What’s for dinner? Ask Chef Vikram Vij.
The award-winning Vancouver chef behind Vij’s and Rangoli, Chef Vikram Vij, invites you to cook an Indian family dinner along with him as he is broadcast live online across Canada and the world, this Thursday at 3:00 pm PST. The interactive cookalong, which allows viewers to share updates and ask Chef Vij questions via social media, is a first in Canada. It will also be most viewers’ first chance to cook with a professional chef — the fact that Vij represents what New York Times food critic Mark Bittman considers “easily among the finest Indian restaurants in the world” only sweetens the deal.
Family is an important focus in Vij’s life — his wife and business partner, Meeru Dhalwala, is his constant companion. The couple has two teenage daughters, Nanaki and Shanik, and all four have learned to schedule family time around mealtime. Vij explains that “eating together as a family is such an enriching experience…and if I can spread the word of Indian cuisine at the same time, then I’m proud to do that.”
Unsure of your ability to keep up with a world-class chef? Don’t worry — when Vij and Dhalwala met, Dhalwala herself had virtually no cooking experience. That was almost twenty years ago. In December 2012, Dhalwala opened Shanik, one of Seattle’s most hotly anticipated restaurants of the year.
So fear not, and keep an eye out for the ingredient list, to be published in newspapers across Canada in the next day or two. If you’re outside of Canada, watch the event website for more information as Thursday approaches. Meant to be a family event, the livestream is turning out to also be a national one – it seems everyone wants a few of Vij’s secrets. Streaming live from Toronto, Ontario, here’s our chance to get a taste of world-class Indian cuisine without the infamous hours of waiting at Vij’s, Rangoli or Shanik. Bon appetit!
Thursday, March 7, 3:00 pm || Livestream at vijs.ca || Tweet questions or comments using #Vijcooklive
