Latest news with #Michelin2024BibGourmandAward
Economic Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Celeb chef Vikas Khanna still remembers the day he was mocked at a 5-Star hotel: 'Study or you will end up like him'
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Nita Ambani's visit Sometimes, it takes just one moment, one comment, to define the fire one will walk through. For Chef Vikas Khanna , that moment came in the sweltering gardens of a hotel buffet in 1992, where a stranger's insult nearly broke his spirit. Today, that same man runs one of the world's most celebrated Indian restaurants in New York City, Bungalow, recently honoured with the prestigious Michelin 2024 Bib Gourmand Award Back then, a teenage Vikas was just a trainee at the Mughal Sheraton in Agra, working the tandoor under the afternoon sun. While placing fresh rotis on a guest's table, he overheard a mother warn her son: 'If you don't study, you'll end up like him.' It was a moment that could have crushed anyone's self-worth. But when he returned home to Amritsar, his grandmother gave him the clarity he needed: 'Choose happiness over money. Purpose over business.'That single sentence became the guiding light for Khanna's journey. Four decades later, he has not only built a global reputation as a culinary icon but also redefined Indian fine dining in the heart of Manhattan with Bungalow. Opened in March 2024, the restaurant marries innovation with Indian heritage, offering an experience that feels rooted, warm, and deeply respectful of restaurant has hosted a host of A-list guests including Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, and Mukesh Ambani. But a particularly emotional milestone came when Nita Ambani visited during the NMACC India Weekend. Moved by the space and its soul, she said, 'This place represents us, our traditions, and honors our ancestors. It is our responsibility to represent our legacy and inheritance.'For Vikas, the moment was deeply emotional. He reflected on how one memory nearly shattered his dream of becoming a chef, while another gave him the strength to stand tall in his truth. Expressing his gratitude, he thanked Nita Ambani for being a torchbearer of India's cultural pride on the global stage.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Celeb chef Vikas Khanna still remembers the day he was mocked at a 5-Star hotel: 'Study or you will end up like him'
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Nita Ambani's visit Sometimes, it takes just one moment, one comment, to define the fire one will walk through. For Chef Vikas Khanna , that moment came in the sweltering gardens of a hotel buffet in 1992, where a stranger's insult nearly broke his spirit. Today, that same man runs one of the world's most celebrated Indian restaurants in New York City, Bungalow, recently honoured with the prestigious Michelin 2024 Bib Gourmand Award Back then, a teenage Vikas was just a trainee at the Mughal Sheraton in Agra, working the tandoor under the afternoon sun. While placing fresh rotis on a guest's table, he overheard a mother warn her son: 'If you don't study, you'll end up like him.' It was a moment that could have crushed anyone's self-worth. But when he returned home to Amritsar, his grandmother gave him the clarity he needed: 'Choose happiness over money. Purpose over business.'That single sentence became the guiding light for Khanna's journey. Four decades later, he has not only built a global reputation as a culinary icon but also redefined Indian fine dining in the heart of Manhattan with Bungalow. Opened in March 2024, the restaurant marries innovation with Indian heritage, offering an experience that feels rooted, warm, and deeply respectful of restaurant has hosted a host of A-list guests including Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, and Mukesh Ambani. But a particularly emotional milestone came when Nita Ambani visited during the NMACC India Weekend. Moved by the space and its soul, she said, 'This place represents us, our traditions, and honors our ancestors. It is our responsibility to represent our legacy and inheritance.'For Vikas, the moment was deeply emotional. He reflected on how one memory nearly shattered his dream of becoming a chef, while another gave him the strength to stand tall in his truth. Expressing his gratitude, he thanked Nita Ambani for being a torchbearer of India's cultural pride on the global stage.
Hindustan Times
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Chef Vikas Khanna reveals battle with clubfoot, pens tribute to mother: ‘Lifted me when I was broken'
Celebrity chef Vikas Khanna has opened up about his childhood struggles and shared throwback pictures with his mother thanking her for supporting him throughout his life and career. Khanna revealed that as a child he battled clubfoot yet his mother never stopped believing in his potential to succeed. He took to his Instagram handle and shared a rare childhood photograph of himself, just a few weeks old, sitting on his mother's lap with his feet bandaged after undergoing surgery. "Back then, when people used to ask my Maa about my clumsy feet… about how I struggled to run. She'd smile and say, 'He'll fly one day.' Maybe that's what did the magic. Her faith. Her quiet strength. Her energy that never once wavered," he wrote. A post shared by Vikas Khanna (@vikaskhannagroup) Vikas Khanna frequently shares heartfelt photos of his mother on social media, often crediting her support for his success, especially for his New York restaurant Bungalow. In another such post, Khanna shared a picture of him dancing with his mother during a family event and remembered his late sister's vision for his restaurant. "Thank you Maa for being the magic behind Bungalow. Who knew that an Indian Restaurant would be one of the highest booked restaurants in North America. Never thought that would happen in our lifetimes. It happened because of you Maa. You lifted me when I was totally crumbled and broken. You said that I have to do this one time for Radha's dream to create 'The Greatest Indian Restaurant in the World'. A restaurant that some would call a home," he wrote in the caption. A post shared by Vikas Khanna (@vikaskhannagroup) Vikas' restaurant Bungalow, which was envisioned by his late sister Radhika Khanna, won the Michelin 2024 Bib Gourmand Award. A fashion designer, author, and entrepreneur, Radhika passed away in 2022 after battling lupus for many years.
