New York chef Vikas Khanna has become the first Indian in New York state to be honored during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month for his outstanding and inspiring artistic and culinary contributions.
Last week, New York Governor Kathy Hochul presented Khanna with a “special citation” during an event commemorating Artificial Intelligence Heritage Month in the state capital of Albany.
Khanna called the honor “deeply exciting and humbling” in a social media post, adding, “This recognition is even more meaningful because it marks the first time in the history of New York State that an Indian has received this honor.”
Noting that AI is the fastest-growing community in the United States, representing more than 25 million people, cultures, stories, struggles and dreams, Khanna said, “This is more than just a personal milestone. It’s a statement of hope, identity, representation and the power of diversity.”
Speaking at the May 9 event, Khanna said, “Bringing an Indian chef to this table is not only an honor for me, but a representation that our stories matter and our culture matters.”
New York City thrives as a beacon of hope for the world, he said, “because we protect the most vulnerable, and most of the time in this city, immigrants are the most vulnerable.”
Governor Hochul celebrates Artificial Intelligence Heritage Month in Albany, emphasizing unity against divisive hate.
She also emphasized that multiculturalism makes New York stronger and pledged to fight for and protect immigrant communities.
Commemorating Khanna’s journey from Amritsar to New York, the award describes him as a “global culinary icon”.
“New York State is honored to join Vikas Khanna in recognizing his outstanding contributions and inspiring commitment to artistic, culinary and personal excellence,” the award citation said.
New York State Director of Artificial Intelligence Sibu Nair said Governor Hochul is proud to host diverse communities to celebrate Artificial Intelligence Heritage Month and recognize the tremendous contributions they make every day across the state.
Last month, the Amritsar-born chef was named by Time magazine as one of the world’s “100 most influential people” in 2026.
Time magazine’s profile of Khanna described him as “a man of extraordinary soul.”
In a profile in Time magazine, award-winning chef Eric Ripert praised Vikas Khanna for his global generosity of spirit and unique ability to use food as a universal language, connecting people, building bridges and fostering understanding.
Time magazine said Khanna carries on his culture with “immense pride”, sharing India’s rich traditions while making them accessible and meaningful to a global audience.
This article was generated from automated news agency feeds without modifications to the text.
