Where 'Top Chef' Host Padma Lakshmi Has Been Eating in Seattle This Week

Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi has been in our midst the last two days, and surprising no one, she's dined well. On Instagram, she's given shout outs to How to Cook a Wolf:

And the food is just as amazing!! #howtocookawolf

A photo posted by Padma Lakshmi (@padmalakshmi) on Oct 19, 2015 at 7:59pm PDT

Pike Place Market:

Pike Place Market is one of the best markets in the country. It's jam packed with fresh produce, meat, seafood, cheeses, charcuterie, noodle shops, chocolate, handicrafts, local artisanal fare and a whole lot of other random funky stuff. If ever in Seattle don't miss this treasure. One of my favorite places to go. I love you Seattle!!

A photo posted by Padma Lakshmi (@padmalakshmi) on Oct 20, 2015 at 3:55pm PDT

and Mamnoon:

This glorious and scrumptious picnic was brought to me by a Syrian angel named Racha Haroun. Racha's parents still live in Syria today and I can't imagine what hell they must be going through. I have been to Syria and it is a beautiful country full of lovely people, amazing history, deep heritage and ancient culture. And of course delicious food. This country has been raped and pillaged for decades by one tyrannical force after another. My heart goes out to Racha and the constant worry and heartache she must face daily knowing that her family is in very real and present danger, and that her birthplace is being plundered. Racha has a great restaurant in Seattle called Mamnoon and the folks in that kitchen do a fantastic job of honoring the tastes and traditions of her native cuisine. Racha shows great pride and respect for her homeland, one of world's most ancient and fascinating places. This post is not about the food. This is about life and death. This is for hundreds and thousands of Rachas and their parents and children and brothers and sisters. What if your parents were in such danger? What if you jumped every time the phone rang because you didn't know if that was the call you dreaded. Racha is holding a fundraiser at Mamnoon on this Thursday called 'Soup for Syria'. Even if you're not in Seattle, please consider donating in the name of your own parents or loved ones. Link is in my bio. Mamnoon has delicious food, but right now its chef and owner has a very heavy heart. Let's show her she is not alone. Let's help her do something for her parents and for all the others in Syria. And I encourage everyone to find out more about Syria and its history and culture. Don't let the bad guys erase this beautiful place. It is a treasure to be protected and defended, for its history is a vital part of the very history of mankind. @mamnoonrestaurant

A photo posted by Padma Lakshmi (@padmalakshmi) on Oct 20, 2015 at 10:48pm PDT

Concerning Mamnoon, Lakshmi specifically calls out the restaurant's Soup for Syria fundraiser scheduled for tomorrow, and makes a plea for attendance and donations. "[Co-owner] Racha [Haroun] shows great pride and respect for her homeland, one of the world's most ancient and fascinating places," Lakshmi writes. "This post is not about the food. This is about life and death. This is for hundreds and thousands of Rachas and their parents and children and brothers and sisters."

Again, for the event, soups from local chefs will be served for a $35 donation, and a full-course meal with a copy of the Soup for Syria cookbook will be available for a $250 donation. Just show up for the soup or reserve space by calling (206) 906 9606 or emailing reservations@mamnoonrestaurant.com. Find more details on the restaurant's site.

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