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On June 1st, 2022, Michelin star celebrity chef, Vikas Khanna, was ranked sixth amongst the top ten global chefs by the Gazette Review. This makes him the first and only chef of Indian origin who has made it to this distinguished list, ever.
Khanna posted his appreciation on social media (Instagram) stating, “I’m humbled to be in the list of Top 10 Chefs In The World – The Best in 2022 by Gazette Review.”
Below is the list of Top 10 Global Chefs:
- Gordon Ramsay 🇬🇧
- Jamie Oliver 🇬🇧
- Wolfgang Puck 🇦🇹
- Heston Blumenthal 🇬🇧
- Marco Pierre White 🇬🇧
- Vikas Khanna 🇮🇳
- Emeril Lagasse 🇺🇸
- Alain Ducasse 🇫🇷
- Paul Bocuse 🇫🇷
- Anthony Bourdain 🇺🇸
The 50-year-old Amritsar-born and New York-based chef is recognized for his outstanding culinary talent and his immense impact on spreading Indian cuisine globally. Renowned chef Vikas Khanna launched his first restaurant, Junoon, in New York City in 2010, which quickly earned its first Michelin star in 2011.
Khanna’s talent is recognized worldwide – previously, he has even served food to the Dalai Lama, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former President Barack Obama, Pope Francis, and many other international celebrities and leaders.
Writing
Chef Vikas Khanna wrote the most expensive cookbook in the world, named “Utsav”, which auctioned for 3 million rupees, or approximately $40,000. The book itself cost $13,000 to create, and only 12 exist. Khanna gifted these books to some of the most famous people in the world (shown below).
Additionally, Khanna is currently in the process of collaborating with NFT marketplace Akshaya.io to launch “Sacred Foods of India”, his first physical/NFT limited-edition book. The first unit of this book sold for approximately $50,000.
Filmmaking
Khanna’s documentary, “Kitchens of Gratitude”, premiered at the Cannes film festival. He has also produced “Holy Kitchens”, a series that discusses the interrelating nature of cuisine and faith. In 2020, he made his directorial debut, with “The Last Color”. This film, starring Neena Gupta, depicts the relationship between a 70-year-old widow and her relationship with a 9-year-old in Varanasi.
Societal Impact
Furthermore, Khanna focuses on the needs of his society and tries to give back in any way he can. As mentioned earlier, his film focuses on the topic of widows, which is one close to his heart. Khanna is the Global Goodwill Ambassador for Widows. Earlier this year, he participated in a panel organized by the Global Fund for Widows in Washington DC, where he represented the voices of Indian widows. In addition, during the COVID-19 lockdown, Khanna created the successful “Feed India campaign” to help those in need.
As you can see, chef Vikas Khanna is truly a multitalented individual. From globally showcasing his culinary talents to his writing, directing, and social contributions, he’s got it all.
