"The restaurant I worked at was a stone's throw distance away from the World Trade Centre. After 9/11, things were never the same again. There was no electricity, the restaurants were all shut down, and as a brown man, the behaviour towards me suddenly became hostile. One time while I was travelling by the subway, they took away my chef's knife- it was a gift. That day, I decided I had to make my place here; I promised Papa I will create a life here…
And 10 years later, I won my first Michelin Star in the very same city!"
Hailing from the flavorful lanes of Amritsar, Chef Vikas Khanna's journey is a testament to passion, talent, and unwavering dedication.
Renowned globally for his exceptional culinary skills, Chef Vikas has redefined the perspective of Indian food with his innovative approach to cooking. His creations are a harmonious blend of tradition and innovation, reflecting his deep-rooted respect for culinary heritage while embracing the flavors of the modern world.
But Chef Vikas Khanna is more than just a master chef. He is a humanitarian, an author, a filmmaker, and a visionary who uses his culinary expertise to make a difference in the lives of others.
Join us today as we delve into the extraordinary life and experiences of Chef Vikas Khanna - from starting his first business to working with Gordon Ramsey, and from losing everything he had after the 9/11 to winning his first ever Michelin Star.
Prepare to be inspired by his journey, moved by his generosity, and captivated by his culinary wisdom as we try to figure out how the hell did he do it.
We talked about:
. His disability as a child
. Being trolled in school, mental health
. On his mother and grandmother
. First catering business at 16
. Going to the US with $3 – struggles while in New York
. How did 9/11 change things?
. Meeting Dalai Lama
. Working with Gordon Ramsey
. Winning the Michelin Star
. Cooking for the Obamas, and PM Narendra Modi
. Judging MasterChef
. Vikas, the human
. Take on a 70-hour-work week
. Vikas's dating life
. Advice
#vikaskhanna #humansofbombay #masterchefindia
Time Stamps
00:00 - Precap
00:33 - Welcome to Humans of Bombay
00:51 - Being told he may never walk & his mother's role in his life…
02:56 - Learning to cook from his grandmother
04:35 - Failing at school, & being bullied
06:26 - Starting his first business at 16
07:33 - The fear of failing
09:30 - Starting out in New York; from dreams to disappointments…
13:12 - Life as a brown guy in New York after 9/11
14:53 - Selling chicken on the streets of New York!
16:31 - How struggles lead to success?
17:40 - On Gordon Ramsey, losing everything during the recession
21:58 - Meeting from Dalai Lama, & lessons learned
27:12 - The journey to his first Michelin Star; his grandmother's reaction
31:25 - How did life change after MasterChef?
32:10 - Cooking for Queen Elizabeth II, Barack Obama, & PM Narendra Modi
33:35 - The benefits of vegetarian food, Virat Kohli's story
35:12 - Vikas, the human
36:29 - Vikas Khanna's take on love and relationships
39:15 - Thing about Vikas we couldn't find on Google
41:56 - Advice to the youth
Links:
Humans of Bombay
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialhumansofbombay/
YT Shorts: https://www.youtube.com/@UCGvxyG0IG2yOxgfNe_0Waxw
LinkedIn: https://in.linkedin.com/company/humans-of-bombay
Vikas Khanna
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqFsCwPhRecspNtvk-Re37A
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vikaskhannagroup/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheVikasKhanna
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VikasKhannaGroup/
Karishma Mehta
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karimehta05/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karishma-mehta-b22151174/
About Humans of Bombay –
Humans of Bombay is a movement that started 9 years ago. We believe that every person has a story to tell and we want to help them tell these stories. In these years we've published stories across genres – stories of love, hope, faith and courage. And through our storytelling, we've built an engaged community of over 5M!
Our idea is simple – to strike a chord with our community and catalogue the beat of humanity, one story at a time.