From an Unknown Cook to Time’s 100 Most Influential People
Vikas Khanna has been selected by Time magazine among this year’s 100 most influential people in the world. Maybe it’s his winning smile or his loving involvement with every human being who comes on his radar, but the award-winning chef of Bungalow has definitely got a secret magic talisman which makes him a total crowd pleaser.
I first met Vikas Khanna in the 1990’s when he was still working in a small restaurant called Poornima. His saga is a story of struggles, a rags to riches fairy tale but it’s also a true tale of grit and determination, where he literally pulled himself up by his bootstraps. Vikas was born with a clubfoot in a middle-class family in Amritsar at a time when cooking skills in a male got no respect – they were just derided as cooks and were certainly not ‘chefs’ or celebrities.
Watch this video to learn in his own words about Vikas Khanna’s early struggles.
Vikas came to America in his 20’s, lived in a homeless shelter for a while, cleaned homes and worked in ordinary back-kitchen jobs in Indian restaurants. He finally went on to become the Michelin winning chef at Junoon, the celebrity chef of the highly popular ‘Master Chef’ and rose in New York’s culinary world, gaining recognition from the prestigious James Beard Foundation to all the top international publications. Vikas has consistently helped raise the profile of Indian cuisine in America and across the globe. He has cooked for world leaders, VIPS, the UN and for six American presidents. And as if cuisine was not enough, Vikas has written scores of books, and award-winning shorts and features starring noted names like Neena Gupta and Shabana Azmi.
From his mother, Bindu Khanna, Vikas learned, as a child, to cook for and serve and feed the unknown masses at langar in the Golden Temple. This divine spark, this dedication to humanity has remained his mantra and during COVID, he became almost a lifeline between two continents, a one-man army feeding desperate people in many regions of India.
And so, this month, it was happy personal news to hear that Vikas Khanna had bought a new home. A beautiful apartment in the very luxury Manhattan building where he once used to clean homes! An invitation to visit him in this gorgeous new home near the United Nations was one not to be missed. About 50 other guests were there and Vikas was the perfect host at this event which he had co-hosted with Sree Sreenivasan and Roopa Unnikrishnan.
Vikas had called this afternoon a Mango Brunch and guests got to sample beautiful Alphonso mangoes from India as well as mango lassi and several snacks and desserts made with mango. It was almost like climbing up one 0f those vast, shady fruit-laden trees in a mango orchard in India, for guests sat down on the ground (the furniture had not yet been installed) and listened to Vikas’ magical stories about life and people.
And just like in a real mango orchard, we all managed to get a selfie with the King of Mangoes himself – and be handed the gift of a real, fresh mango straight from the orchards of India!
The afternoon had to finally end because Vikas Khanna had to return to his first love – Bungalow, the restaurant which is completing its second year but has already become a part of New York City’s life and folklore. His much loved sister Radha, whom he lost, was the inspiration behind Bungalow, and Vikas has created it in her image and memory. Like her, it is a force of nature, and so much more than just a place to eat. Many are still waiting to get tables in this always booked restaurant. Outside, crowds, who have no reservations, often gather to meet the chef and get tastings.
Every Indian holiday is celebrated at Bungalow so that it has become a part of the Indian identity with its outdoor celebrations of Indian dance, music and culture. Vikas Khanna likes to call Bungalow not a restaurant but a temple to the Indian spirit. And that perhaps is its secret of success.
Related Articles:
Vikas Khanna’s Himalayan Journey
Vikas Khanna is New York’s Hottest Chef
