Vikas Khanna

Last updated

Vikas Khanna
Vikas Khanna - 1.jpg
Born (1971-11-14) 14 November 1971 (age 52)
Amritsar, Punjab, India
Education Manipal 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
Style Indian cuisine
Relatives Radhika 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.

Contents

Early Life and Education

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

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

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

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

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

Bibliography

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Bourdain</span> American chef and travel documentarian (1956–2018)

Anthony Michael Bourdain was an American celebrity chef, author, and travel documentarian. He starred in programs focusing on the exploration of international culture, cuisine, and the human condition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heston Blumenthal</span> English chef

Heston Marc Blumenthal is an English celebrity chef, TV personality and food writer. His restaurants include the Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire, a three-Michelin-star restaurant that was named the world's best by the World's 50 Best Restaurants in 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Curtis Stone</span> Australian chef, author, and television personality (born 1975)

Curtis Travis Stone is an Australian celebrity chef, author, and television personality. Stone has been the fresh food and recipes ambassador for Coles Supermarkets in Australia since 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">José Andrés</span> Spanish-American chef

José Ramón Andrés Puerta is a Spanish and American chef and restaurateur. Born in Spain, he moved to the United States in the early 1990s and since then, he has opened restaurants in several American cities. He has won a number of awards, both for his cooking, and his humanitarian work. He is a professor as well as the founder of the Global Food Institute at George Washington University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emeril Lagasse</span> American celebrity chef and restaurateur (born 1959)

Emeril John Lagasse III is an American celebrity chef, restaurateur, television personality, cookbook author, and National Best Recipe award winner for his "Turkey and Hot Sausage Chili" recipe in 2003. He is a regional James Beard Award winner, known for his mastery of Creole and Cajun cuisine and his self-developed "New New Orleans" style. He is of Portuguese descent on his mother's side, while being of French heritage through his father.

<i>MasterChef India – Hindi</i> Indian cooking reality television series

MasterChefIndia – Hindi is an Indian Hindi-language competitive cooking reality television series based on MasterChef Australia and is part of MasterChef India. The series features amateur and home chefs competing to win the title of 'MasterChef'. The current line-up of judges consists of Vikas Khanna, Pooja Dhingra, and Ranveer Brar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shipra Khanna</span> Indian celebrity chef

Shipra Khanna is an Indian celebrity chef, restaurateur, author and television personality. She is best known for, at the age of 29, winning the second season of the Indian television show MasterChef India (2012) which aired on Star Plus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vikram Vij</span> Indian-born Canadian chef

Vikram Vij is an Indian-born Canadian chef, cookbook author, and television personality. He is the owner, of the Indian cuisine restaurants Vij's and Rangoli Restaurant in Vancouver, British Columbia. He also owns My Shanti, a restaurant in South Surrey, BC which he closed in 2024. In 2014, Vij was announced as a new "dragon" investor on the Canadian reality show Dragons' Den for its ninth season and departed at the end of the season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manjunath Mural</span> Indian chef

Manjunath Mural is the executive chef of The Song of India restaurant in Singapore and has won several awards as a chef and for The Song of India. Mural's specialty is modern Indian cuisine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kunal Kapur</span> Indian celebrity chef and restaurateur (born 1979)

Kunal Kapur is an Indian chef and restaurateur known for hosting and judging MasterChef India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas McNaughton</span> American chef, restaurateur and cookbook writer

Thomas McNaughton is an American chef, restaurateur, and cookbook writer. He is the chef and owner of Flour + Water, Penny Roma, Flour + Water Pasta Shop, and Flour + Water Pizzeria in San Francisco, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manish Mehrotra</span> Indian chef

Manish Mehrotra is one of the India's highly esteemed chef, widely recognized as one of the most dynamic figures in modern Indian cuisine globally. Serving as the Culinary Director of Indian Accent Restaurants located in Delhi, Mumbai, and New York, as well as at Comorin in Gurugram, Mehrotra has garnered acclaim for his innovative approach to Indian gastronomy.

Aliya LeeKong is an American chef, television personality and author of the cookbook Exotic Table - Flavors, Inspiration, and Recipes from Around the World – to Your Kitchen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ranveer Brar</span> Indian chef

Ranveer Singh Brar is an Indian celebrity chef, Masterchef India judge, author, restaurateur and actor. He is well known as the host of popular Television food shows and as a judge in MasterChef India, alongside fellow chefs Sanjeev Kapoor, Vikas Khanna, Vineet Bhatia, Garima Arora and Pooja Dhingra

<i>Buried Seeds</i> 2019 American documentary film

Buried Seeds is a documentary film, directed by Andrei Severny based on the life journey of Michelin Starred Indian Chef Vikas Khanna.

Kate Williams is a chef and restaurateur in Detroit, Michigan, US. She was chef and restaurateur for Lady of the House in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood. In 2018 Food + Wine named her one of America's best new chefs and GQ and Esquire named the restaurant to their lists of best new restaurants. Lady of the House closed in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rachel Goenka</span> Indian restaurateur, chef, author

Rachel Goenka is an Indian restaurateur, chef, author and the founder and CEO of Mumbai based The Chocolate Spoon Company. She runs a chain of restaurants such as The Sassy Spoon, a European restaurant, House of Mandarin, a Chinese restaurant, Baraza Bars and Bites, a beach shack themed pub, Wicked China, an Asian resto-bar, and Sassy Teaspoon, a chain of patisseries and bakeries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Floyd Cardoz</span> Indian-American chef (1960–2020)

Floyd Cardoz was an Indian-American chef. He owned the New York City eatery Paowalla and was executive chef at Tabla, as well as victor on Top Chef Masters Season 3 in 2011. His New York restaurants were known for food melding Indian flavours and spices with western cuisine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vineet Bhatia</span> British chef of Indian origin,restaurateur, author (born 1967)

Vineet Bhatia is an Indian chef, restaurateur, author, and media personality. He was the first Indian chef to be awarded a Michelin star. He opened two Rasoi restaurants, the first in Chelsea, London in 2004, and the second in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2008. Both restaurants received Michelin stars, in 2006 and 2009 respectively, making Bhatia the first and only chef of Indian origin to receive two Michelin stars. Currently, he has eleven restaurants, including his signature restaurant "KAMA by Vineet" in the dining hall in Harrods in London, and appears as a judge on Netflix show The Final Table and judge-host on MasterChef India. He has written two cookbooks, Rasoi: New Indian Kitchen and My Sweet Kitchen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Junoon (restaurant)</span> Indian restaurant in New York City, U.S.

Junoon is a Michelin starred Indian restaurant in New York City. It was started by chef and philanthropist Vikas Khanna and Rajesh Bhardwaj, who is the current CEO.

References

  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. 1 2 3 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".
  9. ↑ "Ellora by Vikas Khanna".
  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.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.