#85: Gail Simmons - Top Chef, The First to Reality TV, and Decaying Meat | The Food, Conflict, and Unity Series
Listen to us wherever you get your podcasts (click the links below!)
Episode Description
What does it take to make your dreams a reality, especially as a woman in the restaurant industry? In this episode of Finding Founders, join us in exploring the entertainment side of the food industry with Gail Simmons, a food writer, author, cook, and judge on Top Chef.
Gail grew up in a melting pot of both the city of Toronto and her Canadian, South African, and Jewish background. Her mother taught cooking classes and wrote a food column and Gail was a food enthusiast growing up, but Gail never saw her career going in that same direction until college. In pursuing food writing after college, Gail realized culinary school was the next step in pursuing this dream. After school and some brutal restaurant experience, Gail was ready to enter the world of food writing.
She began as an assistant for Jeffrey Steingarten, a renowned food critic at Vogue Magazine. She continued to work as an event director at Food & Wine and eventually a judge on Top Chef. But this success took time, listen to learn more!
Show Notes
Childhood: The vibrant city of Toronto and her own background set the stage for what was to come.
College: At McGill, Simmons found passion in food, but still struggled to connect her enthusiasm to a specific career path.
Finding Direction: After moving home and watching her friends continue on with their careers, Simmons faced the all-important question, what next.
Culinary School: She found her calling and her people, but the path forward was far from easy.
Obstacles Early On: Sexism and pressure were constantly present working in the kitchen.
Jeffrey Steingarten: During some late-night reading, Simmons found her calling.
Dream Job: But what happens after you’ve secured your dream job, Simmons was about to find out.
Food & Wine: A chance connection led her to take the job at Food & Wine, and take a more central role in the intersection of food and media.
Bravo: How can you make a reality show about food?
Embracing her Role: Simmons decided to commit full-time to Top Chef, but this role in the spotlight was not without new challenges.
The Future: Simmons talks Top Chef Amateurs and gives advice to young professionals looking for direction.
Links From the Episode
Gail Simmons’ Website: http://gailsimmons.com/
Gail Simmons’ Twitter: https://twitter.com/gailsimmons?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Gail Simmons’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gailsimmonseats/?hl=en
Top Chef Website: https://www.bravotv.com/top-chef
Top Chef Amateurs: https://www.bravotv.com/top-chef-amateurs
Bringing It Home: Favorite Recipes from a Life of Adventurous Eating by Gail Simmons: https://www.amazon.com/Bringing-Home-Favorite-Recipes-Adventurous/dp/1455542202
Talking with My Mouth Full: My Life as a Professional Eater by Gail Simmons: https://www.amazon.com/Talking-My-Mouth-Full-Professional/dp/1401324509
The Man Who Ate Everything by Jeffrey Steingarten:
