Padma Lakshmi Roasts the ‘Ranch Dressing’ Meal JD Vance Cooks for His Indian Wife Usha

**Vice President JD Vance’s Culinary Misstep Draws Criticism from Padma Lakshmi**

In a recent segment of Fox News, Vice President JD Vance recounted one of the worst meals he has prepared for his wife, Usha Vance, leading to commentary from prominent chef and television host Padma Lakshmi. The exchange has ignited discussions about culinary competency and cultural sensitivity in the kitchen.

During the interview, Vance described his attempt to create a vegetarian dish for Usha, who adheres to a meat-free diet. He explained his thought process, stating, “Usha is a vegetarian, and I am not. So, I’m thinking to myself, what does a vegetarian eat? Vegetables, dairy and bread.” This rationalisation led him to purchase pre-made crescent rolls, which he shaped into a pizza, topped with assorted vegetables and ranch dressing before baking.

“Honestly, it was disgusting,” Vance admitted, later branding the meal as “actually inedible”. His admission has since stirred media attention, particularly from Lakshmi, known for her expertise in culinary arts and her role as a judge on the widely acclaimed show *Top Chef*.

Addressing Vance’s cooking on *The Daily Show*, Lakshmi expressed her disbelief at the choice to serve ranch dressing—a condiment not typically associated with Indian cuisine. “He’s married an Indian woman, so she comes from this very deep vast culinary tradition, you know, and he’s giving her, what was it, ranch dressing?” she remarked, clearly perplexed by the dish’s lack of authenticity.

Further criticising Vance’s lack of knowledge about his wife’s dietary preferences, she added, “Also, he’s like, ‘She’s a vegetarian. She only eats bread, vegetables, and dairy.’ You’ve been married to this person for over a decade, right? And we eat lots of things, right? Rice, lentils, beans, squash, all this stuff.” Her comments highlighted a perceived disconnect between Vance’s understanding of vegetarian cooking and the rich culinary heritage that Usha likely brings from her Indian background.

Lakshmi’s playful critique did not end there; she quipped that perhaps Vance might not fully appreciate his wife’s culinary preferences, concluding, “But, I mean, maybe he knows what she likes because she doesn’t really have good taste.”

The segment prompted *The Daily Show* host Desi Lydic to inquire about Lakshmi’s own culinary mishaps, leading her to share a humorous anecdote. She recalled a partner who served her tea in bed, leaving a trail of spills that revealed their clumsiness. Lakshmi commented, “You can tell a lot about a chef by the way they cook and how clean they are. Uh-huh. But that’s true of men too,” adding a layer of levity to her observations on the quirks of culinary experiences.

Beyond this amusing discourse, Lakshmi is returning to television with a new show, *America’s Culinary Cup*, which is set to premiere on CBS. As the creator, host, and executive producer, she aims to refresh the cooking competition genre with a unique format. The series will feature 16 elite chefs challenged to navigate ten “culinary commandments”, marking a significant evolution in culinary programming.

At CBS’s presentation during the Television Critics Association Winter Tour, Lakshmi expressed her ambition for the series, saying, “I thought the genre was ready for a shake-up, for a refresh, and for something new and different. And I wanted to be the one who did it.” Her vision reflects a desire to elevate cooking programming while also celebrating diverse culinary traditions.

As the culinary world watches this amusing debate unfold, Lakshmi’s witty commentary serves as a reminder of the importance of cultural context in cooking. Meanwhile, Vance may be left reconsidering his culinary experiments as he seeks to better honour his wife’s rich culinary legacy in future meals.