Quick Info
| Profession | Chef |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian |
| Date of Birth | 14/11/1971 |
| Age | 54 years |
| Birthplace | Amritsar, Punjab, India |
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Physical Stats & More
| Height | 180 cm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 82 kg |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Hair Color | Black |
Educational Qualification(s)
| College | Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration, Manipal, India |
|---|---|
| Cornell University, New York, USA | Hospitality Management |
| New York University, New York, USA | Hospitality Management |
| Educational Qualifications | Degree in Hospitality Management |
| Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, USA | Culinary Arts |
| Le Cordon Bleu, Paris, France | Culinary Arts |
Family
| Father | Late Davinder Khanna |
|---|---|
| Mother | Bindu Khanna |
| Siblings |
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Career
| Opened Kinara restaurant in Dubai in 2019. | |
| Opened Ellora restaurant in Dubai in 2020. | |
| Opened Bungalow restaurant in the East Village neighborhood of New York City in 2024. | |
| Authored more than 40 books on cooking, with Utsav recognized as the world's most expensive cookbook after being auctioned. | |
| Built the first Culinary museum of India at his alma mater Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration, Manipal, in 2018. | |
| Received honorary doctorate from GD Goenka University for contributions to culinary art, philanthropy, and humanitarianism. | |
| Hosted multiple seasons of Twist of Taste on Fox Life. | |
| Guest judge on MasterChef Australia Season 6. | |
| Judge and Indian-cuisine specialist on the two-part season finale of Hell's Kitchen. | |
| Consultant chef for Purnima restaurant on Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares. | |
| Founder of Cooking for Life (2001) and SAKIV organizations for charity events worldwide. | |
| Creator of Vision of Palate workshop to educate people with visual disabilities about taste, flavor, and aromas. | |
| Received Rising Star Chef Award by Star Chefs in 2011. | |
| Junoon restaurant received Michelin star starting in 2010. | |
| James Beard Award Nominee. | |
| Directed feature film The Last Color, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. |
Favourites
| Food | Aaloo Methi, Creamy Chicken Tikka Masala | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cuisines | Bhutanese and Tibetan Cuisines | ||||
| Book | Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach | ||||
| Travel Destination | Morocco | ||||
| Chef | Gordon Ramsay | ||||
| Movies |
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Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Vikas was born with Club Foot, a condition where leg bones may not align properly at the joint. | |
| 2. He started walking at the age of 13 due to this condition. | |
| 3. He spent a lot of time in the kitchen watching his grandmother cook, which sparked his interest in cooking. | |
| 4. Originally considering Engineering, he gave it up due to poor math skills. | |
| 5. At 17, he founded Lawrence Gardens, a banquet hall for small gatherings. | |
| 6. He moved from India to the USA for further education in Hospitality at Cornell University and NYU. | |
| 7. Struggling initially, he eventually became the executive chef at Salaam Bombay Restaurant in New York. | |
| 8. In 2006, he appeared on Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares. | |
| 9. He opened Junoon in Manhattan on 2nd December 2009. | |
| 10. Junoon has earned a Michelin star annually since 2010, a prestigious recognition in the culinary world. | |
| 11. Vikas co-hosted multiple seasons of Master Chef India. | |
| 12. He cooked for a fundraiser for President Obama in 2012. | |
| 13. He is the goodwill ambassador of the Smile Foundation to raise awareness about malnutrition. | |
| 14. Vikas declined a movie role from Karan Johar to focus on his culinary career. | |
| 15. He has been featured in People's Magazine and hailed as New York's hottest chef by New York Eater. | |
| 16. He founded Cooking for Life and SAKIV Organizations for charity events worldwide. | |
| 17. Vikas is an author of various books on Indian cooking and spices. | |
| 18. Recipient of Access to Freedom Award, Eleanor Roosevelt’s Shining Star Award, and GQ Man of the Year. | |
| 19. Featured as one of the 10 Legendary Chefs by Deutsche Welle. |