Gail Simmons Slams Top Chef's Influence On Culture Despite Its Success

Summary

• Top Chef's longevity has created a fanbase who think they're qualified to judge food like pros.
• Gail Simmons takes pride in how the show has heightened awareness of food and changed restaurant culture.
• Gail Simmons believes anyone can become a great cook with focus, practice, and passion, not just foodies.

While reality competition shows like American Idol or The Voice may have a more prominent position in pop culture, they don't seem to have had the same impact on daily life as Top Chef has. At least, this is according to longtime judge Gail Simmons.

During an interview with Salon, Gail Simmons claimed that the hit culinary competition show on Bravo has actually "created monsters" in society. This article will delve into what she said about the Top Chef viewers, how she judges the series, as well as what she thinks about the new host after Padma Lakshmi left.

Gail Simmons Claims Top Chef "Created Monsters" In It's Fanbase

Now in its 21st season, Top Chef is still as impactful as ever. More and more audience members are thinking they are as qualified to judge food as professionals. This is something that's been exacerbated by restaurant review sites such as Yelp -- as pointed out in a brutally satirical episode of South Park. But in an interview with Salon, Top Chef judge Gail Simmons took some responsibility for a generation who thinks they're all food experts. She knows that everyone with a social media account believes they could basically do her job. Even without all of the experience and qualifications she's earned over her lengthy and remarkable career.

"We created monsters."

Simmons continued by saying, "But we're actually really proud of it because I do think that even though sometimes we can't believe that there's a lot of silly language and food can get really crazy of course on social media and things like that, we are proud of the fact that it also made people so much more aware of what they eat, of the way that they cook, of what they eat, when they go out, where they go, and I think in a way, the show changed the economy of restaurants in America."

The longtime judge went on to say that the whole point of Top Chef is to inspire viewers and get them excited about food.

"All the people on our show, all the contestants have been cooking for 10-plus years. They are at the pinnacle of their careers. They are not amateurs. Our show is not an amateur show at all so we're not looking for amateurs who think it would be fun to be chefs, but we are looking to inspire you in the kitchen, to make you think about food, to make you try things you've never tried, go out and eat a different dish or buy a new ingredient."

Simmons continued by telling Salon that anyone can get to the level of the Top Chef contestants and judges, it just takes time and practice. In other words, there's more than just being "a foodie" to the food critic scene.

"That doesn't mean that some people aren't better at it than others, but I do believe no matter who you are, if you do it enough, if you practice, if you put the time into it, then you will become a great coo," Simmons said to Salon in March 2024. "Anyone can be a good cook. It just requires focus, attention, and a little bit of passion."

What Gail Simmons Thinks Of The New Host Of Top Chef After Padma Lakshmi Left

Over the years, fans have gotten to know some of the winners of Top Chef, including season 19 winner Buddha Lo as well as season 18 winner Gabe Erales. But fans will get to know season 10 winner Kristen Kish even better thanks to the departure of longtime host Padma Lakshmi. With Kish stepping in, it only makes sense why Salon would ask longtime judge Gail Simmons what she thinks of the new host.

"Having Kristen come on and take over for Padma [Lakshmi] was just an opportunity for a reset for the show overall because we've been doing this a long time and when someone new comes in in that position, it caused us to question, to change, to tweak, to evolve, and I think that's what keeps “Top Chef” fresh, and Kristen will do that for sure."

Simmons continued by saying that Kristen Kish will bring her own style to the 21st season of the Bravo show.

"[Kish]'s a professional chef, she's won the show, so having a winning contestant as the host gives an enormous amount of empathy I think for the contestants. She treats them in a completely different way. She has a different relationship with them. She really understands what they're going through. She addresses them differently, but also she inspired us to make a lot of other changes to the game and to really up the ante. To make it harder, more challenging, more exciting, to put in a few more twists and turns along the way. She also just has her own style, and I think that that'll just feel really new. We just loved having her around. She's such a giant ball of sunshine. She was awesome."