1. Vikram Vij was born on 1964 and is an Indian-born Canadian chef, cookbook author, and television personality.
40 Facts About Vikram Vij
1. 2.
Vikram Vij is the owner, of the Indian cuisine restaurants Vij's and Rangoli Restaurant in Vancouver, British Columbia.
3.
Vikram Vij owns My Shanti, a restaurant in South Surrey, BC which he closed in 2024.
4.
In 2014, Vij was announced as a new "dragon" investor on the Canadian reality show Dragons' Den for its ninth season and departed at the end of the season.
5.
Vikram Vij grew up in India in Amritsar, Delhi and Bombay.
6.
From 1992 until 1994, Vikram Vij worked at Bishop's restaurant in Vancouver, British Columbia, for prominent Canadian chef John Bishop.
7.
Rangoli sells their line of pre-packaged gourmet curries named "Vikram Vij's Inspired Indian Cuisine".
8.
In 2011, Vikram Vij completed and opened a food processing facility to better meet retailer interest in the product line.
9.
Vikram Vij has been an ongoing contributor to The Globe and Mail since November 28,2007.
10.
Vikram Vij is working on a new Vijs Restaurant 2025 cookbook with his partner Jaan.
11.
In 2012, Vikram Vij's Railway Express was launched onto the streets of Vancouver.
12.
Vikram Vij opened another restaurant, My Shanti, based in South Surrey, in 2014.
13.
Vikram Vij has been in a relationship with his girlfriend Jaan.
14.
Vikram Vij enjoys travel, food, and wine tours, with two upcoming tours scheduled this year.
15.
Vikram Vij's Restaurant was one of the twenty featured restaurants at the James Beard Annual Gala Awards 1998, in New York City, and was invited to prepare dinner at the James Beard House.
16.
In 2001, Vikram Vij was invited to be a member of the prestigious gastronomic society Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs.
17.
Vikram Vij's restaurants have received numerous local awards including those from Vancouver Magazine's restaurant awards.
18.
In 1999, Vikram Vij's Restaurant was listed in the top five Vancouver restaurants in Gourmet magazine's annual restaurant awards, as well as receiving Chef of the Year from Vancouver Magazine in 2015.
19.
Vikram Vij himself received an Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the Pacific region in hospitality and tourism in 2011.
20.
Vikram Vij was featured on At the Table With, a Food Network Canada series, in 2008.
21.
Vikram Vij made his famous lamb popsicles for Giada De Laurentiis when she visited Vikram Vij's Restaurant on her Food Network series Giada's Weekend Getaways.
22.
Vikram Vij was a guest judge on Top Chef Canada in 2011, and was invited back for the 2012 season.
23.
Vikram Vij was the guest of honour in a 2013 Top Chef Canada episode dedicated to Indian cuisine.
24.
Vikram Vij was a judge on the first ever Chopped Canada show, which premiered on Food Network Canada in January 2014 and he appeared weekly on CBC's Recipe to Riches, which began in February 2014.
25.
Vikram Vij's Railway Express, based on the chef's travels by rail throughout India, was awarded the inaugural People's Choice Award from Air Canada's enRoute Magazine, as Canada's Best New Restaurant in 2013.
26.
In October 2014, Vikram Vij made his debut as a Dragon on CBC's Dragons' Den and departed at the end of the season.
27.
Vikram Vij took his place in the Den alongside entrepreneurs Jim Treliving, Arlene Dickinson, David Chilton and Michael Wekerle.
28.
In 2015, Vikram Vij was one of the recipients of the Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards presented by Canadian Immigrant Magazine.
29.
In June 2015, Vikram Vij was awarded honorary Doctorates of Law by Simon Fraser University and in May 2016 they were honoured to receive honorary Doctorates of Law from the University of British Columbia.
30.
Vikram Vij is a passionate supporter of the sustainable food industry.
31.
Vikram Vij has championed many causes such as the Vancouver Aquarium's Ocean Wise Sustainable Seafood Program.
32.
Vikram Vij has been involved with Farm Folk City Folk and was past president and active member of The Chef's Table Society of British Columbia.
33.
Vikram Vij is part of the Green Table Society and is involved in UBC Farm fundraisers.
34.
Vikram Vij has been donating to the Women's Eastside Vancouver Shelter because it is such an incredible cause.
35.
Vikram Vij is active in the Vancouver, Indo-Canadian arts and cultural community.
36.
Vikram Vij was a special guest and host at the 2011 Indian Summer Festival.
37.
In 2012, Vikram Vij again was featured in the festival, this time leading a "culinary tour of India" at the opening gala.
38.
Vikram Vij hosted the organization's "Storyteller's Gala", held at the Museum of Vancouver in 2010.
39.
Vikram Vij has twice led small groups on educational food trips to India, which involved visiting homes of local cooks and chefs.
40.
Vikram Vij led the tour in northern India the first year, southern India the second.