Padma Lakshmi pays tribute to ‘Top Chef Masters’ star Naomi Pomeroy after freak river tubing accident

Padma Lakshmi, 53, has spoken out about the tragic death of “Top Chef Masters” star Naomi Pomeroy.

“I am deeply saddened to hear of the untimely death of chef Naomi Pomeroy,” Lakshmi, 53, wrote via Instagram on Thursday.

Lakshmi continued, “She was always a welcome presence at judges table and I was blessed to get to know this inspiring woman over the years.”

Pomery, 49, died on July 13 in a freak drowning accident.

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She was tubing with her husband, Kyle Linden Webster, and another person on the Willamette River near Corvallis, Oregon, when the group got caught on an “exposed snag in the water,” the Benton County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a statement Tuesday.

According to officials, the chef was pulled under the water and became trapped by a paddle board leash attached to her, causing her to drown.

Webster and the third person were rescued on the shoreline, about 60 miles outside Portland.

Pomeroy’s body was recovered on Wednesday, four days after she drowned.

Pomeroy, who was known for her  farm-to-table restaurant Beast, was on “Top Chef Masters” in 2011. She finished fourth in the show’s third season, winning $26,800.

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She also returned to “Top Chef” as a guest judge in Seasons 10, 15 and 18.

In 2014, she then went on to win the James Beard Award , which is given to the Best Chef in the Northwest.

“Top Chef” judge Gail Simmons also posted a tribute on social media.

“Heartbroken doesn’t cut it,” she wrote on Thursday. “I first met Naomi Pomeroy the night she won her @foodandwine Best New Chef award in 2009. In fact, the internet reminded me today that I was the one who handed it to her. Fifteen years and countless laughs, texts and meals later I’m just as in awe of her cooking talent, generosity, sharp wit and general brilliance as I was back then.”

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Simmons, 48, described Pomeroy as a person who “fought hard always — for her industry, her friends and loved ones.”

She concluded: “Our country’s restaurant industry is so much stronger, wiser, gentler because of her…thank you Naomi for giving so much of yourself to us.”

Fellow “Top Chef Masters” contestant and author Mary Sue Milliken also posted about the tragedy on social media.

“Devastated to hear we tragically lost the super talented chef Naomi Pomeroy. She and I bonded over stressful cooking challenges on Top Chef Masters season 3…… my heart goes out to Kyle, August and all her dear friends,” she posted via X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday.

The network wrote: “The Bravo and ‘Top Chef’ family send our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Chef Naomi Pomeroy. Naomi was a powerhouse chef who made an indelible mark on the culinary industry.”

Lakshmi, who hosted the Bravo series for 17 years from 2006 to 2023, finished her tribute writing, “My condolences to her loved ones, what an incredible loss to our community.”

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