Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi better have a top lawyer. There's a serious custody battle over 11-month-old daughter Krishna Thea cooking. People is reporting that venture capitalist Adam Dell is steamed over his minimal visitation with the baby. He recently filed papers in a New York City court for sole custody of the baby. One source tells People that he's going for everything with the hopes that he'll get something. The insider says, "Adam wanted to avoid going to court, but it was so frustrating trying to find a co-parenting agreement [that] he had to take this action. He's seeking sole custody of his daughter - but he's hoping for a shared custody agreement." The source adds that in New York, courts are not authorized to grant joint custody, which is why Dell has filed for sole custody." Dell is complaining that he gets to see his daughter about seven hours a week, and that he's constantly put out by Lakshmi's busy travel schedule. Lakshmi kept the identity of the baby daddy quiet for a long time, and now it's pretty apparent as to why. The culinary cutie is peeved that Dell is dragging their custody dispute into the media. Her rep released the following statement about the custody proceedings, "Ms. Lakshmi believes that family matters should be kept private. She asks that those who join her in wanting the best for her daughter do the same. Twenty-four hours after the NY Post was told about Adam Dell's lawsuit, neither Padma Lakshmi nor her lawyers had received a copy of it; they only learned of it through a statement Mr. Dell provided to the press. Ms. Lakshmi's sole interest lies in preserving the privacy and welfare of her daughter and in working out and fair and amicable agreement out of the media's glare." But Dell's mouthpiece/lawyer denies he's a publicity whore, maintaining, "Adam is not seeking publicity. He's a private person. There was no desire for publicity and Adam regrets that there is some - but [he] can't help it given that he was forced to go to court to assert his rights as a father." Hopefully, Lakshmi won't get burned in court.