Padma Parvati Lakshmi Vaidynathan, is an Indian American author, activist, model, and television host.
She has hosted the cooking competition program Top Chef on Bravo continuously since season 2. For her work, she received a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Reality Host in 2009.
She has published five books: three cookbooks Tangy, Tart, Hot & Sweet; The Encyclopedia of Spices & Herbs: An Essential Guide to the Flavors of the World; Easy Exotic, a memoir Love, Loss, and What We Ate, and a children's book; Tomatoes for Neela. She has acted in film and television, and hosted several cooking programs before Top Chef.