New York Diary

Celebrating Padma Lakshmi, Food and the World

One of the final highlights of 2025 was a buzzing book launch for Padma Lakshmi’s new book at Asia Society. “Padma’s All American: Tales, Travels, and Recipes from Taste the Nation and Beyond” is a cookbook by Padma Lakshmi that celebrates the diverse cultures of America. Packed with a hundred recipes, photos and thoughtful essays, the book is a must-have for foodies.

At this packed event, Padma was interviewed by Anu Sehgal of The Culture Tree. In this fun interview Padma spoke of diverse things and I will have that and the book review on Lassi with Lavina soon.

This event was a real foodie event with chefs from the hot new restaurants like Musafeer, Semma, Indochine and Ishq showcasing Padma’s recipes in taste treats for the guests.

Asked what she’d like readers to take away from her book, Padma said, “I hope that it makes you more curious about your fellow Americans, your Cambodian Americans, your Peruvian Americans, your Nigerian Americans. You know we all live, especially in New York, in a very diverse country where people across the street will be speaking a different language, eating different kinds of foods, praying to a different God – but oftentimes, because of those differences, we don’t walk across the street or get to know them. And I hope that I’m enticing you with the food – if you like the food, that you’ll be curious about the people from which that recipe comes from.”

Later in the month, Lassi with Lavina will share a link to a profile of Padma and review of Padma’s All-American Cookbook. Grab a copy of the book while you can!

Padma Lakshmi Gets Her Very Own Day in New York!