Q+A TOPPING THE CHARTS

Madurai boy Chef Vijaya Kumar has bagged the James Beard Award this year even as his New York restaurant Semma ranked No. 1 in the NYT's annual list of 100 best restaurants

- Bindu Gopal Rao

Q. What does it mean to win the 2025 James Beard Award for Best Chef: New York State?

It is a recognition not just of my cooking, but of the food I grew up with in Tamil Nadu, the kind of food that's rarely seen in fine dining. We did not tone it down or simplify it. This is also a win for my team and for immigrant cooks everywhere.

Q. How is Indian cuisine evolving on the global culinary scene?