For 17 years on Top Chef — since the Bravo cooking competition’s second season — there’s been one consistent voice leading the contestants and ultimately telling them to “Pack your knives and go.” That era is coming to an end, as Padma Lakshmi has announced she is leaving the franchise, explaining in a statement why she felt now was the right time.
Top Chef: World All-Stars is nearing the end of its season, where Padma Lakshmi will be among the esteemed panelists who crown an overall winner from a cast of returning Top Chef champions and finalists from competitions around the world. It will apparently be a bittersweet ending, though, as the longtime host announced that the 20th season of the show will be her last. In a social media statement, Lakshmi said:
