Vikas Khanna

Vikas Khanna
Born1971 or 1972 (age 52–53)
Amritsar, Punjab, India
EducationManipal Academy of Higher Education GD Goenka University
StyleIndian cuisine
RelativesRadhika Khanna (sister)

Vikas Khanna (born 1971/1972) is an Indian chef, restaurateur, cookbook writer, and filmmaker based in New York City. He is one of the judges of MasterChef India since its beginning.

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.

He 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 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.[6][3]

In 2019, he opened a restaurant called Kinara in Dubai.[7] In 2020, he opened a restaurant called Ellora in Dubai.[8] In 2024, he opened a restaurant, Bungalow in the East Village neighborhood of New York City.[citation needed]

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.[9] He appeared as a Consultant chef to help a failing Indian restaurant named Purnima on the Gordon Ramsay TV series Kitchen Nightmares. Khanna appeared as a judge and an Indian-cuisine specialist on the two-part season finale of Hell's Kitchen.[10]

Film production

His documentary Kitchens of Gratitude was featured at Marche du Film at the 69th Cannes Film Festival.[11]

His directorial debut The Last Color is a film about the daily struggles for survival on the streets of Banaras, India.[12]

Recognition

  • Top 10 Chefs in the world by Deutsche Welle News and Gazette Review.[13][14]
  • Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris causa) Degree by the G D Goenka University.[15]
  • Doctorate in literature (Honoris causa) by D Y Patil University.[16]
  • James Beard Foundation Award nomination for his book Return to the Rivers in 2014.[17]
  • "Rising Star" Chef Award by Star Chefs for his role in shaping the future of American Cuisine(2011).[18]
  • GQ India Man of the year 2012 by GQ Magazine.[19]
  • The Shining Star Award from "Just One Break, Inc."[20]
  • Featured on the cover of Men's Health India Magazine in 2012.[21]
  • He was voted "New York's Hottest Chef" in a poll conducted by the New York Eater blog.[22]
  • His New York based restaurant “Bungalow” won Michelin 2024 Bib Gourmand award.[23]

See also

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. ^ a b 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. ^ "Kinara by Vikas Khanna". 2 October 2019.
  8. ^ "Ellora by Vikas Khanna". 18 August 2020.
  9. ^ "MasterChef India Pressure Test". TenPlay - MasterChef India Pressure Test. Network Ten. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  10. ^ "'Hell's Kitchen' recap: The season finale". EW.com. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  11. ^ "Cannes 2016: Chef Vikas Khanna Screens Documentary on Food". News18. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ "Jamie Oliver and 10 other iconic chefs". Deutsche Welle. 11 November 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  14. ^ Deml, Jessica (22 April 2017). "Top 10 Chefs In The World - The Best in 2018 - Gazette Review". Gazette Review. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  15. ^ "Chef Vikas Khanna receives honorary doctorate from G.D Goenka University". 9 February 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  16. ^ "12th Convocation Ceremony 2018 - D. Y. Patil University". D. Y. Patil University. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  17. ^ "The Complete 2014 JBF Award Nominees". www.jamesbeard.org. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  18. ^ "Chef Vikas Khanna of Junoon | StarChefs.com". www.starchefs.com. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  19. ^ "GQ Men of the Year 2012 : Part 2". GQ India. 29 October 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  20. ^ "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)
  21. ^ "Cut, chisel, sizzle... : Cover Stories - Menshealth". menshealth.intoday.in. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  22. ^ "Junoon's Vikas Khanna is New York's Hottest Chef". Eater NY. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  23. ^ "Vikas Khanna's New York restaurant Bungalow wins Michelin 2024 Bib Gourmand award". India Today. 10 December 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
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