Exclusive: Fatima Ali, a viewer favorite on Top Chef who died of bone cancer in 2019, is among a handful of subjects of documentary Her Name Is Chef.
Virgil Films & Entertainment will premiere the film in virtual cinemas March 26 before a digital HD release on April 27 and a DVD rollout on May 11.
The film examines gender equality in the restaurant business through interviews conducted by Leia Gaccione, herself a chef. Along with Ali, the film features Elizabeth Falkner, Hillary Sterling, Esther Choi, Juliet Masters and Caroline Schiff. Instead of the more straightforward look at female chefs initially planned, Her Name Is Chef took on a different shape in light of Ali’s illness and death. While it is not a solo portrait of Ali, her legacy is woven through much of the film.
Oscar’s Documentary Short Nominees Celebrate A Magical Monday: “It’s Gratifying For Sure”
In an essay...
Virgil Films & Entertainment will premiere the film in virtual cinemas March 26 before a digital HD release on April 27 and a DVD rollout on May 11.
The film examines gender equality in the restaurant business through interviews conducted by Leia Gaccione, herself a chef. Along with Ali, the film features Elizabeth Falkner, Hillary Sterling, Esther Choi, Juliet Masters and Caroline Schiff. Instead of the more straightforward look at female chefs initially planned, Her Name Is Chef took on a different shape in light of Ali’s illness and death. While it is not a solo portrait of Ali, her legacy is woven through much of the film.
Oscar’s Documentary Short Nominees Celebrate A Magical Monday: “It’s Gratifying For Sure”
In an essay...
- 3/15/2021
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Chef Aaron Grissom, who competed in Season 12 of Bravo’s Top Chef, has died at the age of 34 in a fatal motorcycle accident, the network confirmed on Friday.
Grissom passed away after crashing his motorcycle in his native Tacoma, according to the News Tribune. His death was ruled an accident by the local medical examiner.
More from TVLineTop Chef's Fatima Ali Dead at 29TVLine Items: Louie Anderson Joins Party, Top Chef Premiere and MoreTVLine Items: Netflix's Sctv Reunion, Daytime Emmys Stream and More
“Bravo and the Top Chef family are saddened to learn about the passing of Chef Aaron Grissom from Season 12: Boston,...
Grissom passed away after crashing his motorcycle in his native Tacoma, according to the News Tribune. His death was ruled an accident by the local medical examiner.
More from TVLineTop Chef's Fatima Ali Dead at 29TVLine Items: Louie Anderson Joins Party, Top Chef Premiere and MoreTVLine Items: Netflix's Sctv Reunion, Daytime Emmys Stream and More
“Bravo and the Top Chef family are saddened to learn about the passing of Chef Aaron Grissom from Season 12: Boston,...
- 9/12/2020
- by Dave Nemetz
- TVLine.com
Amid the chaos that was 2019, the show business industry lost some major players. There were icons of the big screen and TV, along with such legends as Broadway director Harold Prince and actress Carol Channing; singers Eddie Money, Ric Ocasek and José José; musicians Peter Tork, Ginger Baker and Dr. John; and composers Michel Legrand, André Previn and Jerry Herman, to name just a few of the year’s high-profile passings.
Hollywood also lost groundbreaking directors, unforgettable writers, and executives.
Familiar actors who left us this year include Robert Forster, Luke Perry, Katherine Helmond, Rutger Hauer, Jan-Michael Vincent, Arte Johnson, Rip Torn, Diahann Carroll, Peter “Chewbacca” Mayhew, Cameron Boyce, Bob Einstein, Seymour Cassel, Michael J. Pollard and Danny Aiello.
Hollywood also lost groundbreaking directors, unforgettable writers, and executives.
Familiar actors who left us this year include Robert Forster, Luke Perry, Katherine Helmond, Rutger Hauer, Jan-Michael Vincent, Arte Johnson, Rip Torn, Diahann Carroll, Peter “Chewbacca” Mayhew, Cameron Boyce, Bob Einstein, Seymour Cassel, Michael J. Pollard and Danny Aiello.
- 1/1/2020
- by Erik Pedersen and Brandon Choe
- Deadline Film + TV
When it came to late Top Chef contestant Fatima Ali, Padma Lakshmi did not bite her tongue. While appearing on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen on Wednesday night, the Bravo show host reminisced about the beloved contestant, who died last month at 29 following a battle with bone cancer. Lakshmi was asked by a fan caller what her favorite memory of working with Ali was and Lakshmi quickly recalled the tough love she gave her during a Quickfire Challenge. "On the show, I would say the moment that she realized that she could treat her flavors from where we are from, south Asia, the same way that she treated western cuisine—that was a lightbulb moment...
- 2/28/2019
- E! Online
Upon watching shows like Top Chef you can’t help but feel for the competitors sometimes since the chefs do tend to get a little hard-nosed in their critiques and seem to be kind of mean in a way at times when it comes to telling people just what they think. But unlike many others Padma Lakshmi’s constant need to point out what Fatima Ali was doing wrong wasn’t coming from any sense of wanting to drive the budding chef out. On the contrary it was because she knew what Fatima could do and was trying to inspire her to be
Why Padma Lakshmi Was So Hard on Fatima Ali on Top Chef...
Why Padma Lakshmi Was So Hard on Fatima Ali on Top Chef...
- 2/11/2019
- by Tom
- TVovermind.com
“Top Chef” host Padma Lakshmi shared fond thoughts about late “Top Chef” star Fatima Ali, who recently lost her battle with cancer at the age of 29.
Known as Chef Fati on Season 15 of the Bravo series, the “Top Chef” contestant died in late January from a rare form of bone cancer, Ewing’s sarcoma.
“It’s the first chef that’s been on the show that’s passed away for any reason,” Lakshmi said, speaking to Variety at the American Heart Association’s 15th annual Go Red for Women Red Dress Collection event on Thursday evening.
“Fatima was a really special young woman. I got very close with her,” Lakshmi said. “I usually don’t fraternize with them during the competition, but after, I did keep in touch with a lot of them, and it’s really sad. She didn’t even see her 30th birthday. We’re all feeling her absence.
Known as Chef Fati on Season 15 of the Bravo series, the “Top Chef” contestant died in late January from a rare form of bone cancer, Ewing’s sarcoma.
“It’s the first chef that’s been on the show that’s passed away for any reason,” Lakshmi said, speaking to Variety at the American Heart Association’s 15th annual Go Red for Women Red Dress Collection event on Thursday evening.
“Fatima was a really special young woman. I got very close with her,” Lakshmi said. “I usually don’t fraternize with them during the competition, but after, I did keep in touch with a lot of them, and it’s really sad. She didn’t even see her 30th birthday. We’re all feeling her absence.
- 2/9/2019
- by Elizabeth Wagmeister
- Variety Film + TV
Gone, but never forgotten. Almost a week has passed since Top Chef contestant Fatima Ali lost her battle with cancer, and on tonight's episode of the cooking competition, Bravo paid special tribute to the rising culinary star. At the end of Thursday night's episode, the show shared a photo of the chef in memoriam. Fatima's family shared the news of her death last week, revealing in a heartfelt statement that the 29-year-old was at home with her loved ones and "beloved cat Mr. Meow" when she passed away. It read in part, "This has been a truly humbling experience for us all and even in her last chapter as she began to leave us, Fatima showed us how we should...
- 2/1/2019
- E! Online
Padma Lakshmi is paying tribute to Top Chef star Fatima Ali, three days after her heartbreaking death. On Friday, Jan. 25, the chef passed away at the age of 29 after battling cancer. Ali was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer called Ewing's sarcoma in 2017. In an essay, published by People on Tuesday, Top Chef host Lakshmi mourns the death of the former contestant, who appeared on season 15 of the series. "There are people who come across your path who change you forever," Lakshmi begins. "I met Fatima on the first day of filming Top Chef in Colorado. She was hard to miss. She was beautiful, but that's not what struck me. There was a strong defiance in her...
- 1/29/2019
- E! Online
Fatima Ali died last week, the 29-year old chef having succumbed to a rare form of cancer. It was in an October Bon Appetit article that the Top Chef contestant first revealed her terminal diagnosis and the plans she had for her final days. Now, a week after her passing, Bon Appetit has shared another piece Ali wrote…...
- 1/28/2019
- by Randall Colburn on News, shared by Randall Colburn to The A.V. Club
- avclub.com
Fatima Ali, who was crowned “Fan Favorite” of the most recent season of Bravo’s Top Chef, died on Friday after a yearlong struggle with cancer. Surrounded by her friends and family, Ali passed after being given a year to live only months after her success on Top Chef. Her family posted a tribute to her Instagram page, calling Ali […]...
- 1/28/2019
- by Yael Turitz
- Uinterview
Fatima Ali, a contestant on Season 15 of Bravo’s "Top Chef," has died following her battle with cancer. She was 29.
Ali’s family confirmed the news to Pakistani outlet, Dawn. Bravo also shared the news on its "Top Chef" twitter account, writing:
"We are deeply saddened to hear the news that Fatima Ali lost her courageous battle with cancer. Our thoughts are with her family at this time. People not only fell in love with her cooking, but fell in love with her personality and heart."...
Ali’s family confirmed the news to Pakistani outlet, Dawn. Bravo also shared the news on its "Top Chef" twitter account, writing:
"We are deeply saddened to hear the news that Fatima Ali lost her courageous battle with cancer. Our thoughts are with her family at this time. People not only fell in love with her cooking, but fell in love with her personality and heart."...
- 1/25/2019
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
Which aspiring chef failed to impress the judges this week in Season 15 of Bravo’s “Top Chef”? In Thursday’s ninth episode the seven chefs still in the competition cooked up fun dishes for Denver Broncos superfans. According to Gold Derby’s “Top Chef” predictions, Adrienne Cheatham had the best odds of being eliminated this week, but were we correct?
Below, check out our minute-by-minute “Top Chef” recap of Season 15, Episode 9, titled “Bronco Brouhaha,” to find out what happened Thursday night. Then be sure to sound off in the comments section about your favorite chefs, which dishes from the episode looked the tastiest and who you think can go the distance to win the title of “Top Chef.”
See‘Top Chef’ Season 15 in Colorado: Now you can predict which chef will win and who’ll be eliminated next
8:59 p.m. – In last week’s episode we said goodbye — again — to Claudette Zepeda-Wilkins.
Below, check out our minute-by-minute “Top Chef” recap of Season 15, Episode 9, titled “Bronco Brouhaha,” to find out what happened Thursday night. Then be sure to sound off in the comments section about your favorite chefs, which dishes from the episode looked the tastiest and who you think can go the distance to win the title of “Top Chef.”
See‘Top Chef’ Season 15 in Colorado: Now you can predict which chef will win and who’ll be eliminated next
8:59 p.m. – In last week’s episode we said goodbye — again — to Claudette Zepeda-Wilkins.
- 2/2/2018
- by John Benutty and Marcus James Dixon
- Gold Derby
Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi recently visited contestant Fatima Ali just before she underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor and called on fans to say a prayer for her friend. Lakshmi, who had previously joined her during her chemotherapy treatments, posted on her Instagram page on Tuesday a selfie of the two by Ali's bedside at a Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. "I'd love it if everyone joins me today in saying a special prayer for our @cheffati who went into surgery a couple hours ago," the host wrote. "She was in good spirits when we walked her into Or, and am hoping for a great outcome today. #topchef #topchefmemories @bravotopchef...
- 1/17/2018
- E! Online
Padma Lakshmi is doing her bit to help a former Top Chef contestant battling cancer.
The host and judge, 47, shared a photo of herself with Chef Fatima Ali on Instagram Tuesday as the chef prepared to head into surgery to remover a cancerous tumour.
“I’d love it if everyone joins me today in saying a special prayer for our @cheffati who went into surgery a couple hours ago,” Lakshmi wrote in the caption. “She was in good spirits when we walked her into Or, and am hoping for a great outcome today. #topchef #topchefmemories@bravotopchef” with the added hashtag of “#f—cancer.
The host and judge, 47, shared a photo of herself with Chef Fatima Ali on Instagram Tuesday as the chef prepared to head into surgery to remover a cancerous tumour.
“I’d love it if everyone joins me today in saying a special prayer for our @cheffati who went into surgery a couple hours ago,” Lakshmi wrote in the caption. “She was in good spirits when we walked her into Or, and am hoping for a great outcome today. #topchef #topchefmemories@bravotopchef” with the added hashtag of “#f—cancer.
- 1/17/2018
- by Alexia Fernandez
- PEOPLE.com
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.