Gail Simmons

Special Projects, Food & Wine Magazine
JUDGE, TOP CHEF

Gail Simmons lends her strong culinary expertise as a judge and critic for Bravo's "Top Chef," and returns for the new season to taste and critique the competing chefs' creations each week alongside judge Tom Colicchio. Gail has been with Food & Wine since 2004, currently in charge of special projects for the epicurean magazine. In this role, Gail oversees the brand's signature event, the Food & Wine Magazine Classic in Aspen, which will celebrate its 25th year next June. In addition, she works on the magazine's chef-related events and programs.

Prior to joining Food & Wine, Gail most recently worked as special events manager for The Dinex Group, chef Daniel Boulud's restaurant group. She began her culinary career writing food articles for Toronto Life magazine and the National Post, Canada's national newspaper. In addition, she was research and recipe assistant to food critic Jeffrey Steingarten at Vogue and was an apprentice at both Le Cirque 2000 and Vong restaurants. Gail has contributed to several cookbooks including It Must've Been Something I Ate by Jeffrey Steingarten, Daniel Boulud Cooking in New York City, and The New American Chef by Karen Page & Andrew Dornenburg.

Gail frequently appears as an expert for Food & Wine on television, including CBS's The Early Show, Fox News Channel's Fox & Friends and CNBC. She graduated summa cum laude from McGill University in Montreal and received her culinary training at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York. Gail resides in New York City.