Chef Vikas Khanna Reveals ‘No Chef Congratulated Him’ After He Was Named Most Influential People

Vikas Khanna’s story is truly inspiring, as it is about a boy from Punjab who went on to be named in TIME’s list of the 100 most influential people through sheer hard work. He found solace in the kitchen’s kadhai and karchi at a time when cooking for men was considered a ‘taboo’. But he went on to make his name and take Indian food to the world, and his restraurant earned a Michelin star, where famous people come to dine.

Vikas Khanna revealed he was ridiculed when he expressed his wish to be a chef

Vikas Khanna’s journey started from his home in Amritsar, where he learned how to cook with his grandmother and mother. He has his flagship restaurant, Bungalow, in New York City, where he celebrates all seasons and religions. It was no less than a milestone achievement to get his name among the most influential people in the world. Recently, in an interview with ABP, Vikas Khann revealed that when he decided to take cooking as a profession, he was made fun of. 

Vikas Khanna revealed that they not only laughed at him back home, but they also bullied him for taking it up as a profession. However, only his mother believed in him. He revealed that he had explained his achievement to his mother. While she doesn’t understand it, she is proud of him. He said:

“When I decided to be a cook, I was ridiculed, heckled, and bullied back home. My mother believed in me. Today, when I heard about my name in the Time list, I tried to explain to her what it meant to be in that list, how many people must have been shortlisted and eliminated. She doesn’t really understand what it means. But she knows her son has achieved something which makes him happy. She can hear the happiness in my voice.”

Chef Vikas revealed that not a single chef wished him on his milestone achievements

Further, in the interview, Chef Vikas Khanna revealed that he has been receiving messages from Obarama to his close friends. But the thing that makes him sad is that not a single chef congratulated him, which he doesn’t understand. Vikas went on to reveal the success of all the Indian chefs and not just his own. He said:

“The congratulatory messages are pouring in from all quarters. Everyone from the Obamas to my close friends has congratulated me.  But you know what makes me sad. Not a single word of congratulations from any of the chefs. I don’t understand this. My success in taking our food abroad is something I share with all my chef brothers. Maine jo bhi kiya woh sirf mere liye nahin hai.”

Vikas Khanna’s journey from selling chole bhature to being the owner of a Michelin-star restaurant in New York

Vikas Khanna had a humble beginning, it was in 1989 when Vikas Khanna was selling chole bhature outside Vivek Public School. A year later, he started a small banquet operation, Lawrence Garden, from the back of his family home. In 1991, he had made up his mind to make a career in this profession, and he suffered the consequences as he was laughed at and made fun of. When his banquet business was demolished, he took it as an opportunity to restart life in New York. He had no backing, so he would take odd jobs like cleaning homes and selling food on the streets of TriBeCa. He would sleep at Grand Central and would spend time in shelters. Slowly and steadily, he made his name in India and across the world. 

What do you think about Vikas Khanna’s big milestone and the industry people’s reaction?

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