Pankaj Bhadouria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pankaj Bhadouria
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Pankaj Bhadouria unveiling her signature recipes in Muscat
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| Born | 14 July 1971 |
| Education | Master's degree in English, Bachelor's degree in education |
| Occupation | Chef, Television Host, Culinary Academy, Restaurateur |
Pankaj Bhadouria is a famous chef and TV host from India. She won the very first season of MasterChef India in 2010. Before becoming a chef, she was a school teacher for 16 years! She decided to leave her teaching job to follow her dream of cooking on the show.
Pankaj has hosted many popular TV cooking shows. These include Chef Pankaj Ka Zayka, Kifayati Kitchen, and 3 Course with Pankaj. She was also the first MasterChef winner in the world to have her own official MasterChef cookbook. She has written other cookbooks too, like Barbie- I am a Chef and Chicken from my Kitchen.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Pankaj Bhadouria was born on July 14, 1971, in New Delhi, India. She is the older of two children. Sadly, she lost her father when she was 13 and her mother when she was 22.
She went to school in New Delhi and then moved to Lucknow for her higher education. She earned a bachelor's degree in English and a master's degree in English literature from Lucknow University. She also got a bachelor's degree in education. This helped her prepare for her career as a teacher. Pankaj is married to Charu Samarth. They have two children, a daughter named Sonalika and a son named Siddhant.
Television Shows and Appearances
Pankaj Bhadouria has been a part of many exciting TV shows. Her journey began when she won MasterChef India Season 1 in 2010.
- MasterChef India Season 1 - Star Plus (2010)
- Chef Pankaj Ka Zayka - Star Plus (2011)
- Rick Stein's India, Episode 6 - BBC2, TLC, Discovery (2012)
- Sales Ka Baazigar - ETV (2013)
- Kifayati Kitchen - Zee Khana Khazana (2014-2015)
- Rasoi Se - Pankaj Bhadouria ke Saath - ETV (2015)
- 3 Course with Pankaj - Zee Khana Khazana (2015)
- Just Like That - Living Foodz (2015)
- Health In 100 - Living Foodz (2016)
- Dream Kitchen – Living Foodz (2017)
Pankaj Bhadouria Culinary Academy
Pankaj Bhadouria opened her own cooking school in Lucknow on August 16, 2012. This academy offers different courses for people who love to cook. You can find professional courses for those who want to become chefs. There are also certificate courses for amateur chefs who just want to improve their cooking skills.
Brand Partnerships and Endorsements
Because of her love for cooking, many brands have chosen Pankaj to represent them. She helps promote their products.
- She was part of a digital campaign for Microsoft Lumia 535. In this campaign, she encouraged people to follow their dreams.
- Pankaj is also the face of the brand Knorr. She has appeared in many TV and print ads for their soups and Noodles.
- She is a Brand Ambassador for MasterChef Travels Cox and Kings Worldwide.
- She has also promoted Eastern Masalas, a popular spice brand in Southern India.
- Pankaj was chosen by the Spanish Government to help promote Olive Oil in India. This campaign was called "Olive Oil Revolution."
- Her other brand partners include Samsung Smart Oven, Kent Juicer & Pasta Maker, Sensodyne, Reliance Fresh, Kelloggs, and Tefal.
Awards and Special Recognition
Pankaj Bhadouria has received many awards and honors for her work.
- She was the winner of MasterChef India Season 1.
- She was listed by Indiatimes as one of "9 People Who Made It Big After Participating In Reality Shows."
- Indian Express praised her for her thoughtful and careful recipes on TV shows.
- In June 2016, she co-hosted a Master Class with Chef Gary Mehigan. He is a judge from MasterChef Australia.
- She won the Outlook Social Media Award for "OSM Kitchen King/Queen of the Year" in 2016.
- In 2017, the President of India, Shri R. N. Kovind, honored her as one of the ‘First Ladies’. This award is given by the Ministry of Women & Child Development.
Restaurants and Cafes
Pankaj Bhadouria has also opened several restaurants and cafes in Lucknow.
- Café by Default: This cafe offers a mix of traditional and modern dishes.
- Tramp Tree Café: Known for its cozy feel and diverse menu, including continental and Indian food.
- The Culinary Court: Located inside the Hotel Clarks Avadh, this restaurant features a special menu created by Chef Pankaj. It celebrates traditional Awadhi cuisine.
Speaking Engagements
Pankaj is often invited to speak at important events. She shares her experiences and inspires others.
- She was a main speaker at "CONNECXION 2016" at IHMCT Dehradun.
- She has given TEDx talks at IIT-BHU, Varanasi, and Indus Business Academy, Bangalore.
- She spoke at the International Youth Forum for Policy, Change and Development. Here, she talked to students about different career paths.
- She also spoke at the 3rd Women Entrepreneurship Conference in New Delhi.
- In 2013, she addressed the Franchisee India Meet. She discussed new trends in fast-food menus.
- She gave TEDx talks at IMT, Hyderabad, and IIM, Shillong, in 2017.
Charity Work and Community Support
Pankaj Bhadouria also uses her skills to help others.
- She trains "Railway Children" in baking skills. This is done with the NGO - Ahsaas.
- She held a cooking workshop called "Cooking 3.0" to raise money for Make A Difference.
- On August 14, 2016, she created Lucknow's Largest Community Kitchen. This kitchen provided food for underprivileged children. This event was in partnership with the Child's Right Commission, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh.
