Vancouver Chef Vikram Vij Taking Part In International Varli Festival

It is a culinary event that features the best Indian chefs in the world, which explains why Vancouved-based Vikram Vij was so thrilled to be asked to participate in the annual Varli Festival in New York this year.

The Varli Festival will be held in the heart of Manhattan on April 4th and 5th at the Metropolitan Pavilion. It will feature 20 of the world's most celebrated Indian chefs, including Vij, the co-owner of the renowned restaurant bearing his name in British Columbia, and an award-winning author of two cookbooks.

"To be asked to represent Indian cuisine on a world stage like this is an honour," says Vij. "The Varli Festival is all about showcasing Indian foods and spices and making them accessible to a wider audience and I'm delighted to be among such an incredible group of international chefs doing just that."

Vij, along with other highly acclaimed and Michelin star winning chefs, will be handing out samples of their most popular restaurant dishes to festival-goers throughout the two-day event.

Hosting this year is Emmy-nominated TV presenter and author Padma Lakshmi. Tickets are $100 each and can be bought at www.varlifoodfestival.com


About Vikram Vij

Vij's restaurant has won worldwide acclaim thanks to its exceptional menu and incredible customer service, including one-on-one table visits from Vikram Vij himself. In 2003 New York Times food critic Mark Bittman stated that Vij's is: "easily among the finest Indian restaurants in the world." Vij's and it's sister restaurant Rangoli, are both featured in the book: The New York Times 36 Hours: 150 Weekends in the USA and Canada.

During the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, Vij's restaurant became the go-to Indian restaurant of choice for celebrities and sporting stars and Vij received coverage on national American TV networks as a result of his culinary excellence and welcoming style.

Vikram Vij was born in India and grew up in Amritsar and Bombay. His most vivid childhood memories revolve around food and family and he pursued this further when he moved to Europe to attend culinary school and also when he came to live and work in Canada.

He opened the first 14-seat Vij's Restaurant in Vancouver in 1994 and, later that same year, married Meeru Dhalwala who would take over managing the kitchens of both Vij's and Rangoli restaurants.

Vij has published two award-winning cookbooks with Dhalwala - Vij's: Elegant and Inspired Indian Cuisine and Vij's at Home: Relax, Honey.