Vikram Vij was born in India in 1964 and lived in New Delhi and Bombay until the age of 20, when he went to study, live and work in Austria. Vikram moved to Canada in 1989 to work at the Banff Springs Hotel in Alberta. In September 1994, Vikram opened Vij’s Restaurant in Vancouver, BC. In early 1995, a passionate and a creative Meeru Dhalwala joined him, and the two began collaborating on the menu. In 2004, Vikram and Meeru opened a second restaurant and market called Vij’s Rangoli. In June 2014, Vikram opened his third restaurant, My Shanti, based in South Surrey. The theme of My Shanti is based upon Vikram’s culinary travels, and includes flavours, ingredients and influences from all over the world. Vikram Vij is a tireless advocate of Indian cuisine in Canada, and of buying and eating locally produced and sustainable ingredients. He considers it an honour to be able to speak about his life, his experiences and his background to audiences around the world.