Padma Lakshmi has come to the defense of a Southern Indian restaurant in New York City after a couple of food influencers gave the establishment a negative review.
And the television personality and cookbook author didn’t mince words in the wake of The VIP List’s harsh critique of Semma in the West Village, which is the only Indian restaurant in NYC with a Michelin star.
It all started when Meg Radice and Audrey Jongen, who have nearly 600,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram combined, took aim at the Michelin Guide, a highly regarded restaurant guide that focuses on evaluating restaurants based on the quality of their food, not just the ambiance or service.
‘This is why I’ve lost faith in the Michelin system … here’s the real tea,’ one of the women ssays off the top of the video.
‘I could name 15 better Indian restaurants right now, including the biryani cart outside of my apartment.’
After highlighting a couple of bright spots about Semma’s cuisine, and giving a disclaimer that this is a Southern Indian restaurant, the reviewer proceeded to say that she didn’t expect to see ‘tiki masala’ on the menu, which was an incorrect reference of tikka masala.
Padma Lakshmi joined in on the conversation of a couple of food influencers, The VIP List, who gave a harsh critique of the South Indian restaurant Semma in New York City
She went on to complain why all the dishes she tried were ‘drowned in this mystery sauce.’
The reviewer followed up by revealing how she ‘almost went full Helen Keller’ after getting sauce in her eye, before adding, ‘Usually I’m a wh*** for oxtail, but I closed my legs for this.’
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The VIP List review concluded: ‘Overall nothing was horrible but nothing was great either, and I truly do not get the hype. Go cry about it.’
Soon after a slew of people took to the comments section to blast the duo’s review.
One person wrote ‘this video is sooo trashy’, while another focused on the tone of the narration, ‘Why is she yelling at us?’
There were a number of people mystified by her use of ‘mystery sauce.’
‘Do you not try to find out anything about the culture/food you’re partaking in??’ one questioned.
‘Now girl, how are we supposed to take your review of any Indian restaurant seriously when you say things like ‘tiki masala’, was another popular sentiment being tossed around in the comments.
It took more than three weeks for the video to grab the attention of Lakshmi, who knows a thing or two about food.
‘This is why I’ve lost faith in the Michelin system … here’s the real tea,’ The VIP List review began off the top of the video
‘I could name 15 better Indian restaurants right now, including the biryani cart outside of my apartment,’ one of the reviewers said in the clip
Specializing in Southern Indian cuisine, Semma, which is located in the West Village of Downtown Manhattan, is the only Indian restaurant in New York City with a Michelin star
The reviewer said she didn’t expect to see ‘tiki masala’ on the menu, which was an incorrect reference of tikka masala
On Thursday, the former Top Chef host took to her TikTok page to share about a ‘really annoying video’ that was ‘brought to my attention’
On Thursday, the former Top Chef host took to her TikTok page to share about a ‘really annoying video’ that was ‘brought to my attention.’
‘I try not to get involved in these little things but I can’t help but respond or at least comment,’ Lakshmi explained, before focusing on The VIP List’s video.
‘I’m pretty sure Michelin doesn’t give a s**t about you either, or what you think about anything, let alone food.’
She added, ‘Just a tip, before you go off slagging other cuisines, maybe you should understand them a little bit more. Or at least, I don’t know, pronounce the dishes you’re actually critiquing. There’s no tiki anything in Indian cuisine. Not in North or South Indian cuisine.’
The Madras, India native, who has worked as a host and judge on Top Chef (2006–2023), told The VIP List: ‘By the way, Semma isn’t made for you, it’s not, it’s made for us.’
‘I’m pretty sure if nobody but desis [or those of South Asian origin] went there for the rest of its existence, it would still be booked solid for the next decade,’ Lakshmi concluded.
‘You seem like nice girls. I can only judge you by how you judge. I think you should do a little more research before you go deciding about what you’re going to slag off, okay? Just a tip.’
The support for Padma’s response video was overwhelming, with many people referencing her as an expert on food, especially Indian cuisine, while bashing The VIP List.
‘If THE Padma Lakshmi dragged me like this I’d deactivate my account and move to a cabin off the grid,’ one fan shared.
‘I’m pretty sure Michelin doesn’t give a s**t about you either,’ the Top Chef alum said, before telling the duo to do ‘more research before you go deciding about what you’re going to slag off’
Along with Top Chef, Lakshmi’s extensive food and cuisine resume includes hosting Taste The Nation With Padma Lakshmi, as well as writing two cookbooks and a culinary book
There were others who agreed with posts like: ‘Tell them about themselves, Padma!!’
Someone else took back to The VIP List’s TikTok page and wrote, ‘Padma Lakshmi has spoken on ya’ll. hang it up, turn it in.’
Not only has the longtime model worked as a host and judge on Top Chef (2006–2023), she also has the lead in the travel and food documentary television series Taste The Nation With Padma Lakshmi since 2020.
Throughout her career she’s written two cookbooks – Easy Exotic (1999) and Tangy, Tart, H๏τ and Sweet (2007) – along with the culinary book – The Encyclopedia of Spices and Herbs: An Essential Guide to the Flavors of the World (2016).
Afterward her scathing reʙuттal, The VIP List ladies didn’t seem too bothered by her video, explaining their reasoning for what they do on Instagram.
‘Social media gives us the freedom to spotlight what we think is great, and call it out when it’s not,’ they concluded. ‘If we don’t vibe with a place, that’s not a scandal. It’s just content. It’s commentary. It’s satire.’
