For nearly two decades, Padma Lakshmi became one of the most recognizable faces in food television through Top Chef. But according to Lakshmi, her new competition series was built around fixing some of the biggest problems she saw in the traditional reality cooking format.

During a recent appearance on Obsessed: The Podcast, the longtime television host opened up about the philosophy behind her CBS series America’s Culinary Cup, revealing that she intentionally removed many of the reality-TV elements commonly used in food competitions.

Lakshmi explained that one of her biggest goals was to create an environment where chefs could focus entirely on cooking rather than dealing with unnecessary stress and production gimmicks.

According to the former Top Chef host, contestants on many reality competition shows are often subjected to conditions that have little to do with culinary skill. She specifically criticized practices such as isolating contestants, taking away their phones, limiting contact with family members, and creating living situations that interfere with sleep and recovery.

Lakshmi described those tactics as “inhumane” and argued that they ultimately hurt the quality of the food being produced.

Instead of creating artificial pressure, she wanted America’s Culinary Cup to treat professional chefs like elite athletes and artists. In her view, top culinary talent should be given the resources necessary to perform at their highest level rather than being intentionally placed under exhausting conditions for entertainment value.

The veteran host pointed out that athletes, musicians, and other high-level professionals are typically encouraged to rest, train, and maintain healthy routines before important performances. She questioned why chefs should be treated differently when competing at the highest level.

One of the major differences between America’s Culinary Cup and many traditional cooking competitions is the atmosphere behind the scenes. Lakshmi said her years working in food television taught her that chefs consistently expressed the same desire: they simply wanted the opportunity to cook the best food possible.

Rather than emphasizing dramatic twists, contestant isolation, or personal conflicts, the CBS series focuses on culinary excellence and professional achievement. The competition features 16 accomplished chefs competing for a $1 million grand prize, one of the largest awards in food television.

Lakshmi also emphasized that although she is not a professional chef herself, her decades as a food writer, producer, and television personality allowed her to understand what culinary professionals value most. Listening to chefs over the years helped shape the format of her latest project.

The comments have generated discussion among food television fans, particularly because they arrive several years after Lakshmi’s departure from Top Chef. In 2023, she announced that she would leave the Bravo series after completing its twentieth season, describing the decision as difficult but necessary in order to pursue new opportunities.

Her exit marked the end of one of the most influential eras in reality cooking television. Alongside fellow judges Tom Colicchio and Gail Simmons, Lakshmi helped transform Top Chef into one of the most respected culinary competitions in the industry.

Now, with America’s Culinary Cup, she appears determined to push the genre in a different direction.

Rather than relying on contestant suffering, manufactured drama, or survival-style conditions, Lakshmi believes food competitions should celebrate chefs as professionals and allow their cooking to remain the center of the story.

Whether that approach becomes the future of food television remains to be seen, but her comments have reignited a broader conversation among viewers about how much reality-show drama is necessary—and whether great cooking competitions are better when the focus stays on the food itself.