Top 10 Chefs in India

A person, who is trained in all aspects of food preparation, often having expertise in particular cooking or cuisine type, is known as a chef. As we know, Indian culture is very rich in cuisine. There are various types and flavors of dishes that are cooked differently in different parts of the country. Here, the list of the top 10 award-winning chefs in India who improve the quality of Indian kitchen, spread the Indian cuisine to the world, help the people in learning lots off tasty food items is given below:

1. Sanjeev Kapoor

Sanjeev Kapoor is the most famous and commended chef in India. He is also an entrepreneur and a television personality. Sanjeev works for a TV channel named 'FoodFood' after which he became the world's first chef who owns a 24×7 food and lifestyle channel. He also hosted the television show 'Khana Khazana,' which was Asia's longest-running show at the time. The event was broadcast in 120 countries and received over 500 million viewers in 2010. Indian food is his cooking style. Mr. Kapoor was born in Ambala, Haryana, India, on April 10, 1964. He began his career in the hospitality sector in 1984. Alyona Kapoor, his wife, is also a partner in his company, Turmeric Vision Pvt. Ltd. Sanjeev Kapoor joined the Centaur Hotel in Mumbai as the youngest Executive Chef in 1992.

Awards and Honors

• The Indian government honored him with the Padma Shri award in 2017.
• He won the ITA Award for Popular Chef and Entrepreneur in 2015.
• In 2010, 2004, and 2002, Mr. Kapoor got ITA Award for Best Cookery Show (Khana Khazana).
• He was also honored with the National Award for 'Best Chef of India' given by GoI.

2. Vikas Khanna

Vikas Khanna was born on 14 November 1971 in Amritsar, Punjab, India. He is an Indian chef, restaurateur, cookbook writer, filmmaker, and humanitarian. He judged the Star Plus series MasterChef India series that was telecasted on Star Plus. He got inspiration for cooking from his grandmother. He was only 17 when he opened Lawrence Gardens Banquets to host weddings and functions. Vikas Khanna completed his graduation from Manipal Academy of Higher Education and doctorate from GD Goenka University. In New York, he started his restaurant named "Junoon" and in 2020, he opened a restaurant Ellora in Dubai.

In 2018, Vikas Khanna opened the country's first culinary museum in Manipal. He debuted as a director with the film The Last Color. Indian food is his cooking style. Honors and Awards

Awards and Honors

• In 2012, he won the GQ India Man of the Year Award given by GQ Magazine.
• In 2012, he got the place on the cover page of Men's Health India Magazine.
• Khanna was named on People Magazine's list of the Sexiest Man Alive in 2011.
• He is a double doctorate in Philosophy and Literature.
• In 2005, he received the "Access to Freedom Award" from SATH.

3. Ranveer Brar

Ranveer Brar is an Indian chef, TV & digital celebrity, judge, host, author, restaurateur, food film producer, and benefactor. He was born on 8 February 1978 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. At present, he is engaged as the senior official food expert at the Novotel Mumbai, Juhu Beach. Other than this, he is also a supervisor at the Dosa Factory and Shalimar in Cambridge. He began his career at the Taj Hotel, Mumbai after completing his education at IHM, Lucknow.

Mr. Brar started his TV career with Breakfast Xpress. He has appeared in various shows as a judge or host such as Zee Khana Khazana, Zoom's Thank Got Its Friday, Masterchef India, Raja Rasoi Aur Andaaz Anokha, Rasoi ki Jung Mummiyon ke Sung, Health Bhi Taste Bhi, and others. In 2016, Ranveer Brar launched his first book titled 'Come Into My Kitchen' an autobiography. Other than this, in 2019, he launched his mobile app also.

Awards and Honors

• He is an honorary member of the James Beard Foundation.
• In 2018, Ranveer Brar was awarded the LFEGA's Food Entertainer of the Year.
• In 2017, he got the award of Indian of the Year for Chef and TV Host of the year.
• He was appointed as the brand ambassador for SunGold Kiwifruit in India, Assocom Institute of Technology and Management (AIBTM), Philips India Kitchen Appliances, Go Chess India, and Bertolli Olive Oil.
• Brar was also featured in Marryam H Reshii's book named Celebrated Chefs of India.

4. Madhur Jaffrey

Madhur Jaffrey CBE is an Indian American chef, actress, author, food and travel writer, and television personality. She was born on 13 August 1933 in Civil Lines, Delhi, British India. Her spouse's name is Sanford Allen, a prestigious American fiddler Sanford Allen who is her second husband.

Mrs. Jaffrey learned cooking in the mid-Fifties at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) when she came to Britain. Her cooking style is Indian and South Asian. She has composed more than 15 cookbooks. With her debut cookbook, 'An Invitation to Indian Cooking' she made Indian food famous in Western countries. Her latest published cookbook is 'Instantly Indian Cookbook: Modern and Classic Recipes for the Instant Pot'.

Awards and Honors

• In 2022, she was honored with Padma Bhushan from the GoI.
• She won James Beard Award in 1994, 1995, 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006 in various fields such as cookbook of the year, International cooking, and Who's Who of Food and Beverage in America.
• In 1965, she won the award of Best Actress from the Berlin International Film Festival.
• She was nominated for the 33^rd Filmfare Awards for Best Supporting Actress.

5. Anjum Anand

Anjum Anand is an Indian British TV chef and food writer. She was born on 15 August 1971 in London, England. She completed her education at the Business Administration School of Geneva. Her cooking style is Indian cuisine. Other than England, she owns two-family homes; one in Delhi and the other in Calcutta.

Anjum is focused more on healthy food. This perspective was developed in her when she faced weight problems while growing up. She wrote her first cookbook at the age of 25. From 2004 to 2007, she was a regular guest of UKTV Food's Great Food Live. Other than this, she has appeared on shows such as Anjum's Spice Stories, Market Kitchen, and Indian Food Made Easy. She also owns an Indian sauces brand named The Spice Tailor which was started in 2011.

Her various published works include the followings:

• Indian Every day: Light, Healthy Indian Food
• Indian Food Made Easy
• Anjum's New Indian
• Anjum's Eat Right For Your Body Type
• I Love Curry
• Anjum's Indian Vegetarian Feast

6. Hari Nayak

Hari Nayak is a New York-based Indian chef, author, restaurateur, and culinary consultant. He was born on 8 February 1974 in Udupi, Karnataka, India. He completed his education at Welcome group Graduate School of Hotel Administration, Karnataka, and then started his journey from the Culinary Institute of America.

He is the author of 7 bestselling books including Modern Indian Cooking. His latest launched book is Spice Trail. Several restaurants run by him are Sona, Jhol, Charcoza, Alchemy, Masti, CafeSpice, and Bombay Bungalow at various locations in the world. From them, Sona in New York was collectively opened by Hari, his friend Maneesh, and Bollywood and Hollywood actress Priyanka Chopra. He is the co-founder of "Cooking for Life".

Awards and Honors

• In 2015, he received the Pride of the Profession Award from the National Restaurant Association of India.
• In 2014, he won ITC Chairman's Award.

7. Vineet Bhatia

Vineet Bhatia is an Indian chef, restaurateur, author, and media personality. He was born on 9 December 1967in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. He was the first Indian chef who received a Michelin Star Award and the only Indian who was awarded the prize two times. He completed his education at The Oberoi School of Hotel Management. His cooking style is modern Indian.

He was the judge on the Netflix show The Final Table and judge-host on MasterChef India. His published cookbooks are Rasoi: New Indian Kitchen and My Sweet Kitchen. Mr. Bhatia is the owner of eleven restaurants also.

Awards and Honors

• In 2021, the chef was appointed as the food ambassador for GREAT Britain & Northern Ireland campaign.
• In 2006 and 2008, he received the Michelin Star award for his restaurants in Chelsea, London, and Geneva, Switzerland.

8. Nita Mehta

Nita Mehta is an Indian chef, author, restaurateur, and media personality. She is highly popular for her cookbooks, cooking classes, and celebrity judge on various cooking shows. Her cooking style is Indian.

In 2001, she started her culinary academy named 'Nita Mehta Culinary Academy' in New Delhi. In 2012, she started her restaurant Kelong at Sarabha Nagar, Ludhiana, Punjab. She is the author of about 400 cookbooks whose more than 6 million copies have been sold. She appeared on the MasterChef India as a judge in 2011.

Awards and Honors

• In 1999, she won the Best Asian Cookbook Award for her book Flavors of Indian Cooking at the World Cookbook Fair in Paris.
• She is honored with the title "Cooking Expert" and "Nutrition Expert" by the media.

9. Saransh Goila

Saransh Goila is an Indian chef and restaurateur. He was born on 17 February 1987 in Delhi, India. He completed his education at the Institute of Hotel Management, Aurangabad. His cooking style is Indian cuisine.

Mr. Saransh is the owner of 'Goila Butter Chicken' located in Mumbai and also the author of the acclaimed travelogue 'India on my Platter'. He is the host of TV shows Roti Rasta aur India and Healthy Fridge. In 2013, he became a participant in the show Sanjeev Kapoor ke Kitchen Khiladi also. In 2018, he was the host of the web series 'Run to Eat'.

Awards and Honors

• In 2018, he appeared as a guest judge on Masterchef Australia represented India.
• In 2014, he became part of Limca Book of World Records for the "Longest Road journey by a chef".
• He also won the cooking show, Food Food Maha Challenge.

10. Harpal Singh Sokhi

Harpal Singh Sokhi is an Indian chef, restaurateur, author, and entrepreneur. He was born in 1966 in Kharagpur, West Bengal, India. He worked as a chef with various hotels and restaurant chains. Later, in 2013, he started his chain "The Punjabi Tadka". Other than this, he has hosted the show Turban Tadka. He is very popular for his famous phrase and song "Namak Shamak". His cooking style is Indian cuisine. At the beginning of his career, he worked at The Oberoi in Bhubaneswar.

Sokhi has organized the Indian Food Festivals internationally. In 2001, he founded Khana Khazana Pvt. Ltd with others. He has also worked as a guest teacher at the N. L. Dalmia Institute of Management Studies and Research. He was also a participant at Jhalak Dikhla Jaa 9. Mr. Harpal has written food columns and a book titled 'Royal Hyderabadi Cooking' (authored with Sanjeev Kapoor).

Awards and Honors

• In 2017, he was honored as the Most Popular Food Show Host by Food Food Channel.
• In 2016, he was awarded the Best Chef of the Year by the Indian Restaurant Awards.
• In 2012, he won the title of the Most Admired Celebrity Chef of the Year.