Gail Simmons Reveals Her Worst Top Chef Dishes

The judge recalls a hot blue cheese and watermelon dish and more.

By Jocelyn Vena Sep 11, 2014, 10:46 AM ET

Gail Simmons has tasted it all as a judge on Top Chef. And with the good, comes the bad.

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She sat down to chat with Thrive on Live on the Huffington Post and revealed some of the most unappetizing dishes she's had to eat over the years.

"Truthfully the word 'inedible' is thrown around a lot less than it used to be, which is good news for all of us," she shared. "We're eating better. The cheftestants cooking is really good. I don't want to ever try to eat something that's actually inedible. We rarely, these days, taste anything that's truly inedible."

But that doesn't mean it's all good, all the time. "That said there are certainly, especially during the beginning of the seasons, when the chefs are still great in number and getting their bearings when we taste things that we wish we hadn't tasted."

For instance, she revealed, "The very worst I've ever tasted? I don't know there's a couple of things I remember. There's been some creatures from the deep that I wish I hadn't tasted. But more than that combinations. Things that didn't work. There was this hot blue cheese, watermelon dish I remember from an early season which in theory could be okay, but the way it came together really tasted off."

And then there are things that you wish could have stayed in Sin City. She continued, "We've had to eat some seafood that sat in a hundred degree heat for far too long that we've come in contact with. I think that was in Las Vegas in season six, which was in a lot of ways our strongest season but that was our weakest challenge."

In addition to chatting about the worst of the worst, Gail also revealed what foodies will be enjoying more and more of.

The current food trends include pickling and artisanal products, which she says are in their "heyday."

The new mom also opened up about what life has been like since she gave birth in December to her daughter Dahlia, noting that dinnertime has changed "drastically" since her pre-baby days.

"We are cooking quick, easy, accessible fresh food that takes as little time as possible," she said.

And she's busy in her chef's life as well. With Top Chef Duels currently underway, season 12 of Top Chef is not far behind. It will take place in Boston and Simmons teases that in addition to lobster rolls, "There's going to be some serious clam chowder that's for sure."

The Boston-themed season kicks off on October 15.

[Sources: Huffington Post]