Apparently I am not immune to draw of reality tv, and last night, after watching all season, I caught the finale for Hell's Kitchen. While the antics of Gordon Ramsey are almost enough to post on themselves, the real reason for this post is because the last challenge of the show included each of the contestants creating "world" cuisine, and of course India's cuisine was one that was featured. Along with the challenge, Ramsey had guest judges, one of which was Indian chef Vikas Khanna.
Originally from Amritsar, Vikas moved to New York in 2000 and is currently the executive chef at Salaam Bombay restaurant. His accolades are extensive and include such awards as the Taste of India award from the James Beard Foundation, the Access to Freedom award from SATH, and the first Indian to win the prestigious Shining Star Award from J.O.B., man of the year in Chicago and New Yorker of the week. The list goes on and on. He was even blessed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
As if being a world wide famous chef isn't enough, he's also very involved in charity work. He established the New York Chef's "Cooking for Life" Foundation to organize events to raise money for various causes around the World, and launched SAKIV in 2005 to host vision expos all around the world in an effort to reach out to different EYE foundations around South Asia.
And if all that wasn't enough to love him right away, you can't ignore how incredible handsome he is! (Sorry, couldn't help myself!). And with that, I'm off to research some fantastic Indian recipes!
October 16, 2009 at 1:56 PM
Hey Shell- I enjoyed watching his perfectly sculpted face. Though I am an Indian, raised in Boston and Arizona. He is my first Indian crush (so sorry: but that Bollywood thing never worked for me). Vikas was the closest I found and love to an Indian man. I agree that his pure radiance and beauty (holy cow) and talent and killing. M. Bhasin
October 16, 2009 at 2:59 PM
Welcome Meetu and namaste!!! How wonderful to find someone who knows who Vikas is! I totally agree - he is definitely a beautiful man. In just a few short moments on tv I was totally enthralled - there's just something absolutely magnetic about him. I now have a dining destination when I make it to New York!
Can I ask, if you are not into the Bollywood thing, how you came across my blog?
October 19, 2009 at 9:57 AM
there are much better chefs of indian origin than vikas. Suvir Saran is way more talented than vikas. I don't understand why everyone is so OVERTAKEN by vikas. He uses his looks to get everywhere! But does not impress me.
October 19, 2009 at 1:01 PM
Anon, I'm sure there are tons of fantastic Indian chefs out there, I just happened upon Vikras due to his celebrity I supposed. I did do some internet searching about Suvir Saran and his food looks very good (though maybe a little too pretentious for my taste). However, I'll have to add Devi to my list of places to eat when I visit New York. Thanks for the head's up.