Since its launch in the early 20th century, the guide has taken its share of criticism, from both those in the club and those outside. Some chefs infamously 'returned' their awarded stars and others lamented being downgraded. Commentators called out the body for its apparent bias toward Western cuisine, and some queried the morality of locations receiving a guide based on sponsorship. But despite its flaws, the guide remains a benchmark of quality and a coveted accolade within the restaurant industry.
Padma Lakshmi is unquestionably a woman of taste. As a host of the beloved food-competition series "Top Chef" and the star of the culinary docuseries "Taste the Nation," she's spent nearly two decades artfully conveying-and critiquing-flavors and aromas for an audience. Before that, she was a fashion writer and model, cultivating her own sense of what's worth wearing and seeing. And she isn't done evolving: she's recently begun performing standup comedy, an art form with a notoriously steep learning curve.