Padma Lakshmi Discusses Immigrant Food Stories in New Book

NEW YORK, NY — Padma Lakshmi, renowned author and television host, recently released her new book, Padma’s All American: Tales, Travels, and Recipes from Taste the Nation and Beyond, which chronicles her journey exploring immigrant cuisines in America. The book was inspired by her critically acclaimed Hulu series, Taste the Nation, which aired from 2020 to 2021.

In her book, released on November 4, Lakshmi reflects on her experiences traveling across the United States, interacting with diverse immigrant communities. Her aim was to showcase how these communities have influenced American food culture. Lakshmi stated that the series was her response to the increasing anti-immigrant rhetoric following the 2016 election.

“There was so much love, both critically and with viewers, that I felt this would be a great record of this thing that we did,” Lakshmi shared in a recent interview. The book combines recipes and stories from people she met on her travels, creating a comprehensive picture of America’s culinary landscape.

During her journey, Lakshmi cooked and dined with people from various backgrounds, including the Gullah Geechee community in South Carolina and Thai immigrants in Las Vegas. She aims for her work to serve as a “love letter” to immigrants, expressing hope that it will inspire understanding among Americans.

“Food can bring people to the table and unlock doors,” Lakshmi noted about using food as a way to foster dialogue. However, she acknowledged her skepticism about food’s ability to change minds directly.

In addition to highlighting immigrant stories, the book includes profiles of individuals she featured on Taste the Nation, reinforcing the idea that diverse culinary traditions are an integral part of America’s identity.

Looking ahead, Lakshmi expressed her commitment to continue discussing these themes in her future projects, including her upcoming cooking competition series, America’s Culinary Cup, premiering on CBS next year.