Celebrity chef Vikas Khanna has been wowing the world with his culinary creations and taking Indian cuisine to new heights on the global stage. He added yet another feather to his cap after cooking at the prestigious James Beard House to celebrate Diwali. Calling it a “true honour”, he recalled his late sister’s words, who was also his sous chef when he first cooked a meal there, about 21 years ago!
Chef Vikas Khanna Cooks Diwali Meal At James Beard House
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Chef Vikas Khanna recently took a heartfelt trip down memory lane while cooking a Diwali meal at the prestigious James Beard House in New York. The moment was especially emotional as he reminisced about his first time cooking there 21 years ago with his late sister, Radhika Khanna, whose words and spirit continue to inspire him to this day.
“We were invited to cook at the prestigious James Beard House to celebrate Diwali — a true honour. For any chef, cooking in this legendary kitchen, where so many of the world’s greatest have stood with pride, is a milestone moment.
But for me, it was also one of deep reflection,” the chef penned an emotional note in the caption that is bound to leave you teary-eyed.
He also added, “Thank you to my incredible team for making this evening so special. The James Beard Foundation has been core to the success of Indian Cuisine & so many ethnic cuisines in the Western World. They give a platform and a voice to millions of dreamers like myself to be heard and seen. Truly a team of visionaries.”
Recalls His Sister’s Word
If you’ve followed Chef Vikas Khanna’s journey, you’d know how deeply he cherished his bond with his late sister, Radhika Khanna. After her passing, he has made it a point to honour her memory and acknowledge her influence on his life and career at every opportunity. And this time was no different.
He shared a collage of two pictures on Instagram. On one side, there was a photograph taken more than 21 years ago where Vikas Khanna is seen in the James Beard House’s kitchen and his sister is there smiling at him in the background. He shared, “21 years ago, on August 23rd, 2004, I cooked here for the very first time — with my sister Radha wearing my chef coat as my sous chef.”
In the other picture, Chef Vikas Khanna photoshopped his sister into the picture, taken recently in the same kitchen. “That evening, she was the first person to tell me, ‘One day you will represent the nation. Prepare yourself.’ Tonight, I felt her presence with me — in every dish, every smile, every light of Diwali.”
We love how, through every milestone and celebration, Vikas Khanna continues to keep his sister’s memory alive. His journey is a reminder that while success may be earned, it’s often shaped by the people who believe in us the most.
Cover Image Courtesy: Instagram/vikaskhannagroup
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