Padma Lakshmi Launches a $1 Million Culinary Cup on CBS After Top Chef Exit
Padma Lakshmi explains she left Top Chef due to burnout and, with CBS backing, is launching America's Culinary Cup, a from-scratch, sport-like cooking competition on CBS with a $1 million prize—the largest ever for the genre. Produced with Susan Rovner, the show aims for prestige and broader reach, featuring 16 contestants, a flexible oval set, elimination-style head-to-heads, a farm twist, and a focus on 10 culinary commandments to create a clear, stats-driven viewing experience.
