Top Chef's Ash: Padma Never Liked Me!

Find out what last night's eliminated contestant has to say about not mixing very well with the show's frontwoman

Newly eliminated Top Chef contestant Ash Fulk is convinced that Padma Lakshmi doesn't like him...and never really has.

When he was eliminated last night he said he'd like to cook again some day for the judges, but just not Lakshmi.

"Through the whole season, she was not a big fan of mine," Fulk told me this morning. "The whole season, I kept running up against her. Her and I definitely didn't get along. I don't think she liked anything I made the whole time."

But while he and Ms. Lakshmi might not be breaking bread together anytime soon, read on to find out about the bromance that seemed to be brewing between him and tattooed hottie Michael Voltaggio...

What's up with you and Padma now?
I haven't spoken to her since the show. Not that I wouldn't, but I don't think she cares about me at all [laughs]. She is not going to be calling me anytime soon.

You said during last night's elimination challenge that you were finally getting the chance to show off the kind of cooking you're good at, but then you were sent home. Ouch.
I know! It was so embarrassing. I remember saying it to Tom [Colicchio] and then hoping it wouldn't make it into the show. But of course it did. Oh my gosh, that is embarrassing.

Let's talk about you and Mike. There seemed to be a little bromance going on.
That's so funny because a lot of people have said that. First of all—and he's going to kill me for saying this—I don't think he's that cute…But I'm definitely a little bit of his fan. I'll be honest, if I was watching the show, I'd be like, "That guy is a good chef." Also, what you don't see on the show is that he's hilarious. He's a comedian. He always cracks me up.

My editor thought there could have been something going on with his brother Bryan and Jennifer [Carroll], but Bryan is so married, right?
Bryan is definitely married. I think they just have a lot of respect for each other…Jennifer, Michael and Bryan all became really close on the show. Bryan is very happily married and has a son who he loves.

Why were you talking about farting in your exit interview?
I was?

Yeah, go watch the video on the show's website. You said that all the guys sat around one night, well, farting and that it was like you reverted back to being children.
Oh…my…gosh! I forgot about that…But when you're sharing a room with seven guys, as you could imagine, it got silly. I mean, we were very silly. But it was nice though that they included the gay guy in all the camaraderie.

And all the farting?
Well, no. I just want to say right now that I am a lady and I have never farted in my life.