Padma vs Samin: Cookbook Babies & Persian Food Drama!
In a deliciously awkward tete-a-tete, culinary celebs Samin Nosrat and Padma Lakshmi reveal cookbook writing feels like prolonged labor with emotional baggage. Samin, who sold her book in 2019 but took forever to cook it up, admits she shifted from grand food philosophy to boiled broccoli survival while battling grief and an 'abusive, dying dad' soap opera. Padma, who insists her next book 'Padma's All American' drops November 4, confesses feeling typecast by Top Chef and dodging Indian cookbook pressure despite five warring aunts disputing jaggery standards. Both bond over cookbook déjà vu and Internet fans who shriek 'Just stick to cooking'—because clearly, food celebrities should never have opinions.
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Nothing says ‘authentic American food’ like two cookbook queens airing family abuse, diaspora diet wars, and the emotional labor of writing recipes while being told to 'just stick to cooking.' Spoiler: food is apparently way messier than the kitchen.
Padma’s Aunt Jaggery Wars and Samin’s Persian Haters prove cookbook writing is just peaceful kitchen fun unless you're from a culture, then it’s a full reality show.
Sure, writing a cookbook sounds simple until you factor in grief, haters accusing you of cultural betrayal, and your teenager asking if anyone even buys cookbooks anymore.
Source: Eater | Published: 9/23/2025 | Author: Jaya Saxena
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