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Celebrity Encounters: Gail Simmons Shares Starstruck Moment with Patrick Stewart
Even celebrities experience being starstruck! In a recent interview, Gail Simmons, the celebrated judge from Top Chef, recounted a memorable encounter with her idol, actor Patrick Stewart. The television personality revealed her awestruck reaction upon meeting the Star Trek: Next Generation icon at an Emmys afterparty celebrating Top Chef‘s win for Outstanding Reality Competition Series in 2010.
An Unexpected Fan Encounter
Simmons, a long-time presence on the Top Chef judging panel, shared her story with Us Weekly as part of their ’25 Things You Don’t Know About Me’ feature. “I am a huge Star Trek: Next Generation enthusiast and Patrick Stewart admirer in general, so I was quite taken aback when I realized he was present,” the culinary expert, 48, explained. She confided in fellow judge Tom Colicchio, whispering, “Patrick Stewart just arrived,” but given the large, crowded venue, she didn’t anticipate any interaction.
A Congratulatory Surprise
However, fate intervened. Patrick Stewart, 84, was at the event with his wife, Sunny, who, unbeknownst to Simmons, was an avid viewer of the Bravo program. “About ten minutes later, someone tapped Tom’s shoulder. We turned around to find Patrick Stewart and his lovely wife, Sunny,” Simmons continued. “They greeted us, saying, ‘We wanted to offer our congratulations – Sunny is a huge fan. Would you mind if we took a photograph together?'”
Gushing Over a Star Trek Icon
Overwhelmed with excitement, Simmons admitted to a less-than-composed reaction. “I jumped up as if startled and enthusiastically expressed my admiration,” Simmons recounted. “I even confessed to him about owning a life-size cutout of him during my college years – a somewhat embarrassing but true detail.”
More Fun Facts About Gail Simmons
Continue reading for additional interesting details about Gail Simmons, and don’t miss Top Chef: Destination Canada, airing Thursdays at 9 P.M. on Bravo.
Gail Simmons’s 25 Things You Don’t Know About Me:
- 1. She will never refuse a warm chocolate chip cookie or a dish of chocolate mousse.
- 2. Her indispensable kitchen tools are a fish spatula and a mini offset spatula, praising their versatility for both cooking and spreading.
- 3. Among her cherished Top Chef memories from two decades of filming are her wedding shower during season 5 with her closest friends and a quickfire challenge alongside her mother in season 11.
- 4. Algonquin Provincial Park stands out as her favorite Canadian destination, describing it as exceptionally beautiful, teeming with wildlife, and a remarkably peaceful wilderness.
- 5. Her most prized possession is a ring inherited from her grandmother, featuring an antique setting with a small emerald, the shared birthstone of Simmons and her mother.
- 6. Matzo Ball Soup is her ultimate comfort food.
- 7. Tap dancing is her secret skill.
- 8. Her initial work experience was as a Summer Camp counselor in Northern Ontario, alongside roles as a canoe and downhill ski instructor during her upbringing.
- 9. A silver Honda Civic was her first automobile in 1999.
- 10. Jon Favreau is the most well-known contact in her phone.
- 11. She recounts her most starstruck moment when Top Chef received an Emmy for Outstanding Reality Competition Series, leading to her encounter with Sir Patrick Stewart at the Emmys afterparty. She reiterated her enthusiastic reaction and college dorm room cutout story.
- 12. Back to the Future is her endlessly rewatchable film choice.
- 13. Michael J. Fox, along with Sean and Mackenzie Astin, were her childhood celebrity crushes and remain so.
- 14. Zoology would be her alternate career path.
- 15. Led Zeppelin’s music evokes memories of her late musician brother, who introduced her to the foundations of rock music.
- 16. She recently accepted an award from the Canadian government for her contributions to fostering the American-Canadian partnership, expressing pride in her role.
- 17. For over ten years, she has spent nearly every Christmas in Jamaica with friends, considering it her ultimate relaxation spot.
- 18. Despite extensive travel, Argentina, Thailand, and Kenya remain on her travel wish list.
- 19. She collects boiled egg cups, possessing a diverse assortment of antique, modern, ceramic, and vintage pieces.
- 20. Key lessons from the food industry include the fulfilling nature of feeding others and acknowledging the limits of control, emphasizing the power of responses and actions for positive change.
- 21. She aspires to revolutionize hospital food, hoping for a future collaboration with Michelle Obama.
- 22. Her essential beauty products are Jones Road Miracle Balm, Dior concealer, and Caudalie moisturizer and eye cream.
- 23. Among her most cherished memories with Tom Colicchio and Kristen Kish is an outdoor adventure in Banff, Alberta during a day off this season.
- 24. When lacking cooking motivation, she opts for Avgolemono soup from a local Greek restaurant.
- 25. During the current season of Top Chef in Canada, family members and high school friends have appeared as diners in numerous episodes.