15 fun facts about Chef Vikas Khanna

15 facts you didn’t know about MasterChef  judge Vikas Khanna

1. Vikas Khanna is an award winning, Michelin Starred Indian chef, restaurateur, food writer, filmmaker, humanitarian and the host of the TV Show MasterChef India. He is based in New York City.

2. Vikas Khanna was raised in Amritsar, India where he grew up surrounded by large family feasts, the seasonal produce fresh from the fields of Punjab, and of course, his Grandmother’s traditional home cooking. It was at his grandmother’s side that he began to learn the intricacies of Indian cuisine.

3. He started his own banquet and catering business, Lawrence Gardens, at the age of 17.

4. During his graduation from the prestigious Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration, Vikas went on to train under renowned chefs of Taj Group of Hotels, Oberois, Leela Group, and many more.

5. He has studied at the Culinary Institute of America, Cornell University and New York University and the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu, Paris.

6. He has authored several books, including “The Spice Story of India” and “Modern Indian Cooking”. His next book, “Flavors First”, published in 2011 by Lake Isle Press.

7. He is the founder of Cooking for Life and SAKIV Organizations which hosts gastronomic events around the world in support of different relief efforts and awareness issues.

8. The documentary series Holy Kitchens is based on his journey of discovering the spiritual foods that give us shared identity. The first part of the series is based on Sikhism.

9. Vikas was awarded a Michelin Star for his restaurant Junoon by Michelin Guide.

10. In 2011, Vikas was honored with the Rising Star Chef Award by Star Chefs for his role in shaping the future of American Cuisine.

11. On March 29, 2011, Vikas received a raving review from Sam Sifton in The New York Times. Vikas was voted "New York's Hottest Chef" in a poll conducted by Eater.

12. On July 29, 2011, Vikas hosted dinner for the Hindu American Seva Charities Conference held at the White House organized by Anju Bhargava, who is a member of President Barack Obama's Advisory Council on Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnership.

13. Vikas was featured in the Top Sexy and Successful list of Anokhi Magazine in their 5th Anniversary Issue. Metro New York featured Khanna as Hottest Chef Around.
Khanna has received several awards, including the "Access to Freedom Award" in 2005 from SATH, previously awarded to George W. Bush and HRH Prince Charles, and The Shining Star Award from Just One Break, Inc. previously received by Christopher Reeve and Ray Charles.

14. He has also received a proclamation from the Council of the City of New York for his outstanding contribution to the city, and was chosen New Yorker of the Week by NY1 and was chosen New Yorker of the Week by NY1..

15. In 2011, Vikas will host the TV Show MasterChef India, an Indian competitive cooking game show based on the original British version of MasterChef, to be telecast on Star Plus.
In September 2007, Vikas Khanna was featured as the consultant chef on the Gordon Ramsay TV show Kitchen Nightmares on Fox. On October 13, 2009, Khanna appeared as a judge and Indian-cuisine specialist on the two-part season finale of Hell's Kitchen. On June 23, 2010, Khanna appeared on Throwdown! with Bobby Flay as a judge. Vikas Khanna was guest chef in the episode "The India Show" on The Martha Stewart Show telecast on March 4, 2011.