Padma Lakshmi’s St. Christopher Necklace

For over a decade, Padma Lakshmi has worn a Tiffany gold necklace with a medallion of St. Christopher, patron saint of travelers, around her neck. She rarely takes it off.

Traveling is part of the job for Ms. Lakshmi, the Emmy-nominated television host, executive producer of the culinary shows “Top Chef” and “Taste the Nation,” and editor of The Best American Food and Travel Writing 2024 anthology. Yet the man who gave her the protective medallion — her late partner who died of brain cancer — was scared to travel.

“He was just so different from me,” she said. “Sort of this tweedy guy who grew up in Connecticut, who went to church every Sunday, and me, kind of, like, bleeding-heart liberal immigrant.” Yet opposites famously attract. “They were four extraordinary years,” she said, “and they came at a very pivotal time in both our lives.”

Ms. Lakshmi reflected on the relationship and the necklace, which dangles just above her heart, that reminds her of their connection. This interview has been edited and condensed.

Tell me about your necklace.

So this is a simple gold necklace, a very thin chain with a round gold medallion that is a St. Christopher medal. And I got it from an old lover of mine who passed away. He gave it to me as a Christmas present. He was very scared of traveling. I never take it off. I mean, I will take it off if I’m on a red carpet and I’m wearing something that clashes with it. I’m not precious about it, but I am very superstitious to travel without it.

“I do feel him physically around me just having this and touching it,” Padma Lakshmi said about her late partner, who gave her the necklace. “It’s almost my way of calling to him.”Credit…Morgan Rachel Levy for The New York Times