Celebrities
Top Chef and single mom Camille Becerra says “I’m dating myself!”
When I emailed the publicist for Top Chef contestant-- and single mom — Camille Becerra I was floored when she wrote back to me herself. After, all, 35-year-old Chef Becerra is a celebrity.
So what if she had to leave the show after judge Tom Colicchio called her pineapple upside-down cake “rubbery”? Any single mom — and solo restaurant owner — who gets a spot on Top Chef — is a Big Name in my book.
When I suggested that I email a few questions to Camille, who owns Paloma in Brooklyn — which she named after her daughter — she said that she’s prefer to chat on the phone. I’d anticipated speaking to someone stressed out and rushed. Instead, I dove into an open, genuine, warm chat. I can’t wait to visit Paloma next time I’m in Brooklyn!
Camille won a spot to fly down to Miami for a month-and-a-half for the show’s third season, which aired last summer. She was told, however, that she would have “absolutely no communication or contact” with her daughter during the filming. It was the first time that Top Chef had a parent on the show — and a single mom nonetheless.
Still, Camille had thought they’d make an exception for her daughter’s six-year-old birthday. But no.
“I wasn’t even able to call her,” she says. “My motivation sunk after that.”
Fortunately, Camille’s daughter was well taken care of back home: Paloma’s father is involved, and both sides of the family are in the New York area.
“It’s so important to have family,” Camille adds. “I wouldn’t be able to do any of the things I do without this support system.”
Her daughter, Paloma, who’s now seven, helps out in the restaurant kitchen a lot. They left their loft in TriBeca and moved to Brooklyn after September 11 because Camille was worried the effect of the polluted air on her daughter’s lungs.
Of course, I had to ask if Camille is dating anyone. “I told myself this year I wouldn’t date anyone, so I’m dating myself this year!”
“At the end of the day, I just want a family, I think we all do… but I’m super busy right now. And it’s kind of exhausting wanting that, and looking for that.”
Not dating is a stretch. “I’ve never done this,” Camille says. “I’ve never said, ‘I’m not going to date.’ ”
But it’s working so far. When she recently went to a bar, she “wasn’t scouting all the boys who were there. It was a mini-revelation about how I’m always looking.”
So, single parents, I’d love to know:
If you had a once-in-a-life chance to do something big — like be on Top Chef, or trek through Greece, or swim with dolphins in the Bahamas — but you couldn’t speak to your child for over a month, would you do it?
I don’t know if I could.
Photo of Camille Becerra courtesy of Bravo
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Tags: Bravo TV, Brooklyn, Camille Becerra, celebrity single mom, Food Network, Miami, Paloma, single mom, single mom and dating, Top Chef Discussion
12 comments for “Top Chef and single mom Camille Becerra says “I’m dating myself!””
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Yeah…. I don’t know. I don’t think I could do that either. Maybe if my girls were older and understood but not at the ages they are now.
Isn’t that just like us moms? Usually putting ourselves last…
I don’t think I could do it either. I’d be a nervous wreck and completely incapable of enjoying myself.
I can leave my child for a few days with a very trusted relative ONLY for a few days! And, goodness, I have to talk to her. Hearing her voice makes my entire day. I don’t think I can do a month with no phone contact. Oh my goodness, my heart just sinks just imagining it!
I could do leave my kids for a month for a once-in-a-lifetime thing, but not much longer than that. Kids are an important part of my life, and they do keep me tethered to the bay area (I have no other family here), but sometimes growth and opportunity comes with separation, if only for a short time.
As for Camille saying she’s dating herself - good for her! I think people can get so caught up in the search for a partner that they sometimes don’t get to know themselves, and might forget to smell the roses along the way. Her rhubarb tart looks yummy, btw.
Rachel;
I love this post. It’s a helluva question. Personally, I’d have to agree that it would have to be a once-in-a-million opportunity. If it was to take an extended, exotic trip, I’d have to say no. I would want my son along to complete the experience anyway. For fame and fortune? More enticing, but it would be tough and the right situation. For a Pulitzer? Hmmm.
I also linked your post on my blog, so I’ll be curious to see what my readers have to say.
Rachel,
I think Sadie is my once-in-a-life chance. Maybe when she was much older as in a teenager (who really didn’t want much to be around me anyway) - I would imagine she might encourage me to do somethng that was such a special opportunity for me - and to show her that it is important to take care of ourselves and that we can’t sacrifice everything - I would likely do it. But right now at age 3 and I would say for at least the next 10 - 12 years it would be a “no” for me.
Amy
All of you make a great point: It’s one thing to take advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity… but if you can’t call your kid, that’s just asking to suffer.
Amy: I love the fact that your child is a “once in a life” chance. Great way to phrase it.
My kids ARE teens and I wouldn’t do it. Teens have issues, concerns, things to say and trouble to get into. They talk when they want to talk and you have to be available then - whenever then is! I went away for 1 night last week and had trouble doing that. When they’re grown and gone, it will be time for me.
I recently changed jobs and I don’t have to travel like I used to, and my daughter is sooo happy. I only did it then because it was for work and she was in good hands with my parents. Now that I don’t have to travel, I have a hard time leaving her for a night, so I know there’s no way I could do a month; especially not being able to talk to her! That’s just out of the question for me, no matter the circumstances.
when she was young absolutely NOT
Now as a teen it would depend upon what the once in a life time was (and at what hormonal place she was in at the precise time I made the decision )
However, when I come up against this type of question I flip it and ask, If my daughter had a once in a life time chance but could not call me for a month what would I say to her……..
IOW I would go because I would encourage herfor a once in a life time
Nope. wouldn’t do it. For a week, maybe, if it was a REALLY HUGE thing like, (I can’t even think of something here). But not a month. I swear I’m not a very Pollyanna-ish mommy, but I mean it when I say those two nits ARE the most important job in my life. Call me when they’re 18…
I think it really depends on the age of the child but at age 6 a month and a half is way too long to be away as a single parent.
-Steve