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Vikas Khanna ; born November 14, 1971 is an award winning Michelin Starred Indian chef, restaurateur, food writer, filmmaker,humanitarian and the host of the TV Show MasterChef India (season 2). He is based in New York City. In 2011, People magazine named Khanna in the list of "Sexiest Man Alive" and also referred to as "The Hottest Chef in the World."
- LIFE & CAREER:- Born in Amritsar, India to Davinder and Bindu Khanna is the second child. He has one older brother Nishant Khanna, who lives with his family in Amritsar, India and one younger sister Radhika Khanna , a fashion entrepreneur, who also lives in Manhattan. Vikas Khanna began his culinary experience as a helper in his grandmother's kitchen, and learned the art of cooking and the use of spices from her. At the age of 12, he was supplying kitchenware to Amritsar Club.He began developing recipes at a very young age and opened Lawrence Gardens Banquets to host weddings and family functions when he was 17. He graduated from the Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration in 1991, and established SAANCH, a cultural festival gala, to bring together various foods and traditions from different parts of India. This festival has been an important event in the college's calendar. He 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, Jean-Georges Vongerichten.Chef Vikas completed his graduation from Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration also known as WGSHA, Manipal.He has also studied at Cornell University, Culinary Institute of America, and New York University. Vikas also appears in Marquis Who's Who in America 2012 edition.
- PERSONAL LIFE:- Khanna was born with misaligned legs and feet and wasn't 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. Khanna is not married. In an interview with Hindustan Times he said that he looks forward to having a family one day, but nothing as of now. He is contributor to Deepak Chopra's Intent and The Huffington Post. Khanna is a Democrat and a supporter of US President Barack Obama. On May 14, 2012, Vikas cooked for a fundraiser hosted for President Obama at the Rubin Museum of Art in New York. In September 2009 Khanna bought a house across the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.
- SAKIV:- 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. 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."Cooking for Life" was founded by 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, flavor and aromas.
- BOOKS:-
- 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
- HOLY KITCHENS:- Khanna's Holy Kitchens film series 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 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 7, 2011. In March 2012, "Moon of Eid" the third film in the Holy Kitchens Series was released at Harvard University.
- AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS:- Khanna was awarded a Michelin star for his restaurant Junoon by Michelin Guide for 2012, and 2013.He was awarded GQ India Man of the year 2012 on Sept 30th, 2012 in Mumbai by GQ Magazine.He was featured on the cover of Mens Health India Magazine - October 2012.In 2011, he was awarded the "Rising Star Chef Award by Star Chefs for his role in shaping the future of American Cuisine.On March 29, 2011, Khanna's restaurant Junoon received a favourable review from Sam Sifton in The New York Times.He was voted "New York's Hottest Chef" in a poll conducted by the New York Eater blog.On July 29, 2011, Khanna hosted dinner for the Hindu American Seva Charities 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 Partnerships.Khanna 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. In November 2011, Vikas was featured in the list of Sexiest Man Alive by People Magazine. Khanna has received acclaim for his cooking style from the James Beard Foundation, and received the "Access to Freedom Award" in 2005 from SATH, and The Shining Star Award from Just One Break, Inc.Just One Break, Inc..He has also received a proclamation from the New York City Council for his outstanding contribution to the city, and was chosen "New Yorker of the Week" by NY1.
- APPEARANCES:- In 2011, Vikas has hosted the TV Show MasterChef India (season 2), an Indian competitive cooking game show based on the original British version of MasterChef, telecasted on Star Plus.He is also hosting the 3rd season of Masterchef India.In September 2007, Vikas Khanna was featured as the consultant chef on the Gordon Ramsay TV show Kitchen Nightmares onFox. 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.
- BIBLIOGRAPHY:- Khanna, V. The Spice Story of India. ISBN 1-4134-9408-0
- PHOTO GALLERIES:-
And now in 2013, he is back in television as one of the chief judges on master chef in star plus.
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