Vikas Khanna is an award winning Michelin starred Indian chef, restaurateur, and cookbook writer, filmmaker, humanitarian and the judge of the TV show "MasterChef India" Season 2, Season 3 and "Masterchef Junior".
Early life of Vikas Khanna
Vikas Khanna was born on November 14, 1971 in Amritsar, Punjab. He was born with misaligned legs and feet and was not 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. He began developing recipes at a very young age. He started his own banquet and catering business, "Lawrence Gardens", at the age of 17.
Vikas Khanna graduated from the Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration from Manipal in 1991, and established "SAANCH", a cultural festival gala, to bring together various Indian foods and traditions from different parts of India. He has also studied at Cornell University, Culinary Institute of America and New York University.
Career of Vikas Khanna
Vikas Khanna has worked for the Taj, Oberoi, Welcomgroup, and Leela Group of Hotels and with some of the most influential chefs of the world including Gordon Ramsay, Bobby Flay and Jean-Georges Vongerichten.
Junoon by Vikas Khanna
Vikas Khanna started a restaurant on 2009 in New York called "Junoon".
Television Appearance of Vikas Khanna
In 2011, Vikas hosted the Indian television Show "MasterChef India Season 2", an Indian competitive cooking game show based on the original British version of "MasterChef", telecast on Star PLUS. He also hosted the 3rd Season and 4th Season of MasterChef India. He also hosts the travel show "Twist of Taste" on Fox Traveller.
In 2007, Vikas Khanna was featured as the "Consultant Chef" on the Gordon Ramsay TV show on Fox. On 2009, Khanna appeared as a judge and Indian-cuisine specialist on the two-part season finale of "Hell"s Kitchen". On 2010, he appeared as a judge on "Throwdown! with Bobby Flay". Vikas Khanna was guest chef in the episode "The India Show" on "The Martha Stewart Show" telecast on March 4, 2011. On 2014, Vikas Khanna appeared on "MasterChef Australia" as a guest judge.
Holy Kitchens by Vikas Khanna
Vikas Khanna"s "Holy Kitchens" is a film series that 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 an 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", the second installment in the Holy Kitchens documentary series premiered at the New York Indian Film Festival in the US, on May 2011. In March 2012, “Moon of Eid†the third film in the Holy Kitchens Series was released at Harvard University.
Social Activities by Vikas Khanna
Vikas Khanna launched the foundation "South Asian Kid"s Infinite Vision" (SAKIV) to focus on worldwide issues that demand urgent action such as Tsunami Relief, Hurricanes of the Gulf Coast, Haiti.
"Cooking for Life" was 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 Haiti.
"Vision of Palate" is his award-winning workshop developed to educate people with visual disabilities about the sense of taste, flavour and aromas.
Bibliography of Vikas Khanna
•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
•My Great India Cookbook
•Khanna Sutra: Food Lessons in Love
•Everyone Can Cook
•Savour Mumbai
•Young Chefs
•Return to the Rivers - Recipes and Memories of the Himalayan River Valleys with HH the Dalai Lama
•Bliss of Spices - The Essence of Indian Kitchen
•Hymns from the Soil - A Vegetarian Saga.
•Amritsar - The Flavours of the City
•The Magic Rolling Pin
•World Feast - My Favourite Kitchen
•MasterChef India Cookbook - Best of Season 1, 2 and 3
•Shaken & Stirred - A Non-Alcoholic Drinks Book
•Timeless Legacy - His Holiness the Dalai Lama
•UTSAV
•Indian Harvest - Classic and Contemporary Vegetarian Dishes
•The Milk Moustache
Achievements of Vikas Khanna
Michelin Star for his restaurant Junoon by Michelin Guide for 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Awarded GQ India "Man of the Year 2012" on Sept 30th, 2012 in Mumbai by GQ Magazine.
He was featured on the cover of Men"s Health India Magazine - October 2012.
Awarded the "Rising Star Chef Award" by Star Chefs for his role in shaping the future of American Cuisine 2011.
He was chosen as New Yorker of the Week for his outstanding contribution to the city.
Vikas Khanna has received several awards, including the "Access to Freedom Award" in 2005 from SATH.
He has received acclaim for his cooking style from the James Beard Foundation.
Awarded "The Shining Star Award" from One Break, Inc.
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Indian Chefs
Indian Food
Indian Television
Indian Regional Cuisines