Imagine sitting in front of a full-blown Punjabi feast from Amritsar. Rich curries, mind-boggling classics, everything you’d expect from a family known for its love of food. Now imagine the chef behind that spread saying he normally does not eat any of it! That’s exactly what happened when Vikas Khanna appeared on Sunday Brunch with Kamiya Jani with his family. They cooked an elaborate Amritsari meal, but the conversation soon drifted away from what was on the table to what Vikas Khanna actually eats every day. The answer left host Kamiya Jani stunned.
Vikas Khanna’s Diet Left Kamiya Jani Surprised
Without building up to it, Vikas Khanna simply said that he doesn’t eat salt, spices or oil. For someone whose career revolves around creating drool-worthy seasoned dishes, the statement sounded almost unbelievable. Kamiya Jani couldn’t hide his surprise and immediately wanted to know why a chef would stay away from the very ingredients that give food its character.
His mother answered before he could. She revealed that there isn’t much variety in his daily meals either. Morning or evening, the plate looks too painfully identical. It is Dal rice, maybe methi too sometimes. According to her, this isn’t an occasional detox or a temporary routine, it’s the way he eats every single day.
Also Read: “This Is The City Where I Sleep,” Chef Vikas Khanna On Why Amritsar Will Always Be Home
Why The Celebrity Chef Avoids Salt, Oil, And Spices
Vikas Khanna then explained what happens behind the scenes in a professional kitchen. He said he has the gift of a palate that allows him to judge flavours accurately, but tasting food and eating a meal are two completely different things.
He went on to reveal something most diners never think about. Running a restaurant means sampling dish after dish, every single day. “You don’t know how much tasting I have to do,” he said, adding that he ends up tasting nearly 16 ounces of food daily at the restaurant. Every curry, every sauce, every adjustment in seasoning passes through him before it reaches a customer.
And none of that food is light. Restaurant dishes are naturally richer, with generous amounts of fat, butter, oil and seasoning. If he were to eat regular meals loaded with the same ingredients on top of all that tasting, it would simply be…too much. That’s why, once he steps away from the kitchen, his own food becomes the exact opposite of what he serves.
It’s a painfully real contrast! The chef celebrated across the world for lip-smacking flavours and delicious cooking returns home to the same quiet meal of dal, chawal and methi, cooked without salt, spices or oil. The feast he creates is for everyone else, but his own plate tells a very different story.
Also Read: “Indian Food Was Always Meant To Heal,” Vikas Khanna Shares His Thoughts On Indian Cuisine
Watch the full Sunday Brunch episode on the Curly Tales App or the Curly Tales YouTube Channel.
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FAQs
Why doesn't Vikas Khanna eat salt, oil or spices?
Vikas Khanna revealed that he tastes numerous dishes every day while managing his restaurants. Since restaurant food is already rich in butter, oil and seasoning, he prefers eating extremely simple meals at home.
What does Vikas Khanna eat every day?
According to his mother, his daily meals usually consist of dal, rice and sometimes methi, prepared without salt, spices or oil.
Did Vikas Khanna stop eating regular food permanently?
From what he shared on Sunday Brunch, this isn't a temporary diet but his regular lifestyle to balance the constant tasting required in his profession.
Where did Vikas Khanna reveal his food habits?
He shared these details during his appearance on Sunday Brunch with Kamiya Jani alongside his family.