Vikas Khanna
Encyclopedia
Vikas Khanna is an award winning Michelin Starred Indian chef
, restaurateur, food writer, filmmaker, humanitarian
and the host of the TV Show MasterChef India (season 2)
http://starplus.startv.in/characters.aspx?sid=126. He is based in New York City
.
, India
to Davinder and Bindu Khanna is the second child. He has one older brother Nishant Khanna , who lives with his family in Amritsar, India and one younger sister Radhika Khanna who lives in Manhattan. Vikas Khanna began his culinary experience as a helper in his grandmother's kitchen, and learned the art of cooking and the use of spices from her. At the age of 12, he was supplying kitchenware to Amritsar Club.
He began developing recipes at a very young age and opened Lawrence Gardens Banquets to host weddings and family functions when he was 17. He graduated from the Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration
in 1994, and established SAANCH, a cultural festival gala, to bring together various foods and traditions from different parts of India. This festival has been an important event in the college's calendar. He also learned the art of sculpting stone and wood in Jaipur, Mysore, Udipi, and Sagar (Karnataka). He has worked for the Taj, Oberoi, Welcomgroup, and Leela Group of Hotels, with some of the most influential chefs of India.
Khanna moved to New York in December 2000. He made 'dhokla'(an indian dish)and it came out perfect. Somebody asked him,"Is this french?" "No its indian,"he replied and soon he became the Executive Chef of Salaam Bombay Restaurant in New York. He is a consultant to many restaurants in the United States
.
He has studied at Cornell University
, Culinary Institute of America
, and New York University
. He frequently lectures at many universities around the country.
Being one of the most eligible bachelor in the world there has been a lot of interest in Khanna's personal life from the media. Khanna has never been married and staunchly protects his private life. He has mentioned that it is a decision he made a long time ago, before he even knew anyone would be interested in his personal life. In a interview with Hindustan Times he said that he looks forward to having a family one day, but nothing as of now. . He is contributor to Deepak Chopra
's Intent and The Huffington Post
. Khanna is a Democrat and a supporter of former US President Bill Clinton
and US President Barack Obama
. In September 2009 Khanna bought a house across the United Nations Headquarters
in New York City.
to the Taj Mahal
in India
.
“Cooking for Life” is an Multi-Award Winning Organization, founded by Vikas Khanna in 2001 in New York with the World’s Top Chefs.In years the foundations has supported relief efforts around the world including 9/11, Tsunami Relief, Hurricanes of the Gulf Coast, South Asian Earth Quakes, Darfur, and many more.
Vision of Palate is his award winning workshop developed to educate people with visual disabilities about the sense of taste, flavor and aromas.
. The film premiered at the Sikh International Film Festival in October 2010. Other films in the Holy Kitchens series are based upon the food traditions of Hinduism
, Islam
, Buddhism
, Christianity
, Zoroastrianism
and Judaism
. Karma to Nirvana, the second installment in the Holy Kitchens documentary series premiered at the prestigious New York Indian Film Festival, in the US, on May 7, 2011.
In 2011, Vikas was honored with the Rising Star Chef Award by Star Chefs for his role in shaping the future of American Cuisine.
On March 29, 2011, Vikas received a raving review from Sam Sifton
in The New York Times
.
Vikas was voted "New York's Hottest Chef" in a poll conducted by Eater
.
On July 29, 2011, Vikas hosted dinner for the Hindu American Seva Charities Conference held at the White House organized by Anju Bhargava
, who is a member of President Barack Obama
's Advisory Council on Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnership.
Vikas was featured in the Top Sexy and Successful list of Anokhi Magazine in their 5th Anniversary Issue. Metro New York featured Khanna as Hottest Chef Around.
Khanna has received acclaim for his cooking style from the James Beard Foundation
, and received several awards, including the "Access to Freedom Award" in 2005 from SATH, previously awarded to George W. Bush
and HRH Prince Charles, and The Shining Star Award from http://www.justonebreak.com/ Just One Break, Inc. previously received by Christopher Reeve
and Ray Charles
.
He has also received a proclamation from the Council of the City of New York for his outstanding contribution to the city, and was chosen New Yorker of the Week by NY1
.
, an Indian competitive cooking game show based on the original British version of MasterChef
, to be telecast on Star Plus
.
In September 2007, Vikas Khanna was featured as the consultant chef on the Gordon Ramsay
TV show Kitchen Nightmares
on Fox
. On October 13, 2009, Khanna appeared as a judge and Indian-cuisine specialist on the two-part season finale of Hell's Kitchen. On June 23, 2010, Khanna appeared on Throwdown! with Bobby Flay
as a judge. Vikas Khanna was guest chef in the episode "The India Show" on The Martha Stewart Show telecast on March 4, 2011.
Indian cuisine
Indian cuisine consists of thousands of regional cuisines which date back thousands of years. The dishes of India are characterised by the extensive use of various Indian spices, herbs, vegetables and fruit. Indian cuisine is also known for the widespread practice of vegetarianism in Indian society...
, restaurateur, food writer, filmmaker, humanitarian
Humanitarianism
In its most general form, humanitarianism is an ethic of kindness, benevolence and sympathy extended universally and impartially to all human beings. Humanitarianism has been an evolving concept historically but universality is a common element in its evolution...
and the host of the TV Show MasterChef India (season 2)
MasterChef India (season 2)
Season 2 of MasterChef India premiered on 22 October 2011. The second season aired on every Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 PM IST. Season 2 Was hosted by Michelin Starred chef Vikas Khanna a world renowned Indian chef based in New York City...
http://starplus.startv.in/characters.aspx?sid=126. He is based in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Life and career
Born in AmritsarAmritsar
Amritsar is a city in the northern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering 3,695,077...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
to Davinder and Bindu Khanna is the second child. He has one older brother Nishant Khanna , who lives with his family in Amritsar, India and one younger sister Radhika Khanna who lives in Manhattan. Vikas Khanna began his culinary experience as a helper in his grandmother's kitchen, and learned the art of cooking and the use of spices from her. At the age of 12, he was supplying kitchenware to Amritsar Club.
He began developing recipes at a very young age and opened Lawrence Gardens Banquets to host weddings and family functions when he was 17. He graduated from the Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration
Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration
Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration is a hotel management school in Manipal, Karnataka, India....
in 1994, and established SAANCH, a cultural festival gala, to bring together various foods and traditions from different parts of India. This festival has been an important event in the college's calendar. He also learned the art of sculpting stone and wood in Jaipur, Mysore, Udipi, and Sagar (Karnataka). He has worked for the Taj, Oberoi, Welcomgroup, and Leela Group of Hotels, with some of the most influential chefs of India.
Khanna moved to New York in December 2000. He made 'dhokla'(an indian dish)and it came out perfect. Somebody asked him,"Is this french?" "No its indian,"he replied and soon he became the Executive Chef of Salaam Bombay Restaurant in New York. He is a consultant to many restaurants in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
He has studied at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, Culinary Institute of America
Culinary Institute of America
The Culinary Institute of America is a non-profit culinary college located in Hyde Park USA, founded in 1946. The CIA also has branch campuses in St. Helena, California, and San Antonio, Texas, as well as a campus in Singapore. It is a not-for-profit academic institution of higher learning...
, and New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
. He frequently lectures at many universities around the country.
Personal life
Vikas was born with misaligned legs and feet and wasn't able to run until he was 13. He was inspired by his grandmother who loved to cook, and her kitchen became a part of his foundational training..Being one of the most eligible bachelor in the world there has been a lot of interest in Khanna's personal life from the media. Khanna has never been married and staunchly protects his private life. He has mentioned that it is a decision he made a long time ago, before he even knew anyone would be interested in his personal life. In a interview with Hindustan Times he said that he looks forward to having a family one day, but nothing as of now. . He is contributor to Deepak Chopra
Deepak Chopra
Deepak Chopra is an Indian medical doctor, public speaker, and writer on subjects such as spirituality, Ayurveda and mind-body medicine. Chopra began his career as an endocrinologist and later shifted his focus to alternative medicine. Chopra now runs his own medical center, with a focus on...
's Intent and The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...
. Khanna is a Democrat and a supporter of former US President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
and US President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
. In September 2009 Khanna bought a house across the United Nations Headquarters
United Nations headquarters
The headquarters of the United Nations is a complex in New York City. The complex has served as the official headquarters of the United Nations since its completion in 1952. It is located in the Turtle Bay neighborhood of Manhattan, on spacious grounds overlooking the East River...
in New York City.
Sakiv
Vikas Khanna launched the foundation SAKIV("South Asian Kid's Infinite Vision") to focus on worldwide issues that demand urgent action. In collaboration with charitable institutions, the foundation has hosted many events worldwide - from The Great Pyramid of Giza in EgyptEgypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
to the Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is a white Marble mausoleum located in Agra, India. It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
“Cooking for Life” is an Multi-Award Winning Organization, founded by Vikas Khanna in 2001 in New York with the World’s Top Chefs.In years the foundations has supported relief efforts around the world including 9/11, Tsunami Relief, Hurricanes of the Gulf Coast, South Asian Earth Quakes, Darfur, and many more.
Vision of Palate is his award winning workshop developed to educate people with visual disabilities about the sense of taste, flavor and aromas.
Books
- Ayurveda - The Science of Food and Life
- Mango Mia - Celebrating the tropical world of Mangoes
- The Cuisine of Gandhi - Based on the beliefs of the Legend
- The Spice Story of India
- New York Chefs Cooking for Life - Cookbook
- Modern Indian Cooking
- Flavors First: An Indian Chef's Culinary Journey
Holy Kitchens
Vikas Khanna's Holy Kitchens film series explores the food sharing traditions in a spiritual context. The first film in the series True Business, is based on the Sikh community kitchens, known as Langars, with introduction by Deepak ChopraDeepak Chopra
Deepak Chopra is an Indian medical doctor, public speaker, and writer on subjects such as spirituality, Ayurveda and mind-body medicine. Chopra began his career as an endocrinologist and later shifted his focus to alternative medicine. Chopra now runs his own medical center, with a focus on...
. The film premiered at the Sikh International Film Festival in October 2010. Other films in the Holy Kitchens series are based upon the food traditions of Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
, Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
, Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of prophet Zoroaster and was formerly among the world's largest religions. It was probably founded some time before the 6th century BCE in Greater Iran.In Zoroastrianism, the Creator Ahura Mazda is all good, and no evil...
and Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
. Karma to Nirvana, the second installment in the Holy Kitchens documentary series premiered at the prestigious New York Indian Film Festival, in the US, on May 7, 2011.
Awards and recognitions
Vikas was awarded a Michelin Star for his restaurant Junoon by Michelin GuideMichelin Guide
The Michelin Guide is a series of annual guide books published by Michelin for over a dozen countries. The term normally refers to the Michelin Red Guide, the oldest and best-known European hotel and restaurant guide, which awards the Michelin stars...
In 2011, Vikas was honored with the Rising Star Chef Award by Star Chefs for his role in shaping the future of American Cuisine.
On March 29, 2011, Vikas received a raving review from Sam Sifton
Sam Sifton
Sam Sifton is an American journalist working for the New York Times. Sifton's posts at the Times have included deputy dining editor ; dining editor ; deputy culture editor and culture editor .....
in The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
.
Vikas was voted "New York's Hottest Chef" in a poll conducted by Eater
Eater
Eater were an early British punk band from London who took their name from a Marc Bolan lyric. In 2001, the band’s second single, "Thinking of the USA" , was included in a leading British music magazine’s list of the best punk-rock singles of all-time...
.
On July 29, 2011, Vikas hosted dinner for the Hindu American Seva Charities Conference held at the White House organized by Anju Bhargava
Anju Bhargava
Anju Bhargava is a member of President Barack Obama's Advisory Council on Faith Based and Neighborhood partnership. She is also Principal Director at Global Synergy Associates working at the intersection of Enterprise Risk Management, Business Transformation and Organization Management through a...
, who is a member of President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
's Advisory Council on Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnership.
Vikas was featured in the Top Sexy and Successful list of Anokhi Magazine in their 5th Anniversary Issue. Metro New York featured Khanna as Hottest Chef Around.
Khanna has received acclaim for his cooking style from the James Beard Foundation
James Beard Foundation
The James Beard Foundation is a New York-based national professional non-profit organization named in honor of James Beard that serves to promote the culinary arts by honoring chefs, wine professionals, journalists, and cookbook authors at annual award ceremonies and providing scholarships and...
, and received several awards, including the "Access to Freedom Award" in 2005 from SATH, previously awarded to George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
and HRH Prince Charles, and The Shining Star Award from http://www.justonebreak.com/ Just One Break, Inc. previously received by Christopher Reeve
Christopher Reeve
Christopher D'Olier Reeve was an American actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, author and activist...
and Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
.
He has also received a proclamation from the Council of the City of New York for his outstanding contribution to the city, and was chosen New Yorker of the Week by NY1
NY1
NY1, New York One, is a 24-hour cable-news television channel focusing on the five boroughs of New York City. In addition to news and weather forecasts, the channel also features human-interest segments such as the "New Yorker of the Week" and the "Scholar Athlete of the Week", and specialty...
.
Media appearances
In 2011, Vikas will host the TV Show MasterChef IndiaMasterChef India
MasterChef India is a Indian competitive cooking game show based on the original British MasterChef. It is produced by FremantleMedia and screens on Star Plus. Actor Akshay Kumar Restaurateur and chef Vikas Khanna, chef Ajay Chopra and chef Kunal Kapoor serve as the show's main judges...
, an Indian competitive cooking game show based on the original British version of MasterChef
MasterChef
MasterChef is a television cooking game show franchise, started with Masterchef". The same MasterChef logo is used around the world. The show has expanded to many versions in other countries.- International adaptations :...
, to be telecast on Star Plus
STAR Plus
STAR Plus is a Hindi language general entertainment television channel based in India. The channel is part of the STAR TV network's bouquet of channels...
.
In September 2007, Vikas Khanna was featured as the consultant chef on the Gordon Ramsay
Gordon Ramsay
Gordon James Ramsay, OBE is a Scottish chef, television personality and restaurateur. He has been awarded 13 Michelin stars....
TV show Kitchen Nightmares
Kitchen Nightmares
Kitchen Nightmares is an American reality television series broadcast on the Fox network, in which Chef Gordon Ramsay spends a week with a failing restaurant in an attempt to revive the business. It is based on the British show Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares. The show is produced by ITV Studios...
on Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
. On October 13, 2009, Khanna appeared as a judge and Indian-cuisine specialist on the two-part season finale of Hell's Kitchen. On June 23, 2010, Khanna appeared on Throwdown! with Bobby Flay
Throwdown! with Bobby Flay
Throwdown! with Bobby Flay is a Food Network television program in which celebrity chef Bobby Flay challenges cooks renowned for a specific dish or type of cooking to a cook-off of their signature dish....
as a judge. Vikas Khanna was guest chef in the episode "The India Show" on The Martha Stewart Show telecast on March 4, 2011.
Further reading
- Chef Vikas Khanna Interview on Desiclub.com
- A Chef, A Mentor, A Hero - Article in Punjab Newsline
- ‘Food-nothing-love’-834 ‘Food is nothing but love’ - Article in Deccan Chronicle
- ‘Chef Vikas Khanna to host MasterChef 2’ - Article in Times of India
- ‘Bits & Bites: News You Can Eat’ - Article in Wall Street Journal
- ‘Flavour of the Season’ - Article in Indian Express