As India gears up for the festive celebration of Diwali, the culinary world in the United States witnessed a special early celebration. Three talented Indian chefs from Chicago, Washington DC, and New York got the prestigious Michelin Stars yesterday. This culinary triumph was acknowledged and celebrated by none other than Chef Vikas Khanna on his social media platform. In his post, Chef Khanna gave recognition to the exceptional talents of Chef Vijaya Kumar, Chef Chetan Shetty, and Chef Sujan S.
In his post, Vikas wrote, “Diwali has arrived a little early in the US. BIG BIG NEWS. What a milestone. Salute to all the 3 Indian Chefs who got Michelin Stars yesterday in New York. Michelin Guide announced the NY, Chicago & DC winners & I salute all the chefs who received the stars. What an honor. What an honor for India, our hospitality & cuisine. NY - @chef.vijayakumar, DC - @chefchetanshetty, Chicago - @chefsujans. I’m cheering for the day when every guide will have an Indian restaurant with the ⭐️ around the globe. Let’s cheer for them.” Vikas even wrote on his IG story “I am dancing as the Indian chefs set up a new benchmark”. These chefs have truly made a mark in the culinary scene, and it's time to get to know them better.
Chef Vijaya Kumar
We're lucky to have Chef Vijaya Kumar leading the kitchen at Semma in the bustling city of New York. The only Indian restaurant in the United States to receive a Michelin star, this New York City institution earned its first star in 2022. Vijay is the talented chef behind all the exciting culinary experiences at this vibrant restaurant and takes great pride in embracing the authentic Indian roots, which has captivated the dining scene in NYC with its irresistible charm.
Chef Chetan Shetty
Chef Chetan Shetty mentions on his Instagram post, "My First Michelin ⭐️. You will always be special. Feels good when your efforts are recognized." Chetan is the head chef at Rania, a top-notch restaurant in Washington, DC. The owners of Punjab Grill DC, another neighbourhood staple, conceptualised Rania. This magnificent restaurant is one of a kind to serve Indian food, providing diners with a completely new and thrilling dining experience.
Chef Sujan S.
Indienne in Chicago is headed by chef Sujan Sarkar. He was honoured yesterday alongside two other Indian cooks for earning a Michelin star. Indienne is a modern Indian fine dining establishment that brought a different kind of Indian food to the city of Chicago. Chef took to his Instagram and wrote ”Still digesting this news 🙏🏻 Indienne Chicago is awarded one Michelin star in the 2023 Michelin Guide - in just about a year of opening doors! Gratitude to the inspectors, reviewers, and whole team for this honour. To everyone that dined with us, cheered for us and believed in us, you have made this possible.”
He further added, “A special word for Chetan and Suyash, who may be far now but are still with us as supporters, everyday... Too many people to thank - so many that we are so lucky to have in our corner. Team @indiennechicago - we did it ⭐ and we are just getting started!”.