Maneet Chauhan (born 27 October 1976 in Ludhiana, Punjab)^[1] is an Indian American chef and television personality. Previously the executive chef of several notable restaurants in Chicago, Nashville, and New York, she is featured as a judge on Chopped^[2] on the Food Network. She has appeared on The Next Iron Chef,^[3] on The View on ABC,^[4] Iron Chef America, the Today show on NBC,^[5] and as a judge on the finale of Worst Cooks in America on Food Network.^[6] She has also won the 2021 Food Network competition Tournament of Champions.^[7]

Career

Chauhan was born into a Sikh Rajput household.^{[8][failed verification]} She began her culinary career at the Manipal Academy of Higher Education's WelcomGroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration, Manipal, India,^[8] where she earned a bachelor's degree in Hotel Management. She then attended the Culinary Institute of America^[9] in Hyde Park, New York. As an apprentice chef, she worked in India with the Oberoi Group, Taj Group, Welcome Group and Sheraton Group.^{[citation needed]}

In 2000, she was hired as management for a startup restaurant in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, where she headed a team and expanded the restaurant's capacity from 70 seats to 140 seats. In 2003, at the age of 27, she became the opening executive chef of Vermilion^[10] in Chicago, Illinois. In 2007, she moved to NYC to open At Vermilion.^[11] Her style is described as "global fusion" with roots in Indian cuisine.^[12] Chauhan has participated in fundraisers to benefit underprivileged children in India^[13] and the typhoon relief efforts in the Philippines.^{[14][15][16][17]}

Books

She wrote her first cookbook, Flavors of My World: A Culinary Tour Through 25 Countries, published by Favorite Recipes Press.^[18][19] Her second book, authored with Katy Sparks, Alex Raij, Rita Sodi and Kathleen Squires, was called The Journey.^[20] Her most recent cookbook Chaat, co-authored with Jody Eddy, was released in October 2020 and includes over eighty Indian recipes with a focus on street food and local cuisine.^[21]

Restaurant

Chauhan opened her first restaurant in Nashville, Tennessee. It is called "Chauhan Ale and Masala House". The restaurant, which accommodates 150, opened in August 2014. ^{[22][23][24][25]}