Padma Lakshmi's Hilarious Response To The 'Nature's Cereal' Trend

You might find this hard to believe, but "Top Chef" host Padma Lakshmi once suffered from that oh-so-common ailment that strikes all of us at one time or another: imposter syndrome (via Bravo). "On the first season of 'Top Chef,' I suffered from imposter syndrome ... I didn't have [restaurant cooking experience]. I thought, I'll just be a really good host," Lakshmi said (via Bravo's The Daily Dish). But that, of course, was 15 years ago, and in the years since then, Lakshmi has developed not only a well-deserved confidence in herself as a foodie (it didn't hurt that chef extraordinaire Éric Ripert once shouted out to Lakshmi's "sensitive palate,") but also a considerable swagger when it comes to all things edible. 

So then, should it really surprise us that on a Sunday evening in June, Padma Lakshmi super casually took the TikTok "nature's cereal" game up to the expert level when she posted a video response to the whole #naturescereal trend (via Twitter)? Nope. Not one little bit. Lakshmi's one little tweak promises to launch a whole new TikTok trend. 

When TikTok account @natures_food took the fruit-in-your-cereal concept to the extreme with a post about a "nature's cereal" made solely of various fruits plus coconut water, the world responded with an uproarious cheer — which is to say, the TikTok post was viewed more than six million times since February. But one culinary expert saw right through this silliness. We're talking, of course, about Padma Lakshmi, whose hilarious response to the nature's cereal trend promises to launch a whole new TikTok "nature's whatever" trend. Only this one involves ... vodka. Yes, please, Padma Lakshmi, we'll have what you're having.

Lakshmi posted a video in which she prepares a big ole bowl of "nature's cereal" only to take a taste and snark, "I mean, it's good, but it's not like ... cereal" (via Twitter). The creative culinary host and judge then proceeded to show us a much better idea. She pours the whole thing into a tall glass and doctors it up with a splash of Belvedere Red Vodka. (In this case, it's Belvedere's super-premium vodka but in a special edition bottle that raises proceeds for the Global Fund, which helps fight HIV/AIDS in Africa, per Old Richmond Cellars). 

"It's much better now!" Lakshmi exclaimed. Hear, hear.