Celebrated chef, restaurateur, and television personality Vikram Vij is renowned for redefining Indian cuisine in Canada and beyond. Trained in Austria and seasoned at world-class establishments, he opened Vij’s in 1994 in Vancouver, blending bold innovation with deep-rooted tradition.
Known for his signature hospitality — often greeting guests with a cup of chai — Chef Vij has earned global acclaim, multiple Michelin Bib Gourmand honours, and a Lifetime Achievement Award. For DARPAN, he handpicked these recipes from his new 2025 cookbook, My New Indian Kitchen, showcasing his ever-evolving culinary artistry.
Drawing appreciation for his vast body of work as a chef, in 2007, the Indian Ministry of Tourism decorated Chef Gill with the highest honour in the hospitality profession – The Lifetime Achievement Award – a first for a chef in India.
As the Corporate Chef of ITC, Manjit Singh Gill's knowledge and experience comes from over four decades of work in pioneering world-class restaurants curating traditional Indian food
Reputed for his constant innovation in the world of gastronomy, he is a name to reckon with in the national and global hospitality and culinary industry.
