Pankaj Bhadouria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pankaj Bhadouria
|
|
|---|---|
Pankaj Bhadouria unveiling her signature recipes in Muscat
|
|
| 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 Indian chef and TV host. She won the very first season of MasterChef India in 2010. Before becoming a chef, she was a school teacher for 16 years! She left her teaching job to follow her dream and compete on MasterChef India.
Since winning, she has hosted many popular TV cooking shows. Some of these include Chef Pankaj Ka Zayka and Kifayati Kitchen. Pankaj was the first MasterChef winner anywhere in the world to have her own official MasterChef cookbook. She has also written other cookbooks, like Barbie - I am a Chef and Chicken from my Kitchen.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Pankaj Bhadouria was born on July 14, 1971, in New Delhi. 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 finished her higher education in Lucknow. She earned a bachelor's and master's degree in English. She also got a bachelor's degree in education to prepare for her teaching career. Pankaj is married to Charu Samarth. They have two children, a daughter named Sonalika and a son named Siddhant.
TV 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. After that, she hosted her own cooking shows, sharing her amazing recipes.
- MasterChef India Season 1 - Star Plus (2010)
- Chef Pankaj Ka Zayka - Star Plus (2011)
- Rick Stein's India, Episode 6 - BBC2, TLC, Discovery (2012)
- 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 opened her own cooking school in Lucknow on August 16, 2012. It's called the Pankaj Bhadouria Culinary Academy. The academy offers different courses for people who want to become professional chefs. It also has shorter courses for amateur chefs who just love to cook and want to learn more.
Brand Partnerships
Because of her love for cooking, many big brands have chosen Pankaj to represent them. She helps promote their products and inspire people.
- 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 Knorr soups and noodles. She has appeared in many TV and print ads for them.
- She is a Brand Ambassador for MasterChef Travels Cox and Kings Worldwide.
- She has also worked with Eastern Masalas, a popular spice brand.
- Pankaj was chosen by the Spanish Government to help promote Olive oil in India. This campaign was called "Olive Oil Revolution."
- Her other brand partnerships include Samsung Smart Oven, Kent Juicer & Pasta Maker, Sensodyne, Reliance Fresh, Kelloggs, and Tefal.
Awards and Recognition
Pankaj Bhadouria has received many awards and honors for her work in the culinary world.
- She is 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.
- She co-hosted a Master Class with MasterChef Australia Judge Chef Gary Mehigan in 2016.
- She won the Outlook Social Media Award for "OSM Kitchen King/Queen of the Year" in 2016.
- In 2017, she was honored by the President of India, Shri R. N. Kovind, as one of the ‘First Ladies’. This award celebrates women who have achieved great things.
Restaurants
Pankaj Bhadouria has also opened her own restaurants, where people can enjoy her delicious creations.
- Café by Default - Located in Lucknow, this café offers a mix of traditional and modern dishes.
- Tramp Tree Café - Also in Lucknow, this café is known for its cozy feel and diverse menu, including both continental and Indian food.
- The Culinary Court - This restaurant is inside the Hotel Clarks Avadh in Lucknow. Chef Pankaj created a special menu here that celebrates Awadhi cuisine, which is famous in the region.
Public Speaking
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.
Charity Work
Pankaj Bhadouria believes in giving back to the community. She uses her cooking skills to help others.
- She helps train "Railway Children" in baking skills. This is done with the NGO called Ahsaas.
- She held a cooking workshop called "Cooking 3.0" to raise money for Make A Difference.
- She created Lucknow's Largest Community Kitchen for underprivileged children. This event was held at her Culinary Academy in association with the Child's Right Commission.
