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.
This is a very fresh and light take on the ever-popular cheesecake, and it works particularly well with cherries when they are in season. When cherries aren’t available, I like to serve it with the Red Fruit Compote.
Szechuan noodles is an amazing fusion of Indian and Chinese. This dish is made with the Szechuan sauce, stir fry vegetables, scrambled egg and cooked noodles. You can also use chicken or prawn to make it non-vegetarian noodles.
Baldeep Singh & Kanwardeep Ahluwalia, founders and head chefs at Sirka Gourmet Takeout, are the driving forces behind the restaurant’s success in Surrey. Baldeep, a first-generation chef, believes in merging traditional techniques with creative flair, while Kanwardeep views cooking as both an art and a science.
