Padma Lakshmi Spotted On Date With Poet Terrance Hayes

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Could there be a brand new romance brewing between Padma Lakshmi and Terrance Hayes?

The internet seems to think so! And, although pictures can be deceiving, recent shots of the alleged couple make it easy to see why tongues are wagging.

The 'Top Chef' star, 50, and Terrance, a 49-year-old critically acclaimed poet, certainly make an appealing pair. But, could there be truth to the rumors?

What happened to make people think Padma and Terrance could be cooking up some love? Read on to find out! 

Padma Lakshmi Instagram

Padma  Lakshmi is no stranger to the limelight. 

The Indian American beauty started out as a model, before heating up our screens in the long-running 'Top Chef', a gig for which she has received 10 Emmy nominations. 

Aside from her busy showbiz career, Padma has also written several best-selling cookbooks, and campaigned for immigration and women's rights. Impressive! 

And, it's actually not the first time Padma's had a literary lover - she was previously wed to award-winning novelist Salman Rushdie.

Could Terrance be her new bookish boyfriend? Keep reading to see. 

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Although initially described as a "mystery man", Terrance is a very impressive guy in his own right. 

A professor of creative writing at New York University, he has penned several poetry collections, including 'Lighthead', which won the prestigious National Book Award in 2010. 

Oh, and did we mention he's the recipient of a MacArthur fellowship, a prize typically known as a 'genius grant'? Yep, pretty impressive! 

So, are he and Padma finding time between their hectic schedules to write a romance? Scroll on to see.

Padma Lakshmi Instagram

It certainly seems that Padma and Terrance might have a lot in common. 

At least enough for them to take Padma's pup, Divina, for a rainy walk on Monday.

And while that might not hint at anything saucy, the two were also snapped enjoying a passionate kiss. 

The date comes after Padma's recent split from her long-time partner, Adam Dell. The two share a daughter, Krishna, aged 11.  

Terrance himself is divorced from fellow writer Yona Harvey, with whom he has two children. 

Is love on the menu for Padma and the poet? Scroll on and see. 

The candid Monday night pics definitely make it seem like the two are at least close - after all, you don't typically smooch your dog-walking buddies! 

However, that doesn't necessarily spell a budding romance. After all, the glamorous pair have quite a lot on their plates, including kids, careers, and humanitarian work. They could simply be hanging out and having fun.

But, that doesn't mean we don't hold out hope that these two brainy and beautiful kids might make it work. We think that would be top!