The Michelin star chef talks about opening a new restaurant in India; also talks about cooking for Obama and his food philosophy.
He is one of the best chefs in the world, but for Michelin star chef Vikas Khanna, it’s his philosophy of humility and honesty that works its magic in his food. Taking time out of his busy kitchen of Junoon in US, the chef is travelling around India. Recently, he was in the news for being invited to cook for President Barack Obama and family. Here he shares a funny memory from that experience.
“Everyone was going crazy about the whole cooking for the President thing. This journalist from a US-based paper came down for an interview and asked me if this is the biggest honour of my entire cooking career. I said ‘for me the biggest honour is cooking for my mother, there is nothing that can beat that.’ That statement simply shocked everyone. But I believe one’s mother is the most important being in one’s life. She has cooked for you for such a long time, but if I get to do that just once for her, it’s certainly an honour!” recalls Vikas. Meanwhile, Obama was so impressed by his food that he challenged Vikas to a cook-off in making kheema curry, after the US elections are over.
Apart from his mother, he considers the Dalai Lama his hero. “I’m planning to open a restaurant in Bodh Gaya (Bihar). It will be my tribute to the Dalai Lama. He’s been an inspiration through my life,“ he explains. So, is he returning for the third season of Masterchef? Vikas says, “I can’t say anything now, but it was because of Masterchef that I got to celebrate Diwali with my grandmother in India last year.”
The chef is so busy that he has no time for any personal life. Vikas says, “I work 19 hours a day. There are so many projects in my hand. Then I am doing my travel research as well. I am bridging the gap between two great countries through my food, and it is one of the biggest responsibilities. So, tell me who is going to date me, when I am travelling 16 cities in only 13 days!”
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