Gail Simmons
Gail Simmons
Gail Simmons is a Canadian food writer and cookbook author. Since the show’s inception in 2006, she has served as a permanent judge on BRAVO’s Emmy-winning series Top Chef. Simmons was previously the head critic on Top Chef Duels and host of Top Chef: Just Desserts, Bravo’s pastry-focused spin-off of the Top Chef franchise. She was also co-host of “The Feed,” which aired in 2014 on FYI, A+E’s new lifestyle network. In addition to her work on Top Chef, Gail...
NationalityCanadian
ProfessionChef
Date of Birth19 May 1976
CityToronto, Canada
CountryCanada
In America, Blackberry Farm in Tennessee is one of the most amazing hotels I've had the privilege of staying at.
I'm tempted by everything. My husband makes fun of me because every day it's a new food that I love. I have a weakness for butterscotch pudding, ice cream in any flavor and dark chocolate, although that's one thing I do keep in my house - 70% dark chocolate.
I cook mostly vegetarian vegetable and bean stews. Quinoa salads. I make my mother-in-law's recipe for chicken and barley stew all the time.
My mother's kitchen was built to be the focal point of our house. I got into the kitchen often as a child.
Eating a lot is an occupational hazard but it's a pretty great problem to have. I spend a lot of time eating sweets on TV - cake, cupcakes, donuts, and pudding. It's a dream job, but at the same time there will be days where I wake up knowing I will eat 15 desserts!
Like baseball, food will never go out of style; we will always need to eat and we will always find it entertaining. I think of food TV this way - all the fun and none of the calories.
I run a solid 4-6 miles at a time, and over the last year two years I've gotten really into SoulCycle. It's sort of an evolved form of spinning.
I have a mantra in my head that there will always be another meal. I can put my fork down, knowing there will be good things in my future!
Dark chocolate, and salt and vinegar chips are my weakness - but not together.
Canada is a big part of my life.
At the beginning of the week, I roast a ton of vegetables so I can use them for the next few days. I also plan out meals in advance.
Always wear sunscreen and wash your makeup off at night.
I eat for a living, so working out is definitely part of my job, the same way that the eating, tasting, and drinking is.
There are few women in America that don't want to lose 5 pounds, but I refuse to let that thought dominate my life. And there are too many other real problems in the world - real obesity problems and real hunger problems - to worry that much about a few pounds that I'd like to lose.