Padma Lakshmi has a new kids’ book — and a fresh pandemic perspective

I think it’s just looking at food from different lenses. Top Chef is one lens on one side of the spectrum. Other things, like “Taste the Nation” and the op-eds that I’ve written, are on the same topic, but from a different viewpoint. I’ve been doing “Top Chef” for the last 15 years, so I developed a little bit, and I still feel very loyal to “Top Chef.” It’s a wonderful show. This season we got nominated for [five] Emmys, which is more than we’ve ever gotten nominated for in our whole history of the show. So, clearly, people still love the show, and thank god they do, because it provides a beautiful lifestyle for me and my daughter.