Padma Lakshmi was all smiles with Top Chef winner Melissa King while celebrating the launch of her new book.
A video shared via the DelishYES Instagram account showed Lakshmi, 55, enjoying the food at New York City’s Semma restaurant while attending the Tuesday, November 4, event.
After sharing a message for the eventgoers, Lakshmi was seen laughing as King, 42, sat on her lap. As Lakshmi placed a hand over her face, King placed a hand on Lakshmi’s arm.
Us Weekly reached out to Lakshmi and King’s reps for comment.
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Days later, the pair shared a joint Instagram video cooking — where King joked that Lakshmi’s nails “are so gay right now.” While laughing, Lakshmi replied in the Sunday, November 9, clip, “Stop starting rumors.”
Last month, Lakshmi got candid about her bond with King. “Melissa is somebody whose cooking I always loved,” Lakshmi told People in October. “She’s fun and we enjoy each other’s company. She tends to be my plus one sometimes so people will see us on the red carpet together.”
Lakshmi explained that she’s also close with former contestants Gregory Gourdet, Kwame Onwuachi and Kristen Kish.
“So there’s quite a few of them, but these guys seem to be in New York the most,” she said.
Days later, the pair rocked joint The Addams Family costumes — with Lakshmi channeling her inner Morticia Addams and King as Gomez Addams. Other pals joined as Wednesday Addams and Lurch.
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“I would die for her. I would kill for her. 🥀🖤 — Gomez Paddams,” King wrote, while sharing a video of the group on November 1. In another post, King shared a photo posing with Lakshmi alongside the caption, “Cara Mia! 🥀,” which is the Italian phrase for “my dear.”
Years earlier, King won Top Chef season 17 in 2020 — which was hosted by Lakshmi. (King initially starred on season 12 of the cooking competition show. Lakshmi hosted Top Chef from 2006 to 2023, earning Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Reality Host in 2009, 2020, 2021 and 2022.)
While recalling how she felt when Lakshmi said she won, King told Parade at the time, “It’s so hard even to capture it all! I remember breaking down crying.”
“Everyone was bum-rushing me,” King continued. “So many things were going on. It felt very validating at that moment, knowing the vision of the menu I wanted to present to them was validated.”
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In King’s perspective, the judges “felt the passion and love that [she] put into it.”
“I started thinking of the entire season, and everything started flashing before me,” she explained. “Back to day one, when I looked at everyone and thought about how I would place to being called the winner. It’s all the feels!”
After King took home the win in 2020, Lakshmi praised her via a sweet message on social media.
“Melissa King, you really came into your own this season on Top Chef. It’s been such a pleasure to watch you blossom into a confident, on point and innovative chef,” Lakshmi shared on Facebook in June 2020. “You showed us how Chinese food can be elevated and Chinese flavors enhance all food. Your finale dishes were stunning. You make me so proud! Brava!!”
