Vikas was born with Club Foot, a condition where leg bones may not align properly at the joint. |
He started walking at the age of 13 due to this condition. |
He spent a lot of time in the kitchen watching his grandmother cook, which sparked his interest in cooking. |
Originally considering Engineering, he gave it up due to poor math skills. |
At 17, he founded Lawrence Gardens, a banquet hall for small gatherings. |
He moved from India to the USA for further education in Hospitality at Cornell University and NYU. |
Struggling initially, he eventually became the executive chef at Salaam Bombay Restaurant in New York. |
In 2006, he appeared on Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares. |
He opened Junoon in Manhattan on 2nd December 2009. |
Junoon has earned a Michelin star annually since 2010, a prestigious recognition in the culinary world. |
Vikas co-hosted multiple seasons of Master Chef India. |
He cooked for a fundraiser for President Obama in 2012. |
He is the goodwill ambassador of the Smile Foundation to raise awareness about malnutrition. |
Vikas declined a movie role from Karan Johar to focus on his culinary career. |
He has been featured in People's Magazine and hailed as New York's hottest chef by New York Eater. |
He founded Cooking for Life and SAKIV Organizations for charity events worldwide. |
Vikas is an author of various books on Indian cooking and spices. |