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‘Taste the Nation’ Host Padma Lakshmi Shares 5 Perfect Gifts for the Home Chef in Your Life

The Emmy Award-winning culinary personality was featured in the 2023 SI Swimsuit Issue.

Ananya Panchal

Padma Lakshmi’s 5 Kitchen Must-Haves

Padma Lakshmi was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica. 

If there is one person’s cooking advice we trust, it’s Padma Lakshmi’s. The 2023 SI Swimsuit model, who was photographed by Yu Tsai in Dominica, hosted the Emmy Award-winning cooking show Top Chef for 17 years before recently announcing her departure. In 2020, the 52-year-old became the creator, host and executive producer of Taste the Nation on Hulu.

The mom of one modeled for several major brands when she was in her 20s, but has spent the past few decades growing her wildly successful culinary empire.

“In spite of imposter syndrome, I have still managed to carve out a corner of the universe for myself,” she said. “You just have to push through the fear. It’s always going to be there.”

The New York Times best-selling author is a vision in front of the camera and a maven in the kitchen. She’s also got a knack for gift giving and her area of expertise, of course, falls within items perfect for the home chef.

Below are Padma Lakshmi’s top five gifts suggestions for home cooks.

Microplane

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“[A microplane] will come in handy for a snow of parmesan for your pasta, but also for lemon zest, because it’s so fine,” she says. “It’s a revelation.”

Try this stainless steel microplane from Amazon for $9.98.

Mortar and pestle

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Lakshmi admits that she has “like seven” mortar and pestle’s of all different sizes in her own kitchen. She suggests a small one as well as a larger one made of lava rock because it’s more porous.

Try this heavy granite, anti-scratch mortar and pestle from Amazon for $38.99.

Mezzaluna

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A mezzaluna is a bladed tool in the shape of a crescent moon that Lakshmi says is great for chopping herbs.

Try this stainless steel mezzaluna with a silicone handle from Amazon for $9.99.

Silicone pads

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She loves “silpats” for laying out cookies.

Try these 100% non-stick, non-slip, and BPA free silicon pads from Amazon for $19.99.

Butcher’s string

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Lakshmi suggests butcher’s string for “anything you need to tie up” in the kitchen.

Try this heavy-weight, natural cotton butcher’s string from Amazon for $5.99.

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Ananya Panchal

ANANYA PANCHAL

Ananya Panchal is a writer on the Lifestyle and Trending News team for SI Swimsuit. Before joining SI Swimsuit in 2022, she worked at Bustle, the San Francisco Chronicle and the TODAY Show. When she is not writing or doom-scrolling on social media, Panchal can be found playing sudoku, rewatching One Tree Hill or trying new restaurants. She's also a coffee and chocolate (separately) enthusiast. Panchal has a bachelor’s in communications and journalism from Boston University.