Vijay Kumar: The Indian chef who took Tamil fare global and won a 'food Oscar'

Chef Vijay Kumar’s 2025 James Beard win marks a quiet revolution, spotlighting south Indian cuisine globally.
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His 2025 James Beard Award win for Best Chef: New York State this month is more than just personal recognition - it marks a cultural inflection point.
Chennai-based culinary historian Rakesh Raghunathan says: "Following in the footsteps of fellow Tamil-origin recipients like Raghavan Iyer and Padma Lakshmi, Vijay Kumar's recognition reflects a growing momentum for south Indian voices on the global culinary stage".
"Tamil cuisine - along with Sri Lankan Tamil and other south Indian regional traditions - is increasingly being embraced by global diners as something refined, rich, and deeply rooted in culture."
Born in the small farming village of Arasampatti, Madurai in southern Tamil Nadu, the 44-year-old Kumar has always cooked from memory - of forests and foraging, firewood stoves and his mother and grandmother serving meals made from scratch for the family.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cyvjypj0n9do
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