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The Divisive Fruit Padma Lakshmi Avoids At All Costs By Cassie Womack Oct. 13, 2025 6:00 pm EST

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Padma Lakshmi is pretty open-minded when it comes to food — it's a part of her job. But there's one fruit that the cookbook author and former "Top Chef" host can't stand. Lakshmi dissed durian, a Southeast Asian fruit with a foul reputation — though its unique taste is one that many people adore.

Lakshmi, who moved to the United States from India at age four, often uses her experience as an immigrant in her work. In her show "Taste the Nation," she explores how immigrants shape American food culture. While she clearly values a wide range of cuisines and culinary traditions, durian is one Indian delicacy tha

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