Q&A with Vikram Vij: the celebrated Vancouver chef on his successes and why he won’t open a restaurant in Toronto
Vikram Vij, chef and owner of Vancoucer haute Indian restaurants Vij’s and Rangoli, was in town this week for the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association show and a series of meet and greets around the city. His namesake restaurant is well known for its no-reservation policy, long lineups and devoted fans, including New York Times columnist Mark Bittman, who once hailed it as “among the finest Indian restaurants in the world.” Recently, we sat down with the chef, restaurateur and cookbook author to talk about the reasons behind his success and why he won’t expand to Toronto.
Why do you think Vij’s has seen such great success?
I’ll be honest—I haven’t actually stepped back and said, “Oh, I’m successful.” I’m going to do what I can to bring awareness to my cuisine, the culture and the country I came from to the world. I want to show people that Indian food isn’t just chicken tikka masala or butter chicken.
What makes Vij’s different from other Indian places?
When I opened the restaurant, rather than cutting corners, we added corners. Instead of using pre-made sauces, we chopped our own onions and garlic and roasted our own spices. Instead of doing things faster, we did it slower, the way it was done in old world India and the way the French make their own stocks. It’s done in small batches. That’s the reason why the Indian food at Vij’s is slightly different and a little bit more flavourful.
You have an unusual approach to running your restaurant—your kitchen crew is all female, for example. What’s behind that?
Growing up in India, my mother and grandmother played a huge role in my life, so all the food I did at the restaurant was a kind of homage to them. I am who I am because of their delicious foods. All the stuff I’ve done in the restaurant was never to help me make money; they were elements of my upbringing. I’m more worried about, is it flavourful? Is the love there? I will say yes. That’s how my grandparents work; that’s how my mother and father are.
Would you consider yourself more of a restaurateur or a chef?
I’d always call myself a chef because chefs can always feed themselves. I won’t even say I’m a chef; I’m a cook first. I’m a home cook, a food lover, and I happen to be successful with what I’m doing. I became a businessman because my father said, “Do your own thing now. I’ll give you $25,000. Go out and open a restaurant.” I took that money and kind of ran with it. Vancouver was a young city, and I knew that if I worked hard in that city, then probably I’ll be happy. Toronto was a bigger fish and I probably would not have had the same success as I had in Vancouver.
Do you have plans to expand your empire to Toronto?
Well, I’ve always loved Toronto. If there were any other city that I could open up a restaurant in, it probably would be Toronto. I love the hustle and bustle; it reminds me a little of growing up in India, where it’s crowded and packed, you know, with people from all walks of life. So it’s a great feeling.
The reason why I haven’t tried to open a Toronto-based restaurant is because I have to be able to keep control. If I were in Vancouver and somebody was cooking my food here, I would have a really hard time. People can have five restaurants and do a really good job with it, but personally, I’m not interested in that right now. I believe and hope that there will be an Indian chef—a young woman or man or anyone else—who will come and do a great job.
What’s your impression of the Indian food in Toronto? Why there isn’t something like Vij’s here?
Well, Amaya has been doing a good job. Dinesh Butola’s been working really hard at trying to create his own niche.
You have two cookbooks, two restaurants and a ready-made food line. What’s next?
The second cookbook (Vij’s at Home) is written by my wife [Meeru Dhalwala]. It’s all her. I don’t want to take the credit where it’s not due. The first cookbook we wrote together. The next six months will be concentrated on the ready-made bags. It is Vij’s food, Vij’s flavours, Vij’s passion behind it—in a bag. Vij’s itself is moving location to Cambie Street [also in Vancouver]. Rangoli will stay where it is, and the old Vij’s space will be a brand-new concept. So that’s the next four to five years. I have a vision and a plan. I’m not going to go crazy over there.
So you can remain focused and in control?
That’s exactly what I want.
Apologies to all, but Vij is a tool. If you’ve seen the documentary “A Day in the Life of Vij’s”, it becomes quite obvious that the key to his success is his wife. He struts around his restaurant doing nothing, while his wife anchors the kitchen and does all the work.
Lyle,
You are so wrong, I do not even want to waste my time in explaining to you what i do. Maybe before you make a comment like that ,you should ask the people that work with me and for the organization. You would get the answer.
Vikram vij
It was a great doc and if it wasn’t for his ideas, persistence and motivation, there would be no success but we all know that behind every successful man, there is a woman:)
Lyle-
Maybe you should visit the restaurant. You’re too wise to believe what you read in Toronto Life, but perfectly happy to make opinions based on what you’ve seen on TV.
By the way, only a complete tool uses the word ‘tool’.
As a lover of Indian food and as someone who will be going to Vancouver in June, I will make Vij’s a primary destination. His passion for quality is evident in this interview (something that many Indian restaurants lack).
It’s entirely disappointing to read obtuse commentaries such as Lyle’s. When Vij’s opened on Broadway, I had no problem waiting in line as Vikram would graciously warm the hands and bellies of the soggy patrons outside with cups of chai. Once seated, it was Vikram who would stride from one table to the next, carefully taking everyone’s order without ever giving the impression that he was rushed. I miss that old place but haven’t been surprised in the least at the success of Vij’s based on that first experience – and the incredible food of course!
Vij’s is one of my favourite reasons to visit Vancouver (after seeing my sister, of course!). I spent some time in India about five years ago and was utterly spoiled by the experience – my heart practically sang when I first dined at Vij’s. Too bad you won’t be making an outlet in Toronto, but I understand that the authenticity of it being a ‘Vijs’ restaurant would be lacking if you weren’t there yourself.
Congratulations to you and your wife on your well deserved success and good luck with your future plans!!
No fires, no phones, no calls and no noises any more,
just silence we search for.
http://www.jammerall.com
I really would like to try one of your restaurant because always read article in torontostar about your good food we do have good restaurant called host. but whenever i come to vancover I will try your food u look good in loblaws newad. thanks
growing up in TO and now living in vancouver for 10y and travelling a fair bit to NYC etc and being an Indian, having dined at Amaya in TO and in Tamarind in NYC recently, . I can honestly say that Vijs cuisine is without comparison. Dining at Vijs is like dining at home. No question. Superb quality ingredients. And innovative. . No restaurant experience even comes close. Let’s stop kidding ourselves. In Vancouver at Vijs we have the best Indian dining experience in North America. bar none
Lukt
Dålig lukt
Ta bort dålig lukt
Dålig lukt i huset
lukt i hus
luktproblem
lukt i huset
Konstig lukt i hus
Konstig lukt
dålig lukt i kök
lukt i kök
luktar illa huset
luktar illa i köket
Dålig lukt i källare
Luktar illa
Dålig lukt i hemmet
Dålig lukt i nyköpt hus
få bort lukt hus
luktproblem i hus
lukt i källare
luktar kök
luktar hus
luktar källare
luktar
lukta
Doft
källarlukt
ta bort källarlukt
få bort källarlukt
mögellukt
Mögellukt i huset
luktar mögel
få bort mögellukt
hur luktar mögel
avloppslukt
lukt avlopp
luktar avlopp
avloppslukt i badrum
lukt i avlopp
få bort avloppslukt
Avloppslukt i badrummet
Avloppslukt på toa
Avloppslukt i wc
avloppslukt källare
avloppslukt inomhus
avloppslukt i huset
avloppslukt från toaletten
avloppslukt badrum
rörinspektion
avloppsinspektion
avloppsrör inspektion
rörinspektion kostnad
rörinspektion pris
Rör Inspektion
rörinspektion göteborg
rörinspektion uppsala
rörinspektion stockholm
rörinspektion Helsingborg
inspektion
inspektion avlopp
rörinspektion kamera
Rörinspektion i Avlopp
Rörinspektion avloppsrör
Rörinspektion av avloppet
Inspektera Rör
Inspektion av rör
filmning avlopp
Filma avlopp
Filmning av avlopp
filmning avloppsrör
filmning avlopp kostnad
filmning avlopp pris
Avloppshjälp
filmning avlopp göteborg
filmning avlopp uppsala
filmning avlopp stockholm
filmning avlopp Helsingborg
läckage
takläckage
takläcka
fukt
fuktproblem
fukt i källare
fukt krypgrund
fukt inomhus
fukt inomhusmiljö
fukt vind
fuktmätning
fuktmätare
fukt badrum
besiktning
Besiktning vid köp
renovering
termografering
takbesiktning
statusbesiktning
badrumsbesiktning
besiktning badrum
vattenskada
vattenskador
husbesiktning
besiktiga hus
besiktning av hus
fuktbesiktning
vattenläckage
vattenläcka
vattenledning
läcksökning
hitta läcka