Recently I had the opportunity to interview Padma Lakshmi, star of Bravo TV’s Top Chef.  SQUEEEE!!!!

Padma recently wrote a memoir called Love, Loss and What We Ate.  It’s a candid portrait of her childhood in India, her life as a celebrity, and the food she’s cooked and eaten along the way. It was a huge, exciting opportunity for me to get the chance to ask Padma a few questions.

Even better, today she’s offering three lucky Grits and Chopsticks readers a chance to win an autographed copy of her book! Click below to find out details on how to enter, and what Padma had to say about filming next season’s Top Chef in Charleston, South Carolina, what she cooks at home, and more!

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Me: I understand you’re already filming Top Chef Season 14, which is in my former hometown in Charleston, South Carolina.  What’s your favorite dish (and restaurant) that you’ve eaten at so far?

Padma Lakshmi (PL): I have really enjoyed Minero for Mexican food and the burgers at Husk. Unfortunately, I haven’t been to much else because of our production schedule.

Me: Many of my blog readers are moms of young kids looking for inspired, yet kid-friendly dishes to eat at home with their families. What’s a staple dish that you cook for your daughter when you’re at home?

PL: We love taco night at my house. You can always boil black beans the night before. I keep all of the fixings, like lettuce, tomatoes and grated cheese separate, kind of like a little taco bar, and everyone can build their own taco the way they like. We also like Spanish Tortilla Cakes, which are kind of like an omelet with eggs, potatoes, and a little bit of onion. This dish is meant to be eaten at room temperature, so you can cut it into slices, wrap it in tin foil, and slip into your purse if you need something on the go, or you could also take it to the park for a luxurious picnic. We try to keep everything balanced with a nice mix of protein, starch and vegetables.

Me: What’s the last, totally irrational, completely insane food craving that you had? How did you satisfy it?

PL: I was craving a Vietnamese sandwich recently but ended up just putting a little peanut butter and sriracha on a ham sandwich.

Me: Name your all-time, top three dishes that you’ve ever tasted as part of your judging for Top Chef (across all seasons).

PL: Carrie Mashaney’s hot sauce from the New Orleans season of Top Chef (I stole a bottle from set and keep in my fridge!), Ilan Hall’s fideos with chorizo and ham and Carla Hall’s apple pie.

Me: Have you ever had a disastrous kitchen/cooking fail?  What was it and how did you recover from it (if you did at all)?

PL: At my first apartment when I moved back to Los Angeles from Italy, I caused a kitchen fire. I was trying to toss some onions that I was sautéing in oil, and I guess I tossed it too hard, because some of it spilled and the next thing I knew, there were flames everywhere and the whole back wall had turned black from the smoke. I ended up having to repaint the whole kitchen!

Thanks for chatting with me, Padma!  I’m looking forward to the next season of Top Chef!

You can have a chance to win one of three autographed copies of Love, Loss and What I Ate: A Memoir by Padma Lakshmi!  To enter, leave a comment on this post and check my Instagram account for more chances to win!

The rules: U.S. winners only. Void where prohibited by law. Must be 18 to enter. Giveaway closes on July 19, 2016.  Winner must contact gritsandchopsticks [at] gmail [dot] com within 24 hours of being notified that they have won with their mailing address.  Prize ships directly from the publisher; Grits & Chopsticks assumes no liability in the transfer or shipment of prizes to winners.

GET ALL THE LATEST RECIPES, RESTAURANT REVIEWS & MORE FROM GRITS & CHOPSTICKS BY FOLLOWING ME ON INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, PINTEREST OR TWITTER!