Gail Simmons

Gail Simmons 2017

Gail Simmons (born May 19, 1976) is a Canadian food writer and television personality. She is best known as a judge on the reality television series Top Chef, which airs on the Bravo network.

Early Life and Education[edit | edit source]

Gail Simmons was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She attended McGill University in Montreal, where she majored in anthropology and Spanish. After graduating, she decided to pursue her passion for food and attended the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City.

Career[edit | edit source]

Early Career[edit | edit source]

After completing her culinary education, Simmons worked in the kitchens of renowned restaurants such as Le Cirque and Vong. She also worked as an assistant to Jeffrey Steingarten, the food critic at Vogue magazine.

Food & Wine Magazine[edit | edit source]

In 2004, Simmons joined Food & Wine magazine as a special projects manager. In this role, she was responsible for overseeing the magazine's events and culinary programs, including the annual Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Colorado.

Top Chef[edit | edit source]

Gail Simmons gained widespread recognition as a judge on the reality television series Top Chef, which premiered in 2006. She has been a regular judge on the show since its inception and has also appeared on its spin-offs, including Top Chef Masters and Top Chef: Just Desserts.

Other Television Appearances[edit | edit source]

In addition to her work on Top Chef, Simmons has appeared on various other television programs, including Iron Chef America, The Today Show, and Good Morning America. She has also served as a guest judge on Chopped and Beat Bobby Flay.

Writing[edit | edit source]

Gail Simmons is the author of the memoir Talking with My Mouth Full: My Life as a Professional Eater, which was published in 2012. She has also contributed to numerous publications, including Gourmet, GQ, and People.