‘Never thought a dark-skinned boy…': Tamil Nadu chef Vijay Kumar wins James Beard Award for Best Chef in New York, his acceptance speech goes viral
In a proud moment for India, Chef Vijay Kumar of Semma bagged the Best Chef Award in New York State at the prestigious James Beard Awards, one of the highest honours in the United States' culinary world. Originally from Tamil Nadu, this was Kumar's first nomination and win.
In an emotional acceptance speech – which is now winning hearts on social media – Kumar reflected on his journey. 'When I started cooking, I never thought a dark-skinned boy from Tamil Nadu would make it to a room like this. But the food I grew up on food made with care, with fire, with soul, is now taking the main stage,' Kumar said.
He stressed on the connection between food and culture. 'There's no such thing as a poor person's food or rich person's food. It's food. It's powerful. And the real luxury is to be able to connect with each other around the dinner table. Tonight, Indian cuisine stands tall, Tamil food stands tall, my own food and heritage stand tall, and it all matters. I stand here for everyone who never thought their story belonged to be on a stage like this,' he said.
Sharing the video, IAS Supriya Sahu wrote, 'This recognition not only brings spotlight on his exceptional culinary skills but also brings much-deserved attention to Tamil Nadu's rich culinary heritage on the global stage.'
Watch here:
Congratulations to Chef Vijay Kumar on winning the prestigious James Beard Award for Best Chef, New York. This recognition not only brings spotlight on his exceptional culinary skills but also brings much-deserved attention to Tamil Nadu's rich culinary heritage on the global… pic.twitter.com/2rWnNTNpZK
— Supriya Sahu IAS (@supriyasahuias) June 17, 2025
Several social media users hailed Kumar for his remarkable feat in the culinary world. 'Wow!! Amazing stuff this!! Many Congratulations to him and Wish many more follow him in taking Indian cuisine further!' a user wrote. 'Congratulations to chef Vijay Kumar on winning the prestigious James Beard award for the best chef,a great honour to Tamilnadus'rich culinary heritage,' another user commented.
Semma, a Michelin-starred Indian restaurant located in New York, is popular for its authentic South Indian cuisine. Other major winners at the 2025 James Beard Awards included Bucheron, a French-American restaurant in Minneapolis, which was awarded Best New Restaurant, and Jungsik Yim, chef at the acclaimed Korean restaurant Jungsik in New York, who received the Outstanding Chef award.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
12 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
38000 sq feet area, crew of 1200, an eerie torture room: Inside India's largest film set built for Prabhas' The RajaSaab
Aziznagar is a nondescript village situated some 20 km from the centre of Hyderabad. It is far removed from the hustle bustle of Telangana's capital and certainly the last place you'd expect to find two of India's biggest film stars. But over the last six months, Aziznagar played host to Prabhas and Sanjay Dutt as they shot their upcoming horror fantasy film, The RajaSaab. A studio, built by producers People Media Factory, in the village, housed a rather unbelievable set - the largest one in India, which is central to the biggest horror film in Indian cinema history. The teaser of The RajaSaab was released in Hyderabad on Monday. The horror fantasy sees Prabhas return to his roots, as a wisecracking, dancing, romancing goofball with a heart, light years away from the brooding mass action star makers had been hell-bent on turning him into after Baahubali. Much of the film takes place in the palace-sized haveli of the titular raja saab (played by Sanjay Dutt). To make matters simpler to film, producer TG Vishwa Prasad and director Maruthi decided to create the entire haveli in one place, over a 160-foot by 220-foot lot in the studio. The massive 38000 square feet complex houses a double-storey structure built from stone, fibre, and wood. It houses everything from kitchens to libraries, dining halls, to sinister-looking staircases, and even an occult torture room (more on that later, though). Art director Rajeevan Nambiar is the man behind the construction of the massive structure. "This is the world's largest indoor set," he tells us proudly, while standing in the middle of the complex. "Nowhere in the world will you find a single set of this size and scale. It took 1000-1200 people working all day around 4-6 months to get this up," adds Nambiar. The makers say that this is India's largest film set. They may even go for a ratification from the Limca Book of Records later, once filming wraps up. The base of the structure is solid stone, with marble flooring and platforms. On top of it are fibre pillars and a wooden support structure. Four massive chandeliers, stretching over 100 feet deep, are hung in the entry pathway. Another chandelier hangs quite sinisterly over a large dining table, fit to seat 16. There are wooden stairs to the upper level, which has more rooms. All rooms are fully stocked on both levels. The kitchen has real flour and spices and some questionable but still edible papad. The bedroom and study have real books, ranging from Dan Brown to Agatha Christie. They are supplemented by hundreds of fake books, too. And then there are paintings of Sanjay Dutt dotted along the house. Talking about the need for this level of construction, producer TG Vishwa Prasad tells us, "It's about what value it adds to the project. If I can make a film in ₹2 crore, I would not need this. But this film required a scale like this. And this set helps us keep the action here." Without giving away spoilers, TG Vishwa Prasad adds that there is an upside-down segment in the film (glimpsed in the teaser) that was easy to shoot just because the entire set was a single unit. "You'll see more of it in the trailer," he adds. In between the dozen or so large serpentine AC pipes (the indoor temperature goes to 40 degrees Celsius without them) is one room where the vents hardly ever enter. The film's director, Maruthi, jokingly calls it the prayer room. One glance inside reveals it is something more sinister. There are remnants of black magic rituals and occult practices, flames and torches lit, and blood on the walls. More tellingly, there are (thankfully fake) human remains strung up as 'offerings'. The film's team says the room will play an important part in the film. Director Maruthi informs us that 90% of the film's shoot is complete, with some sequences still left. The film is aiming for a December 5 release, having already been delayed by 8 months. Maruthi says the extensive VFX work and post-production have caused that. What will happen to the set once the film is over? Producer TG Vishwa Prasad has no plans, so far. But in all likelihood, it will be torn down to give space for something new. Does that bother its creator, Rajeevan Nambiar, though? "I have been far too long to get attached now," he says with a laugh. But for now, the RajaSaab's haveli stands as a testament to the growth of Telugu cinema and its ability to dwarf the biggest productions in the country, if not the world.
Time of India
14 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Kuberaa' plot, censor, and runtime: All you need to know about Dhanush, Nagarjuna Akkineni, and Rashmika Mandanna starrer
is making his silver screen comeback with his highly anticipated film 'Kuberaa', a multilingual social thriller that is confirmed to release on June 20th. Helmed by noted Telugu filmmaker Shekhar Kammula, the movie will represent the first collaboration between the two National Award-winning stars. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It stars and Rashmika Mandanna alongside Dhanush. 'Kuberaa' is billed as one of the successful combinations of drama and socially applicable message, the film very much promises as its protagonist a strong film. Roles of Dhanush, Nagarjuna, and Rashmika The film brings powerhouse actors together to an entertaining story that examines the conflict between wealth, power, and morality. Dhanush plays the title role of 'Kuberaa', a complex character navigating the gray regions of society, while Nagarjuna is expected to portray a figure of political influence. Rashmika Mandanna, in an important role, adds emotional depth and struggle to the story. Together, the trio anchors a film that promises to be both entertaining and thought-respective. Music, censor, and runtime 'Kuberaa' has music scored by , whose background scores and songs are expected to increase the film's emotional and thrilling heartbeat. Initially, the censor was done with a U/A certificate, the film had a 3-hour and 15-minute runtime but was later trimmed to 3 hours and 1-minute final length to ensure better pacing and strict story. A grand release Shot together in Tamil and Telugu, 'Kuberaa' has also been dubbed in Hindi to reach wide audiences across India. With its grand scenery, compelling performance, and socially charged story, the film is ready for a pan-Indian release. Everyone's eyes are on June 20, as fans eagerly waited to see Dhanush in one of their most ambitious and layered roles.
Time of India
14 minutes ago
- Time of India
Anupam Kher unveils new poster of his film 'Tanvi The Great', says "it is a canvas of stories"
Legendary actor Anupam Kher is gearing up for the release of his directorial 'Tanvi The Great'. On Wednesday, he unveiled a new poster of the film that showcases looks of the characters portrayed by Boman Irani , Pallavi Joshi , Jackie Shroff , Iain Glen, and debutante Shubhangi. "This poster is more than a collage of stars. It is a canvas of stories, all revolving around one young girl who defies labels, limits, and every easy definition of greatness. In a world that tries to fit her into a box, she dares to colour outside the lines. She is #TanviTheGreat who is coming to meet you in cinemas on the 18th of July, one month to go," Kher wrote. The film was recently screened at the Cannes Film Festival 2025. The cast behind Tanvi The Great -- including Anupam Kher, Boman Irani, Pallavi Joshi, and debutant Shubhangi Dutt -- spoke to about the emotional journey of the film and the response it received at Cannes."I am not traditionally a director, but primarily an actor, but the story inspired me. When it reaches the heart of the people, it's really gratifying. The kind of comments we got in Cannes and in London are fantastic. I wanted to make a film from India for the world, and I think that I have sort of managed to achieve it," Kher said. "It was a very emotional moment for us because, one, Mr. Kher is directing after two decades. And, of course, every director takes their film to Cannes, but when an actor-director takes it to Cannes, to a festival like this, it means a lot," Pallavi added. Actor Boman Irani, who also stars in the film, spoke about the importance of Indian stories finding international platforms. "We need that nourishment of entertainment that we have grown up with over the decades, and why should we abandon that? However, there are certain kinds of films, certain tonalities, that are required, which I think should be aimed at the international market, so that we have a spotlight pointing towards our country. .." he added. The film's young lead, Shubhangi, shared how overwhelming the entire experience has been for her. From the Cannes premiere to a recent screening in London, she's still processing it all. "It feels very overwhelming right now. Even after the Cannes screening, I was still processing it all. Yesterday, we had a London screening, and I'm still processing it because I'm living every moment of it... For a movie like this, I don't think I could have asked for anything more. It's a new life." Tanvi The Great follows 21-year-old Tanvi Raina, a woman with autism who discovers her late Indian Army officer father's unfulfilled dream--to stand at Siachen, the world's highest battlefield, and salute the Indian flag. Despite societal pushback and institutional barriers against autistic recruits in the military, she becomes determined to fulfill this mission, according to Variety. (ANI)
