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Vikas Khanna

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Vikas Khanna
Born (1971-11-14) 14 November 1971 (age 52)
Amritsar, Punjab, India
EducationManipal Academy of Higher Education GD Goenka University
WorksAyurveda - The Science of Food and Life
Mango Mia
The Spice Story of India
Cuisine of Gandhi
New York Chefs Cooking for Life - Cookbook
StyleIndian cuisine
RelativesRadhika Khanna (sister)

Vikas Khanna (born 14 November 1971) is an Indian chef, restaurateur, cookbook writer, filmmaker and humanitarian. He is one of the judges of MasterChef India since its beginning. He is based in New York City.

Early life and education

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Khanna was born in Amritsar, India in a Punjabi family.[1][2] He did his schooling at St. Francis School, Amritsar.[3] He was born with a leg deformity (club foot) and wasn't able to run until he was 13 years old. He graduated Manipal Academy of Higher Education in 1991 where he studied hotel management.[4] He then studied at Culinary Institute of America and New York University.

Vikas Khanna also received an honorary doctorate at GD Goenka University.[5]

Career

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While in India, Khanna worked for the Taj Hotels, Oberoi group, Welcome group, and Leela Group of Hotels.

Khanna had worked at Salaam Bombay and The Café at the Rubin Museum of Art in New York before he joined Junoon, an upscale Indian restaurant in Flatiron district of Manhattan. Junoon received a favorable review from Sam Sifton in The New York Times[6] in its inaugural year and was awarded a Michelin star by the Michelin Guide for six consecutive years since 2011.[3]

He has also worked with top chefs including Gordon Ramsay,[7] Eric Ripert, Bobby Flay and Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

In 2019, he opened a restaurant called Kinara in Dubai.[8] In 2020, he opened a restaurant called Ellora in Dubai.[9] In 2024, he opened a restaurant, Bungalow in the East Village neighborhood of New York City.

Television shows

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From 2011, Khanna hosted seven seasons of MasterChef India (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8) a series based on the original British version. He has been hosting all the seasons of the show since then. Khanna was invited as a guest judge on MasterChef Australia in Season 6.[10]

He has hosted four seasons of the show Twist of Taste on Fox Life.

Khanna was featured as a Consultant chef to help a failing Indian restaurant named Purnima on the Gordon Ramsay TV series Kitchen Nightmares.[11]

Khanna appeared as a judge and an Indian-cuisine specialist on the two-part season finale of Hell's Kitchen.[12]

He has appeared on Throwdown! with Bobby Flay[13] as a judge and as a guest chef on The Martha Stewart Show.[14]

Film production

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Khanna has produced a documentary series named Holy Kitchens,[15] which explores the bond between faith and food.

His documentary Kitchens of Gratitude was featured at Marche du Film at the 69th Cannes Film Festival.[16]

His directorial debut The Last Color is a film about the daily struggles for survival on the streets of the ancient city of Banaras, India. The teaser of the film was released at the 71st Cannes Film Festival.[17]

Philanthropy

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Khanna launched the foundation "South Asian Kid's Infinite Vision" (SAKIV)[18] to focus on worldwide issues that demand urgent action such as Tsunami Relief, Hurricanes of the Gulf Coast, Haiti. In collaboration with charitable institutions, such as Save the Children, the foundation has hosted many events worldwide - from The Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt to the Taj Mahal in India.[19][20]

In 2018 Vikas Khanna built the first Culinary museum of India at his alma mater Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel [21]

"Cooking for Life" founded by Khanna in 2001 in New York along with the world's top chefs[22] supports several social causes.

Vision of Palate is his award-winning[23] workshop developed to educate people with visual disabilities about the sense of taste, flavor and aromas.

On 14 May 2012, Khanna cooked for a fundraiser hosted for President Obama at the Rubin Museum of Art in New York City[24]

Khanna is the goodwill ambassador for Smile Foundation and supports the cause of malnutrition in India.[25] He has pledged to raise 1 million US dollars for the same.

In April 2020, during the COVID-19 global pandemic, he started a "Feed India" initiative which is backed by Pepsi, India Gate, Quaker Oats, Hyatt Regency and Global Funds for Widows and delivers food and supplies to those in need in India.[3]

Awards and recognitions

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  • Top 10 Chefs in the world by Deutsche Welle News and Gazette Review.[26][27]
  • Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris causa) Degree by the G D Goenka University.[28]
  • Doctorate in literature (Honoris causa) by D Y Patil University.[29]
  • James Beard Foundation Award nomination for his book Return to the Rivers in 2014.[30]
  • "Rising Star" Chef Award by Star Chefs for his role in shaping the future of American Cuisine(2011).[31]
  • GQ India Man of the year 2012 by GQ Magazine.[32]
  • Featured in the list of Sexiest Man Alive by People Magazine in November 2011.
  • "Access to Freedom Award"[33] in 2005 from SATH.
  • The Shining Star Award from "Just One Break, Inc."[34]
  • Proclamation from the New York City Council for his outstanding contribution to the city, and was chosen "New Yorker of the Week" by NY1.
  • Featured on the cover of Men's Health India Magazine in 2012.[35]
  • He was voted "New York's Hottest Chef" in a poll conducted by the New York Eater blog.[36]

Bibliography

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  • 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
  • Modern Indian Cooking
  • Flavors First: An Indian Chef's Culinary Journey
  • My Great India Cookbook
  • Khanna Sutra: Food Lessons in Love
  • Everyone Can Cook
  • Savour Mumbai: A Culinary Journey Through India's Melting Pot
  • Young Chefs
  • Return to the Rivers - Recipes and Memories of the Himalayan River Valleys
  • Bliss of Spices - The Essence of Indian Kitchen
  • Hymns from the Soil - A Vegetarian Saga
  • Amritsar - Flavours of the Golden city
  • The Magic Rolling Pin
  • World Feast - My Favourite Kitchen
  • MasterChef India Cookbook
  • Shaken & Stirred - 101 non-alcoholic blends
  • Timeless Legacy - His Holiness the Dalai Lama
  • The Milk Moustache
  • UTSAV - A Culinary Epic of Indian Festivals
  • Indian Harvest - Classic and Contemporary Vegetarian Dishes
  • Essence of Seasoning - My All Time Favorite Recipes
  • Mocktails, Punches, and Shrubs
  • My First Kitchen
  • A Tree Named Ganga
  • PÃTRA - Heritage of the Indian Kitchen
  • The Last Color
  • The Wholesome Grain
  • Pilgrim's Flavors
  • Ceremony of Aromas
  • Magic of Slow Cooking
  • BARKAT
  • Sacred Foods of India
  • Barefoot Empress
  • Imaginary Rain

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Amritsar-born chef Vikas Khanna ranked in global top 10 list by Gazette Review". Tribune. PTI. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  2. ^ Ahuja, Aditi (27 October 2022). "Celebrity Chef Vikas Khanna Returns To Amritsar, Cooks Delicious Kulcha". NDTV. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Sud, Vedika (12 October 2020). "Indian Michelin-star chef feeds millions from New York". CNN. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  4. ^ Staff Correspondent (5 February 2012). "Vikas Khanna goes down memory lane". The Hindu. Retrieved 16 July 2018. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  5. ^ "Celebrity Chef Vikas Khanna to be conferred honorary doctorate by G.D Goenka University". 6 February 2018.
  6. ^ Sifton, Sam (29 March 2011). "Crosstown Tour of India". Archived from the original on 15 July 2014 – via NYTimes.com.
  7. ^ Goswami, Shreya (14 November 2017). "8 times Vikas Khanna made India proud on an international platform". India Today. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  8. ^ "Kinara by Vikas Khanna". 2 October 2019.
  9. ^ "Ellora by Vikas Khanna". 18 August 2020.
  10. ^ "MasterChef India Pressure Test". TenPlay - MasterChef India Pressure Test. Network Ten. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  11. ^ Dillons, 26 September 2007, retrieved 27 November 2018
  12. ^ "'Hell's Kitchen' recap: The season finale". EW.com. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  13. ^ VikasKhannaGroup (5 July 2010), Vikas Khanna, archived from the original on 19 December 2021, retrieved 27 November 2018
  14. ^ "Fresh Roti Indian Bread with Shrimp". marthastewart.com. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  15. ^ "Holy Kitchens". vkhanna.com/HolyKitchens.html. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  16. ^ "Cannes 2016: Chef Vikas Khanna Screens Documentary on Food". News18. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  17. ^ "Four-in-a-row for celebrity Chef Vikas Khanna at Cannes.It has been also nominated for 'Best picture' by the Academy awards(Oscars)". Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  18. ^ "sakiv - Vikas Khanna Foundation". Sakiv.org. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  19. ^ "sakiv - Soul of Taj". Sakiv.org. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  20. ^ "sakiv - Past Events". Sakiv.org. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  21. ^ "Chef Vikas Khanna inaugurates Museum of Culinary Arts' in WGSHA, Manipal".
  22. ^ "sakiv - Supporting Chefs". Sakiv.org. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  23. ^ "Past workshops". vkhanna.com. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  24. ^ "Chef Prepares Meal for Obama to Kick Off Campaign". 29 July 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  25. ^ "Cook for a Smile". Smile Foundation. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  26. ^ "Jamie Oliver and 10 other iconic chefs". Deutsche Welle. 11 November 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  27. ^ Deml, Jessica (22 April 2017). "Top 10 Chefs In The World - The Best in 2018 - Gazette Review". Gazette Review. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  28. ^ "Chef Vikas Khanna receives honorary doctorate from G.D Goenka University". 9 February 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  29. ^ "12th Convocation Ceremony 2018 - D. Y. Patil University". D. Y. Patil University. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  30. ^ "The Complete 2014 JBF Award Nominees". www.jamesbeard.org. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  31. ^ "Chef Vikas Khanna of Junoon | StarChefs.com". www.starchefs.com. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  32. ^ "GQ Men of the Year 2012 : Part 2". GQ India. 29 October 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  33. ^ "Rolling Rains Report:: Vikas Khanna Promotes Accessibility & Hospitality Worldwide". Rollingrains.com. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  34. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  35. ^ "Cut, chisel, sizzle... : Cover Stories - Menshealth". menshealth.intoday.in. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  36. ^ "Junoon's Vikas Khanna is New York's Hottest Chef". Eater NY. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
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