e wrote:

TY for that. Wish I'd been able to read this earlier in the season. It's nice to know the person behind the clothes.

*air-kisses from st. lou*

posted on January 10, 2007 at 8:27 PM

alev wrote:

i love you. u are my favorite of the judges

posted on January 10, 2007 at 9:29 PM

Karin wrote:

Please, please replace Gail. She is like every boss I ever had....she is not doing her job unless she is ripping on everyone's dish. WE GET IT....you have a sophisticated taste, you became a chef before you had to go on a reality tv show, and your just an editor of a food magazine....please remove chip!!!! and her from any other episodes.... she is sooooo DRAMA.

posted on January 10, 2007 at 11:28 PM

Seji wrote:

Ummm..yeah. Thanks for the "indepth" look at who she really is. Especially the comment she made about Cliff.

posted on January 11, 2007 at 9:46 AM

Karen Derby wrote:

Andy, your interviews ALWAYS add so much to our appreciation of the folks on the show -- you strike this breezy pose, but you manage to reveal so much of what is important about these individuals.

It is a rare talent -- congratulations, and we look forward to more!

posted on January 11, 2007 at 11:53 AM

DK wrote:

Awesome Q&A!
I truly have a newfound respect for Padma.
(Top Chef Word Association---hilarious!)

posted on January 11, 2007 at 11:56 AM

Mother Hubbard wrote:

Someone please tell Padma that the "red wine-soaked flambé fiasco" was NOT Suyai's; Elia was responsible for that disaster.

posted on January 11, 2007 at 12:43 PM

TD wrote:

Hi Andy - I just wanted to stop by and say hello and that I really really really really love the show Top Chef. Although last season's was much better in terms of maturity and professionalism among the contestants, this current group is really entertaining. So thank you to you and the entire crew involved with Top Chef.

Is it OK to make a suggestion or two? I know I'm not the only one who might have this idea - but reading the judges' blogs this season, it becomes really clear how difficult the deliberating can be at the Judges Table when trying to decide who to eliminate. Could the production team possibly show some kind of laspe-time so the audience can see how darn long it takes? Sometimes there is criticism on how quickly decisons are made and I know, from reading the blogs, that that is in fact not the case at all.

Anyway, thanks again! And good luck with Season 3! I can't wait!! :)

posted on January 11, 2007 at 2:34 PM

Wendy wrote:

Harold's comments on the restaurant challenge were on point. I wondered who that guest judge was and why he was so mean. It would be helpful if a minute or two was deleted from the backstage strife, and we were given a proper intro to the guest judge, so that we knew why we should care about his or her judgement. Or do a 10 Q&A after the fact here, so that we figure it out. As viewers we are, after all, more bonded with the contestants than the outsider. Who was that guy?

And the Kraft sponsorship was, well, heavy handed. Not heavy in a good way. With Bailey's, okay, it was the holidays. Plus Bailey's tastes good. Those Kraft products are swill. Are they really what a Top Chef would or should use? This was like one of those joke Trump Apprentice tasks that are nonstop promotion. Burnett gets around this by working the sponsorships into the winner's rewards. But would any one of them have been happy receiving a case of mayo? Would you?

posted on January 11, 2007 at 4:23 PM

Jack Sterling wrote:

Before you actually open up this blog the preview looks like it says "I called her up first thing in the morning for some coffee", and I was going to say...You had coffee with Padma!!! You lucky ---!!!! But then I saw it was "coffee-talk". Ohhh :(

Like the interview though.

posted on January 12, 2007 at 1:20 AM

Suzanne wrote:

Cutest outfit ever that you gave Laura Bennet's baby Finn, Andy. Did you pick it out ?

I have 2 thoughts on Top Chef.
1- I watch and enjoy but doubt it will sky rocket to the popularity levels of Project Runway simply because you can't taste the food.
2- Those cheftestants are being unreasonably brutal to Marcel. It smacks of production egging them on for some good camera drama like those seemingly contrived issues that come up on Project Runway (models ruining outfits before the runway show, models just not showing up for work....its hard to believe that stuff isn't choreographed.)

But love you, love your blog and am very anxiously awaiting Top Design!!

posted on January 12, 2007 at 9:31 AM

regina wrote:

I love this show and all the judges.I hated to see Michael go ,but Tom said it best that he was being carried and he didn't do really good until he got sick.Too little too late.Hated to see BETTY go,but OH well.Marcel use to annoy me,but he has a good understanding of the dishes and how to prepare and present them use to want Sam to win,but he's getting a little arrogant.I can't wait her for Cliff to be booted off .I vote for the french cutie or Marcel although I guess Sam will win.

posted on January 12, 2007 at 10:42 AM

Tad wrote:

it's almost as if there is a public relations 'damage control' campaign going on in these blogs to bolster padma's waining popularity among viewers. to name just a few, shauna, in her blog, told viewers to 'get over it', gail went on record in defense of padma's clothing, and now this 'in-depth' interview. i am sure padma is a lovely woman, and i actually thought she performed well as host when ted allen was the guest judge. however, we are all adults here. can't you guys just admit that maybe, just maybe padma needs to wear more venue appropriate clothing? this 'it was hot outside' excuse is about as convincing as bill clinton's 'i didn't inhale' excuse. tom and gail always manage to look professional on top chef, regardless of heat, and so should padma. i have no problem with her clothes when placed in their proper context, but a show that defines itself as 'top' should have exacting standards for contestants and judges alike

posted on January 12, 2007 at 1:32 PM

Jack wrote:

Lighten up TAD!
What did Padma do, pee on your crepes? She hasn't shown up in a formal gown or a bikini. She's not doing the cooking, so what is "venue appropriate clothing"? She comes in introduces a guest judge, tells the chefs the rules, and eats a little bit. Is she supposed to wear jeans and a sweatshirt? Actually she wears just about what the the owner of my restaurant wears when she comes in. I'll be sure to tell her to wear "venue appropriate clothing" next time.

posted on January 13, 2007 at 9:09 PM

Carol wrote:

Nothing makes me laugh quite like the commercial for Top Chef 2 (or maybe it was a clip) of Padma saying "Food just excites me" in her quiet, deadpan voice. Ah, irony.

posted on January 16, 2007 at 9:51 AM

jim seymour wrote:

I'm glad Mike was finally sent packing,much too indifferent about everything. Elia at times is good to Marcel but at other times joins the crowd against him. Marcel is annoying at times but in an innocuous way, not trying to get under peoples skin just looking out for himself. Sam is cocky, has some good moments like tonight when he helped out Marcel to get his dish out. Elan is another crowd follower. Padma I liked her tenderness (concern) toward Marcel tonight after his struggle with cliff. Gail usually comes off as a B#$%^ nothing ever seems right by her except showed some heart by suggesting that since Cliff was going to be eliminated anyway to let the rest go to Hawaii. Lastly, two things, I ahte seeing someone get booted in the first episode. It should be a trial run with "you would have been sent home...". Second, I hate when the judges say to make food a certain way " make it strongly taste of chocolate and then rebuke a chef for it tasting to much like chocolate", or when they had the beach show for Surfers and were instructed to cook for athletes but not told which sport it was for, were later rebuked for not cooking what Surfers would eat. That's all for now.

posted on January 17, 2007 at 11:31 PM

jen wrote:

I was so uncomfortable with the way marcell was woken up and attacked by cliff. Drinking or no- cliff has some serious bounary issues. I was also suprised and dissapointed in their silly decision to shave their heads--timing seemed so wrong for that. It made them seem ungrateful for this opportunity theyve all been given. A wierd show, I just felt so bad for marcell. Very UNCOMFORTABLE!!!

posted on January 18, 2007 at 5:26 PM

min wrote:

Wow. I get from this that Padma is actually smart and somewhat funny. That's very weird because she is just so darn DULL on the show. She's dang beautiful, though. So was last season's lady. Beautiful and dull. I would really like to see someone with some spunk be the hostess next season. Padma is a foodie who knows her stuff, and maybe it's the S-L-O-W accent that throws me, but she just seems like a hollow vessel on the show. Can Ted Allen be the host next season, pretty please???? Or, of course.....Anthony Bourdain. DANG funny. I'm sure he'll never return, but if he did, I would want to see more more more.

posted on January 20, 2007 at 12:21 AM

Dawn wrote:

I am thrilled with Padma she is such a welcome addition to this show. So professional yet human and decent.. But, will somebody PLEASE do something to that Gail's hair and her eye makeup??!! It drives me CRAZY!!! I figure with a TV show they ought to be able to do better than raccoon eyes and those 2 tails that hang down in front!!!

posted on January 20, 2007 at 5:39 PM

iris chavarria wrote:

Padma, if your mother worked worked at an Aids ward, would you have made fun of them? People with neurobiological disorders are humans with serious illnesses and should not be made fun of.
You perpetuate ignorance among the masses and give permission to make fun of people, who by no fault of their own, suffer terrible illnesses. Would you make jokes about women with breast cancer?
People with neurobiological disorders suffer greatly and should be applauded for their courage to step out into the world everyday and try to fight the stigma that you and Hollywood help create.
I wouldn't be surprised if you don't post this.
Padma, you may know a thing or two about food, but you have lots to learn about compassion for people in general.

posted on January 25, 2007 at 9:03 PM

SueG wrote:

I'm sure Padma is perfectly nice, but she is a really boring host. She needs to be replaced.

posted on January 26, 2007 at 8:32 AM

Karina wrote:

I think she's just poised actually, and the way she speak reflects that. She's a classy woman who just happens to look great in hot pants and a bikini top. Sue her.

posted on February 1, 2007 at 12:52 AM