Padma Parvati Lakshmi (born September 1, 1970) is an Indian American cookbook author, actress, and former model who has described herself as the first well-known model from India. She has been the host of the reality television program Top Chef since season two. Lakshmi was brought up as a vegetarian and has admitted that because of this, she sometimes becomes “squeamish” when sampling other cultural delicacies. However, in 2009, she starred in a commercial for the Carl’s Jr. restaurant chain eating a Western Bacon Cheeseburger and credits the chain from bringing her away from vegetarianism.
Hardee’s is a restaurant chain, located mostly in the Midwest United States and Southeast regions. It has evolved through several corporate ownerships since being established in 1960. It is currently owned and operated by CKE Restaurants. Along with its sibling restaurant chain Carl’s Jr., Hardee’s is the #4 U.S. fast-food restaurant burger chain after McDonald’s, Burger King and Wendy’s.