Media Release

Udupi, Apr 6: Michelin-starred chef Vikas Khanna inaugurated the ‘Museum of Culinary Arts’ at Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration here on Thursday April 5. The museum, the only one of its kind in the country, is a treasure trove of antique culinary collections of hundreds of years ago. The near-2000 valuables that have been garnered from all over the country have been aesthetically arranged in the museum which forms part of the new department of culinary arts building. The museum is spread approximately over 25,000 sq ft.

The brain behind the museum is Vikas himself. The idea to have such a museum dawned upon him when he was living in the US, where, according to him, there are over 5,000 different kinds of museums. "Sadly, India does not have even a single museum to house utensils and other appliances to show the culture, heritage and hospitality of our country," he said. He thanked MAHE for all the support in helping him with the museum.

Pro-chancellor MAHE, Dr H S Ballal also spoke on the occasion.

Speaking to media persons he said, "Plates made by the Portuguese in India, a 100-year-old ladle used to dish out food at temples, vessels from the Konkan, Udipi and Chettinad regions, old seed sprinklers, bowls dating to the Harappan era, ancient Samovars, a variety of tea strainers, chakli /murruku makers, hand press fruit juicers, pickle bottles, beautiful earthenware, an array of artistic spoons and serving spoons from various parts of India; Kochi, Jammu, Pune, Hyderabad, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir and almost every state in the country are present."

Huge metal copper pots, water flasks and artistically handcrafted jars. Ice-cream churners also find a unique place in the museum and add beauty contradicting the era of automated machines, proving their origins and roots from Indian regions. Ladles, colourful rolling pins for making chappatis, measuring cups and weights all designed with scientific precision date back to more than 1000 years. The Turkish dinnerware and the Silver ware, showcasing amazing combination of intricate designs and creative patterns are stunning.

The celebrity chef said his most favourite artifact is a 21-piece picnic set consisting of burners, plates, rolling boards, kadhais and even pots which is a marvellous creation indeed. Wooden spice boxes will give your senses a wonderful feeling as if something is cooking in your home kitchen. He also said that these collections will be loaned for major exhibitions held in other countries.