Vikram Vij facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Vikram Vij
Vij in 2010
Born	December 1964 (age 60) Amritsar, Punjab, India
Occupation	Restaurateur, chef, cookbook author
Known for	Vij's and Rangoli, Vancouver and My Shanti South Surrey, BC
Partner(s)	Jaan Vij

Vikram Vij (born 1964) is a famous chef, author, and TV star from Canada, originally from India. He owns popular Indian cuisine restaurants like Vij's and Rangoli Restaurant in Vancouver, British Columbia. He also used to own My Shanti in South Surrey, BC, which closed in 2024.

In 2014, Vikram Vij became a "dragon" investor on the Canadian TV show Dragons' Den. He was on the show for one season.

Vikram Vij grew up in different cities in India, including Amritsar, Delhi, and Bombay. In 1983, he moved to Salzburg, Austria, to study how to manage hotels. While there, he also trained to become a chef. Later, he became a certified sommelier, which means he is an expert in wines.

Chef Vikram Vij's Journey

After working in Austria for a few years, Vikram Vij moved to Canada in 1989. He started working at the Banff Springs Hotel in Alberta. From 1992 to 1994, he worked at Bishop's restaurant in Vancouver, British Columbia, with well-known Canadian chef John Bishop.

Opening His Own Restaurants

In 1994, when he was 30 years old, Vikram Vij opened his first fancy restaurant, Vij's, in Vancouver. In the beginning, his parents would make the curry at home. They would then send it by bus to the restaurant. By 2003, a food critic from The New York Times called Vij's Restaurant "easily among the finest Indian restaurants in the world."

In 2004, a decade later, Vij opened a second place called Rangoli. This was a more casual restaurant and a market. Rangoli sold their own line of pre-packaged gourmet curries. These curries are called "Vij's Inspired Indian Cuisine." You can find them in grocery stores all across Canada.

In 2012, Vij launched "Vij's Railway Express." This was a mobile food truck that served Indian curries. It brought delicious food to people in downtown Vancouver during weekday lunches. It also catered private events.

My Shanti Restaurant

Vikram Vij opened another restaurant called My Shanti in South Surrey in 2014. "My Shanti" means "my peace." The food at My Shanti was inspired by Vij's travels around the world. It featured flavors and ingredients from many different places. My Shanti was named Vancouver Magazine's Best Indian Restaurant in 2016. In November 2023, it was announced that My Shanti would close after almost ten years.

The Rangoli location in South Granville closed in May 2020. Its menu was combined with Vij's on Cambie. This change happened because of the challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cookbooks and Media Appearances

Vikram Vij has written two cookbooks. His first book, Vij's: Elegant and Inspired Indian Cuisine, came out in 2006. It won several awards in 2007, including a Gold Award for Best Cookbook. In 2010, he published Vij's at Home: Relax Honey. This book won second place for the Best Indian Cuisine Book in the World.

Vikram Vij has also been a regular writer for The Globe and Mail newspaper since 2007. He is currently working on a new Vij's Restaurant cookbook with his partner, Jaan.

TV Shows and Recognition

Vij's restaurants have been featured on many TV shows and in magazines across North America. These include Food Network Canada, CNN, The New York Times, and Travel + Leisure. A documentary called A Day In The Life of… Vij's showed a close look at Vij's Restaurant.

Vikram Vij was a guest judge on Top Chef Canada in 2011 and 2012. He was also the special guest for an episode dedicated to Indian cuisine in 2013. He appeared weekly on CBC's Recipe to Riches and was a judge on the first Chopped Canada show.

In March 2013, Vij hosted the world's first live-streamed cook-along. It was called "Cook Live With Vikram Vij." He wanted to make Indian cooking easy for everyone. People could cook along with him online and ask questions.

Vikram Vij's Food Ideas

Chef Vikram Vij's cooking style is unique. He keeps the spices and cooking methods truly Indian. But he uses meats, seafood, and fresh produce that are grown or found nearby. He believes his food is not "fusion cuisine." This is because the cooking techniques and spices he uses are traditional to India.

Vij also cares a lot about sustainability in his kitchens. This means he tries to use ingredients and practices that are good for the environment. Interestingly, two of his restaurants are known for having an all-female kitchen staff.

Personal Life and Contributions

Vikram Vij is in a relationship with his girlfriend, Jaan. He enjoys traveling, trying new foods, and going on wine tours. He is known for his knowledge about wine. Vikram Vij lives happily in Vancouver, BC.

Community Involvement

Vikram Vij is a strong supporter of the sustainable food industry. He has helped many causes, like the Vancouver Aquarium's Ocean Wise Sustainable Seafood Program. He has also been involved with groups like Farm Folk City Folk.

His dedication led to the opening of Vij's Kitchen at the University of British Columbia (UBC). This is a modern cooking facility. It teaches future chefs and nutritionists about different types of ethnic food.

Vij is also active in the Indian-Canadian arts and culture community in Vancouver. He was a special guest at the Indian Summer Festival. This festival celebrates Indian culture. He has also led educational food trips to India. These trips involved visiting homes of local cooks and chefs.

Awards and Achievements

Vij's Restaurant was one of the top twenty restaurants at the James Beard Annual Gala Awards in New York City in 1998. In 2001, Vij became a member of a famous food society called Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs.

His restaurants have won many local awards from Vancouver Magazine. In 1999, Gourmet magazine listed Vij's Restaurant as one of the top five in Vancouver. Vikram Vij himself received the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2011.

In June 2011, the BC Food Processors Association gave Vij the Rising Star Award. Vij's Railway Express food truck won the People's Choice Award in 2013. This award was from Air Canada's enRoute Magazine for Canada's Best New Restaurant.

My Shanti was named number one in the Globe and Mail's Top 10 New Vancouver Restaurants of 2014. It also won Vancouver Magazine's Best Indian Restaurant in 2016.

In October 2014, Vij started as a "Dragon" on CBC's Dragons' Den. He joined other famous entrepreneurs on the show.

In 2015, Vikram Vij was one of the Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award winners. In 2015 and 2016, he received honorary Doctorates of Law from Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia.

Images for kids

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  Vij in 2010