The Heartful Chef

VIJAY SADHU is a perfectionist. Whether he is standing in the kitchen of one of his many successful restaurants in the United States, competing with Bobby Flay, or simply sitting in meditation, Chef Vijay determinedly puts his heart into everything he does. The result? Great food that is filled with love, hard-earned and well-deserved success, and a daily effort to show up as his best possible self. Sitting at a table at Fausto’s, Kanha Shanti Vanam’s Italian Restaurant, he shares more about his passion for cooking and his journey of becoming a chef with MAMATA VENKAT, how finding a Guru and diving into spirituality changed his attitude in the kitchen, and how all of his experiences have shaped his most important role: being a parent.

- MAMATA VENKAT

Q: Chef, how did you discover your passion for being in the kitchen?

My experience was very different. I was more into dancing when I was growing up, and I was part of a band that my friends used to have. I moved out of home when I was 15, and from that age I never depended on anyone. I was a dropout because of the band. We were performing a show in a hotel in Hyderabad, and the venue was right next to the kitchen. I was smelling the aroma and air of beautiful food, and I said, “Oh my gosh, this is so incredible!”

My eldest brother was a chef. My parents were worried about me. They were like, “What is this guy? He doesn’t want to go to school. He doesn’t want to go to college.” I was very careless. I didn’t really worry too much. I said, “Take it as it comes.” I started liking cooking, food, and serving people. There was no grandmother inspiration or mother inspiration. I’m a self made person. I started working as an apprentice for some of the big hotel chains. Then, I had the opportunity to go to the U.S. at the age of 18 and ended up in Manhattan. There I started working for some of the best restaurants, peeling onions, and doing behind-the-scenes work. It was all old-school style.

Q: What does the journey look like for someone who is trying to be a world-famous chef?