Indian-American television personality and food expert Padma Lakshmi expressed deep worry about the present state of the United States. She described it as a "dark period" and shared her hope that her latest cookbook might encourage people from varied communities to reach out and connect with one another.
A Culinary Celebration of American Diversity
Lakshmi's new book, titled 'Padma's All American: Tales, Travels, and Recipes from Taste the Nation and Beyond,' serves as a tribute to America's rich culinary heritage shaped by immigrants. The work weaves together personal stories and recipes gathered from a wide range of immigrant and Indigenous communities across the country.
Each chapter profiles individuals from different backgrounds whom Lakshmi encountered during her travels. She hopes these narratives will spark interest and dialogue.
Addressing Rising Anti-Immigrant Sentiment
Speaking at an event hosted by the Asia Society in New York last month, in partnership with the cultural organization The Culture Tree, Lakshmi addressed the growing climate of division. "We're in a very dark period in our country right now," she stated frankly. "I'm afraid to say that it's probably going to get darker before the light finally comes back."
Against this backdrop, she voiced a clear aspiration for her book. She wants it to ignite curiosity about fellow Americans—whether they are Cambodian American, Peruvian American, Nigerian American, or from any other background.
Using Food as a Bridge Between Cultures
The Emmy-nominated host and bestselling author explained her strategy. She believes food can act as a powerful connector. "I'm enticing you with the food," she said. "If you like the food, that you'll be curious about the people from which that recipe comes."
Lakshmi pointed out that in diverse places like New York, people often live side-by-side yet remain strangers. "People across the street will be speaking a different language, eating different kinds of foods, praying to a different God," she observed. "But oftentimes, because of those differences, we don't walk across the street or get to know them."
A Hopeful Message of Shared Humanity
Lakshmi emphasized that her goal is not to lecture people. She aims to combat the prevailing darkness and bring people closer together through shared stories and meals. She urged readers to explore the profiles in her book, which feature extraordinary stories of everyday people.
"I want us to know each other more, so that we hopefully talk with each other more," she said during the conversation, which was moderated by Anu Sehgal, Founder and CEO of The Culture Tree.
She concluded with a powerful reminder of common ground. "We all want the same things," Lakshmi told the applauding audience. "We all want to take care of our elders when they age. We all want our children to flourish and be safe and healthy. We all want a roof over our family's head where we can all thrive. Those aren't Chinese values or Colombian values. They're just human values."
