Photo:Roy Rochlin/Getty Images
Roy Rochlin/Getty Images
Sometimes you just want one last dance before you leave the party.
Padma Lakshmiposted avideo to InstagramFriday, just one day after herfinal episodeonTop Chefaired,showing her dancing to “I Don’t Want To Be a Player No More” with her colleagues. The host can be seen grooving to the music with a backward hat on as everyone — includingAmar Santana,Gregory GourdetandKristen Kish— danced along at what appeared to be a cast and crew pizza party.
“Bye Top Chef ❤️❤️ here’s a rare look at what we’d do to entertain ourselves— sometimes I’d get lucky and my alumni greatest hits would all be in one room!!” Lakshmi captioned the post, adding the hashtags “#family” and “#dance.”
“I should win an Emmy for filming this 😂 glad you set her free into the world,” Top ChefAll-Star winner Melissa Kingwrote.
“This is everything,” a fan commented.
“OMG so fun!! All my faves, I’d love to be there! 🎉 💃🏽” said another.
Michael Kovac/Getty
Others used the comment section as an opportunity to tell Lakshmi how much they will miss her on the show after its Thursday nightseason 20 finale.
“You will be missed!!!!! So very very very much,” one comment read.
“Congrats@padmalakshmiso excited for your new adventures! Big shoes to fill for sure,” a follower wrote.
Lakshmi announced she would depart the show after17 yearsjust one week before the show’sseason finale.
“After much soul searching, I have made the difficult decision to leaveTop Chef,” the host and judgewrote on Twitter. “Having completed a glorious 20th season as host and executive producer, I am extremely proud to have been part of building such a successful show and of the impact it had in the worlds of television and food."
“I feel it’s time to move on and make space forTaste the Nation,my books and other creative pursuits," Lakshmi added of her award-winning Hulu series, now inits second season.
Craig Blankenhorn/Hulu
Lakshmi has starred on the series since its second season, which aired in 2006.Katie Lee Biegel hosted season 1.
In a statement shared with PEOPLE, a NBCUniversal spokesperson said: “Padma Lakshmi leaves behind an incredible legacy on Bravo’sTop Chef. Her impact on the Emmy, James Beard and Critics’ Choice Award-winning series is undeniable. We are grateful to Padma for being a consummate host, judge and executive producer, and for bringing her ingenuity and exceptional palate to each episode where she ate every bite of food on the series for over 17 years and 19 seasons. She will always be part of the Top Chef and the NBCUniversal family and has a seat at the judges’ table anytime.”
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Lakshmi’s replacement has not yet been named.
source: people.com
