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
Im an immigrant kid who came to America from India when I was very young and grew up in New York City with a single mom and really was influenced by all of those immigrant cultures bumping up against each other. – Padma Lakshmi
One thing that happens when youre pregnant is that as your stomach starts to stretch. It itches! So I have to keep my belly really lubricated. Every morning, theres a buttering ceremony after I get out of the shower. Its really like basting a turkey with body butter. – Padma Lakshmi
I think wine is such a big universe that its kind of like food – its intimidating to a lot of people, myself included. – Padma Lakshmi
I was born in the 60s and grew up in the 70s – not exactly the best decade for food in British history. It was horrendous. It was a time when, as a nation, we excelled in art and music and acting and photography and fashion – all creative skills… all apart from cooking. – Heston Blumenthal