- Vikas Khanna
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Vikas Khanna 
Vikas Khanna, 2010Born November 14, 1971
Amritsar, IndiaCooking style Indian cuisine Education Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration Current restaurant(s)- Junoon
Lawrence Gardens, Amritsar
A Spice Route
Tandoor Palace
Purnima Restaurant / Dillons Lounge
Vikas Khanna (Hindi: विकास खन्ना; born November 14, 1971) is an award winning Michelin Starred Indian chef, restaurateur, food writer, filmmaker, humanitarian and the host of the TV Show MasterChef India (season 2) [1]. He is based in New York City.
Contents
Life and career
Born in Amritsar, India to Davinder and Bindu Khanna, 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.
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.[1].
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. [2]. 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 Barrack Obama. In September 2009 Khanna bought a house across the United Nations Headquarters 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 Egypt 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.
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 Chopra. 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,[3] the second installment in the Holy Kitchens documentary series premiered at the prestigious New York Indian Film Festival,[4] in the US, on May 7, 2011.
Awards and recognitions
Vikas was awarded a Michelin Star for his restaurant Junoon by Michelin Guide[5]
In 2011, Vikas was honored with the Rising Star Chef Award by Star Chefs for his role in shaping the future of American Cuisine.[6]
On March 29, 2011, Vikas received a raving review from Sam Sifton in The New York Times.[7]
Vikas was voted "New York's Hottest Chef"[8] 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.[9]
Khanna has received acclaim for his cooking style from the James Beard Foundation, and received several awards, including the "Access to Freedom Award"[10] in 2005 from SATH, previously awarded to George W. Bush and HRH Prince Charles, and The Shining Star Award from [2] 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[11] for his outstanding contribution to the city, and was chosen New Yorker of the Week by NY1.
Media appearances
In 2011, Vikas will host the TV Show MasterChef India,[12] 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.[13]
Bibliography
- Khanna, V. The Spice Story of India. ISBN 1-4134-9408-0
References
- ^ http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2007/02/27/2007-02-27_every_morning_i_wake_up_and_say_im_such_.html/
- ^ http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/goodliving/Indian-chef-is-US-rising-star/Article1-749998.aspx/
- ^ http://www.holykitchens.com/KarmatoNirvana.htm K
- ^ http://www.iaac.us/NYIFF2011/HolyKitchens.htm
- ^ http://www.michelintravel.com/what-is-bib-gourmand/new-york-city-2012-starred-restaurants/
- ^ http://www.starchefs.com/cook/features/editors_dish/rising_stars/2011/new-york/
- ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/30/dining/reviews/30rest.html/?_r=1/
- ^ http://ny.eater.com/archives/2011/02/junoons_vikas_khanna_is_new_yorks_hottest_chef.php/
- ^ http://www.metro.us/newyork/entertainment/article/782667--vikas-khanna-the-hottest-chef-around/
- ^ http://www.rollingrains.com/archives/000805.html/
- ^ http://www.vkhanna.com/Awards.html#nyc/
- ^ http://www.hindustantimes.com/Food-is-sacrosanct-for-Indians/Article1-736902.aspx/
- ^ http://www.marthastewart.com/show/the-martha-stewart-show/the-india-show/
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
External links
Categories:- American chefs
- Indian chefs
- Indian food writers
- People from Amritsar
- 1971 births
- Living people
- Indian emigrants to the United States
- Chefs of Indian cuisine
- Junoon
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
