Padma Lakshmi stunned fans when she decided to pack her knives and leave Top Chef. However, she happily passed the torch to Kristen Kish to host instead. With several seasons now under her belt, Kristen has settled in quite nicely. But how does Padma feel Kristen has been doing as host of the show?
Padma Lakshmi is “always rooting for” Kristen Kish
Kristen was a perfect choice to replace Padma when she decided to leave Top Chef. She already had firsthand experience on the show from winning Season 10. She also co-hosted other shows, like Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend. And she even hopes to host a dating show too!
While Kristen has been a huge hit with fans, how has Padma felt regarding her performance as the show’s host? US Weekly reported that Padma had Kristen’s back.
Padma shared, “I was rooting for Kristen. I’m always rooting for her. You know, she feels like my little sister, and I couldn’t be more proud of her. She’s really blossomed in the role.”
She also noted that Kristen’s experience competing on the show gave her a unique point of view as host. Padma dished, “[Kristen] brings a lot of empathy to the role, because she’s been through the process, which is something neither Tom [Colicchio] nor Gail [Simmons] nor I could ever know what that’s like.”
However, if you’re wondering if Padma is watching Top Chef in her free time, the answer is no. She stated, “Even when I was doing Top Chef, I didn’t watch it because I knew what happened … I’m proud of that show. I’m still rooting for that show.”
And she’s proud of Kristen. Padma shared, “I’m proud of her. I think she’s going to have a long career.”
Top Chef airs Mondays at 9/8c on Bravo. It can be streamed on Peacock the next day.
TELL US – HOW DO YOU THINK KRISTEN IS DOING AS HOST OF TOP CHEF? WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE PADMA COME BACK AS A GUEST JUDGE?
