Top (Model) Chef: Love, Loss, and What We Ate by Padma Lakshmi

You may know Padma as that willowy model from the runway, or from her marriage to Salman Rushdie, or from her high-profile show, Top Chef. Whatever the way you know her, Lakshmi’s memoir Love, Loss and What We Ate details her lifelong love affair with nourishment.

Lakshmi goes into detail about all manner of things, from not knowing her father in her native India to her mother’s disaster-prone relationships and her modeling career. The first part of the novel, however, details her relationship with Salman Rushdie and her pain going through endometriosis.

There are few boundaries, and those that she doesn’t speak about are not missed. She gives a great memoir and even includes some of her favorite recipes. To give an overall rich, and tasty, look into life as Padma.

I was really surprised by her frankness within the memoir and I really enjoyed it once I got into it. The beginning was the hardest part for me, I think because of the Rushdie parts. But I was super happy I finished it because it was definitely well worth the read!

Who would read this: Fans of pop culture, Top Chef or even America’s Next Top Model (Padma wasn’t on it, but she was a model). This would also be good for those who are affected by endometriosis.

Time to Read: While it took me a while to get into this, once I hit my stride, it took about 4 hours to read.
Rating: A solid 4 stars.

Funny Story: I wasn’t sure I would resonate with her, but then I read the book and her descriptions and character are so well defined. I think this will give a whole new facet to watching Top Chef.

Final thoughts: Padma brings a new dimension into her story and her journey. 

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