Gail Simmons

Gail Simmons was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on May 19, 1976. She pursued higher education at McGill University in Montreal, majoring in anthropology and Spanish. Simmons began her career in food journalism by writing restaurant reviews for the McGill Tribune, and later contributed to Toronto Life magazine and the National Post newspaper. Her early professional training also included studies at the Peter Kump New York Cooking School in New York City, followed by apprenticeships at reputable restaurants such as Le Cirque and Vong. She further honed her expertise by serving as an assistant to food critic Jeffrey Steingarten at Vogue magazine for two years, and then as the special events manager for chef Daniel Boulud’s restaurant group for three years. In 2004, Simmons joined Food & Wine magazine as special projects manager, a role that expanded her involvement in the culinary industry.

Simmons achieved widespread recognition as a permanent judge on Bravo’s “Top Chef” since its debut in 2006. Her involvement extended to other programs within the franchise, including hosting “Top Chef: Just Desserts” (premiering in 2010) and serving as head critic on “Top Chef Duels.” Beyond the “Top Chef” universe, Simmons co-hosted “The Feed” on FYI in 2014 and later co-hosted “The Good Dish,” a daily syndicated series. She was also the host of “Iron Chef Canada” and “Top Chef Amateurs.” Her written works include her memoir, “Talking With My Mouth Full: My Life as a Professional Eater,” published in 2012, and her first cookbook, “Bringing It Home: Favorite Recipes from a Life of Adventurous Eating,” released in 2017, which was nominated for an IACP award. Her upcoming book, “Guesting,” is set for release in Fall 2026.

In 2014, Simmons co-founded Bumble Pie Productions with Samantha Hanks, a company focused on developing original content and promoting new female voices in the food and lifestyle sectors. Their first series, “Star Plates,” premiered on the Food Network in 2016. Simmons is actively involved in community service, supporting organizations such as Common Threads, Hot Bread Kitchen, and City Harvest. She is also a founding member of Food & Wine’s Grow for Good Campaign and serves on the boards of the American Institute of Wine & Food and the Institute of Culinary Education’s Alumni Committee. She was named among The Jewish Daily Forward’s 2010 Forward 50 and recognized by The New York Post as the #1 Reality TV Judge in America.