Poll Choice |
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Chef Vikas
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Chef Jolly
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Chef Kunal
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Chef Vikas Khanna had been a much loved judge on MasterChef India Kitchen Ke Superstars. He won our hearts with his charm and soft spoken nature. He is back now to co judge Junior MasterChef Swaad Ke Usataad! The winner of Two Michelin Star awards, Vikas will share his experience on being one of the well renowned and enterprising chefs in the world.
Brought up in Amritsar,
Chef Vikas Khanna was inspired by his grandmother's culinary skills;
it was with her that he began his lifelong apprenticeship in learning
the intricacies of Indian cuisine. He started a catering business,
Lawrence Gardens, when he was 17, and after graduation he went on to
train under renowned chefs of Taj Group of Hotels, Oberoi, and Leela
Group.
Vikas made his move to the United States and worked with some of the most honoured chefs in America. He has hosted people like Richard Gere, Tyra Banks, Sir Salman Rushdie, Harrison Ford, Christina Hendrix, Martha Stewart and ace tennis player Andre Agassi
at his world class Restaurant Junoon, which is written about widely by
the New York press. The Cafe Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art with Vikas's menu has been named the Best Asian restaurant in New York.
Vikas has also authored several books including The Spice Story of India, Modern
Indian Cooking, Flavours First, and his latest release My Great India;
and his documentary "Holy Kitchen" has captured the imaginations of millions of people across the globe.
In the past, he has cooked for galas and events honouring President
Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Madonna and Mohammad Yunus, among others.
In July 29, 2011, Vikas cooked a Saatvik meal for the Dharmic Seva
Conference for Hindu American Seva Charities at the White House.
If you have watched MasterChef Kitchen Ke Superstars, then Kunal Kapoor is a familiar name to you. Catch him on Junior MasterChef Swaad Ke Ustaad. This time judging the youngest, most adorable chefs in town! The man widely known as 'Next Big Guy in Kebabs & Curries in India', Kunal Kapoor, will be adding new flavours to Junior MasterChef.
With a degree from the Institute of Hotel Management Chandigarh, Kunal Kapoor started his career at the Taj group of hotels and spanned
his culinary repertoire in Indian cuisine across banquet operations,
theme dinners, outdoor catering, creative menus, and buffet set-up.
The proud winner of a silver medal at Aahar and a bronze
medal in HORECA, Kuwait, Kunal added yet another feather in his chef
cap by winning "Sir Edmund Hillary fellowship" for doing exceptional
work in field of food; he was also chosen as the Star Chef for Lufthansa
airlines.
Chef Kunal (Executive Sous Chef, Leela Kempinski, and Gurgaon) is recognised amongst the Best Chefs in India by National Weekly Magazine - India Today. He has also been adjudged
as the "Gourmet Guru" by the Food & Nightlife Magazine, and has
been invited as a special judge to host an episode of MasterChef America, alongside Legendary Chef Gordon Ramsay.
He is also the proud chef of "DIYA" the speciality Indian restaurant,
which rated amongst the top 5 Indian restaurants in Delhi and Delhi NCR.
Chef Kunal also looks after the specialty menu for SPECTRA and Banquet operations.
Surjan Singh
Jolly, fondly known as Chef Jolly, is Executive Chef JW Marriott
Bengaluru. Now he will engross himself in being one of the three judges
at Junior MasterChef! This will certainly
be a new experience for him. He has been part of hospitality industry
for over 2 decades and he was chosen as the Head Chef for Paris Hilton
when she visited India and has also been the Guest Chef on Master Chef India season 2.
His love and passion for cooking has increased his knowledge of ingredients
and inspires him to travel on endless expeditions to explore the
nuances of authentic and traditional cuisines. To name a few, Chef Jolly
has traveled and cooked with Sriji Arvind Singh Mewar of Udaipur
Royalty, Nawab Mehboob Alam Khan, the giant of Hyderabadi cuisine,
cooked in the bylanes of Lucknow, perfected the Kulchas in Amritsar dhabas to farming in Pampore on the outskirts of Kashmir during the saffron harvest.
Chef Jolly is a proud recipient of the prestigious Global Marriott Hotels & Resorts
'Chef of the Year Award for Culinary Excellence'. Chef Jolly also
travels annually to Nova Scotia, Canada as part of the Culinary Tourism
Board to spread awareness on adding Indian flavors to their local and seasonal produce.
Chef Jolly is a member of several renowned programs
such as Regional Culinary Board for Marriott Asia Pacific, Culinary
Board Worldwide Marriott, International Culinary Guild of Chefs UK and
Executive Committee member for WICA (Western Indian Culinary
Association), which has helped him hone his culinary skills and embrace new food and beverage concepts.