share on social
I love clothes, but really I don't have that much to say about skirts. Before I was writing, I went to fashion shows only when the designer was a good friend and I was there to show support. Padma Lakshmi clothedesignerfashion 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
It doesn't matter how precisely the onion is cut as long as the person chewing it is happy. Padma Lakshmi chewcuthappy Change image and 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
From the simple stringing together of lemon garlands for the goddess Durga, to dividing the prasadam or blessed foods for the children first, I came to associate food not only with feminity, but also with purity and divinity. Padma Lakshmi associateblesschild share on social
Whether I'm making a recipe or a piece of jewelry or a white-rose-and-jasmine tea or the perfume, I like to think of myself as a happy little sorceress, and if I could just have a little general store with all that stuff and give people a sense of my taste, that would be lovely. Padma Lakshmi generalgivehappy share on social
Every city has a Donald Trump; ours is just the Trumpiest. Padma Lakshmi citydonaldtrump Change image and share on social
The best thing you can do for someone is make them a beautiful plate of food. How else can you invade someone's body without actually touching them? Padma Lakshmi beautifulbodyfood Change image and share on social
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
