World-renowned Michelin-starred chef Vikas Khanna has been trending on X (formerly Twitter) for his clever response during a BBC interview.
In this resurfaced clip from an older interview, the interviewer pointed out Khanna’s Indian background and assumed that his “sense of hunger” originated from growing up in a country where food scarcity is common. The interviewer also mentioned that Khanna was raised in a poor family and implied that this experience made him understand the precariousness of life in India.
Chef Khanna was quick to respond, clarifying that he hails from Amritsar, home to the Golden Temple, which hosts the world’s largest open kitchen, or “langar.”
Vikas Khanna, Michelin Star Chef, gives it back to BBC news anchor.
Anchor: In India, you were not from a rich family. So your sense of hunger must have come from there.
Vikas: No, I'm from Amritsar, everyone gets fed there in the langars. My sense of hunger came from New York! pic.twitter.com/rWf4PSVIAH
— Harpreet (@CestMoiz) September 12, 2024
He stated that in Amritsar, no one goes hungry. Khanna then added that his real sense of hunger developed while struggling to establish himself as a professional chef in New York. He shared that being in NYC just after 9/11 was tough, particularly for people of color, making it difficult to secure jobs. He even recalled sleeping at Grand Central Station, emphasizing that this period was when he truly experienced hunger.
The full interview clip can be viewed below.
Netizens were quick to react to Chef Khanna’s witty and dignified response. One user commented,
“Gora babus being their usual presumptuous and pompous selves.” Another shared a personal anecdote:
Gora babus being their usual presumptuous and pompous selves.
— Ravindra (@ravirao83) September 12, 2024
“It’s during COVID. I met Chef Vikas a few months after this interview at his restaurant in Dubai. We spoke about it, and he said, ‘Yaar, mujhe gussa aa gaya tha. It was early morning in the US, and they asked this stupid question. Kabhi kabhi de dena chahiye.’ He is charming.”
It’s during covid. I met Chef Vikas some months after this in his restaurant in Dubai.
We spoke about this interview, he said ” yaar , mujhe gussa aa gaya tha, it was early morning in the US and they asked this stupid question”“Kabhi kabhi de Dena chahiye”
He is charming
— Confused Soul (@EternalConfused) September 12, 2024
Indians should avoid presenting themselves as victims, as it’s a sign of weakness. We are a strong people who don’t need racial grievances to stand on. Vikas Khanna is undermining this perspective.
— Tanmay Kumar (@tanmay_kumar29) September 12, 2024
Another commenter added,
“Indians should avoid presenting themselves as victims; it’s a sign of weakness. We are strong people who don’t need racial grievances to stand on. Vikas Khanna is undermining this perspective.”
Meanwhile, someone else praised him, stating,
“It’s rare but delightful to see an Indian successful in the West defending his motherland. Vikas Khanna does so much more than people know. His efforts to feed people during COVID and various natural disasters in India are truly admirable.”
Such a rare but delightful thing to witness – A Indian successful in the west defending his motherland. Vikas Khanna does more than is known. One has nothing but admiration for how he fed people during covid and many other natural calamities in India. 🫡
— Singh (@Singh199888) September 12, 2024
