Barkat: The Inspiration and the Story Behind One of World's Largest Food Drives FEED INDIA

Description

"This chef has a Michelin star and a mission: feeding millions in India's lockdown." -New York Times 'Barkat' means abundance. An abundance of blessings and auspiciousness. Where there is no dearth and there is no scarcity, that's Barkat. It's a much bigger word than can be translated in English. This is the story of one of the most beloved chefs from India, Vikas Khanna. From the small town of Amritsar, he grew to be an international chef and fulfilled his dream of getting a Michelin Star. He narrates how his grandmother infused in him the values of sharing food, while the langars of the Golden Temple showed him that community kitchens are perhaps the only way to ensure no one goes hungry. From these values developed around food, he got the goal and the grit to build one of the world's largest food drives called 'Feed India' during the COVID-19 lockdown. This deeply personal and heart-touching narrative is a testimony of one man's vision to showcase Indian culture and the intrinsic value of sharing food to the world.

Vikas Khanna is one of the most beloved Indian chefs in the world. An award-winning Michelin-Starred chef and host of the highly rated prime-time shows MasterChef India, Twist of Taste, and Mega Kitchens, Khanna has been a guest on Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares and Hell's Kitchen, as well as The Martha Stewart Show, Throwdown! with Bobby Flay, and MasterChef Australia. He has hosted events for former president Barack Obama, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Pope Francis, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and many other world leaders and celebrities. Deutsche Welle listed Khanna as one of the world's ten most iconic chefs of all time. Khanna has received rave reviews from the New York Times, Conde Nast, and Wall Street Journal. He is the goodwill ambassador for the Smile Foundation and supports the cause of malnutrition in India. His previous books include Mocktails, Punches, and Shrubs, Indian Harvest, Flavors First, and Return to the Rivers. He lives in New York City.