CHEF VIKRAM VIJ

Vikram Vij is an internationally celebrated chef, restaurateur, bestselling author, entrepreneur, and television personality whose career has helped redefine Indian cuisine in Canada. Born in India and professionally trained in Austria, he moved to Canada in 1989 before opening Vij’s in Vancouver in 1994. The restaurant grew from a small neighbourhood dining room into one of the country’s most recognized culinary institutions, earning international acclaim and Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition in 2023, 2024, and 2025.

Beyond the kitchen, Vikram has become a prominent voice in Canadian food and culture. He has appeared on Top Chef Canada, Chopped Canada, and Recipe to Riches, and became the first Indo-Canadian investor on CBC’s Dragons’ Den. He is the author and co-author of several acclaimed cookbooks, including Vij’s: Elegant and Inspired Indian Cuisine, which received both a Cuisine Canada Gold Award and a Cordon d’Or Gold Ribbon, and his latest, My New Indian Kitchen with Jennifer Muttoo.

In recognition of his contributions to Canadian food culture, sustainable agriculture, mentorship, and the advancement of Indian cuisine, Vikram has received honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from both Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia.

In Feeding the Diaspora, Vikram joins Katie Prasad-Keough in the kitchen to prepare a meal rooted in his Indian heritage before gathering with artists and cultural voices for a conversation about representation, creativity, and belonging. The episode explores what it means to see yourself reflected in the culture around you and the power of creating from the histories and identities you carry within you.