The Moth Presents Gail Simmons: Of Love, Marriage & Snake Head Fish

A newlywed tries to make every meal count... until she takes it too far.

Gail Simmons is a trained culinary expert, food writer and dynamic television personality. Since the show's inception, she has lent her expertise as a permanent judge on BRAVO's 2010 Emmy-winning hit series "Top Chef," and is host of "Top Chef: Just Desserts," its pastry- focused. Gail joined FOOD & WINE in 2004 and directs special projects for the magazine. Prior to joining FOOD & WINE, Gail was the special events manager for Chef Daniel Boulud's restaurant empire. She trained in the kitchens of Le Cirque 2000 and Vong restaurants, and worked for esteemed food critic Jeffrey Steingarten at Vogue. Her first book, entitled "Talking With My Mouth Full," will be published in February 2012 (Hyperion). She lives in New York with her husband, Jeremy.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• The Moth
• The Moth Podcast
• The Moth Radio Hour
• gail
• simmons
• of
• love
• marriage
• snake
• head
• fish
• snakeheadfish
• snakehead
• top
• chef
• just
• desserts
• newlywed
• newlyweds
• honeymoon
• vietnam
• vietnamese
• food
• cuisine
• dinner
• chaka
• meal

[xdkwallen742]

I usually come away from Moth Stories feeling like I'd felt a connection with the story-teller, like they'd said something to me that was meaningful or done something extraordinary. This is an unusual case, there may be themes of this story I'm missing but all I understand is that there's an over-controlling woman who wants to eat some soup. That's all the story is about, there's really no moral or over-arching theme to it

[psinno]

@xdkwallen742 I am only half way through but so far my overwhelming thought is if it matters to you then turn up on time.

[traindawg]

This is a good story in the end. It's worth its wait.

[solgabert]

Nice story. These stories are not things to judge, they are simply details from a live lived.

[Aerazo16]

@solgabert you are welcome

[guardsman1888]

You were brave to tell this story given how self-deprecating it is. Interesting that there were the same cultural images seen in Hollywood movies about SE Asia. The temples, the chickens, the chaos!!! Saigon has some very sophisticated aspects to it along with countless great restaurants as I am sure you saw, but the image portrayed is always wearyingly cliched.

[Zirkalaritz]

@xdkwallen742 I took it as a very casual realization that obsessions and overachieving don't lead you through the happiness road... It's a spirital trip without the mystical bullshit... I liked the fact that there was no profound metaphorical dilemma but instead it was about something as coloquial as food... her being super obsessive-compulsive made it fun and it felt like a story actually close to her...

But hey, different strokes for different folks right? :)

[nicholasrhigh]

Rare case when I can't relate but do anyway. It's like telepathy or magic or something.

[armandollv]

Now she's my favorite in Top-chef!!!

[MrRyanGC]

Something about her neediness, intensity and controlling attitude makes this story unbearable for me. I kind of want to punch her and tell her to calm down