Michelin-lauded chef Vikas Khanna has spent the last eight years compiling recipes of foods served in some of India's holiest places. What he amassed was a gold mine of ancient culinary traditions, some so rare they only deserve to be told through a gilded, crystal-embellished tome.
Sacred Foods of India, Khanna's latest project, is a limited-edition book, of which only 250 copies have been made available. Each is a collectible and comes in a walnut and maple wooden box embedded with rare gemstones and Swarovski crystals.
Paper used for printing is acquired from "special sources" in Italy and is meant to last for generations, while the ink is sourced from Japan.
The price tag: $25,000.
For those who like their books even rarer, only two copies come in a pure sandalwood box, which requires official Indian government certifications, and are priced at $50,000 a piece.
Khanna, who runs Kinara at JA Lake View Hotel and Ellora at JA The Resort in Dubai, has partnered with "phygital" platform Akshaya.io for the launch. To coincide, the group has created NFTs of the books, which will be unique for each copy.
Akshaya.io helps users claim ownership of physical and digital assets with certified proof of authenticity in India.
"Sacred Foods of India is very dear to my heart and I wish this will be a prized possession for those who are interested in buying or investing into works of passion," Khanna said at the book's launch in Dubai on Thursday. "I welcome one and all to be a part of my journey, as I take a giant vault into the new age of internet."
A New York City resident, Khanna worked for many years at Junoon in Manhattan, which earned a Michelin star for six consecutive years from 2011. He has since written numerous books, starred as a judge on MasterChef India and directed documentary films.
He made his feature film directorial debut in 2020 with The Last Colour, based on the relationship between a young tightrope walker and a widow in the holy city of Varanasi.
At the height of the Covid-19 closures in 2020, Khanna was lauded for his Feed India campaign, which provided food for hundreds of thousands of Indian migrant workers left unemployed and destitute by the pandemic.
The 11 Dubai restaurants with Michelin stars - in pictures
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Tresind Studio at Nakheel Mall has one Michelin star. -
Al Muntaha, on the 27th floor of Burj Al Arab, has received one Michelin star. -
Armani/Ristorante, at Armani Hotel Dubai, has been awarded one Michelin star. Photo: Armani/Ristorante -
Hakkasan at Atlantis, The Palm, now has one Michelin star. Photo: Hakkasan Dubai -
Hoseki at the Bulgari Resort is among the few restaurants in Dubai with one Michelin star. Photo: Bulgari Hotel -
Ossiano at Atlantis, The Palm, has one Michelin star. Photo: Atlantis, The Palm -
Tasca by Jose Avillez at Mandarin Oriental Jumeira has one Michelin star. Photo: Mandarin Oriental -
Torno Subito at W Dubai - The Palm has one Michelin star. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
11 Woodfire in Jumeirah has one Michelin star. Photo: 11 Woodfire -
Stay by Yannick Alleno at One&Only The Palm has two Michelin stars. Photo: Jumana El-Heloueh -
Il Ristorante – Niko Romito in Jumeirah has two Michelin stars. Photo: Il Ristorante -
Al Khayma at Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa is in Michelin’s Bib Gourmand list, which refers to restaurants that provide 'value-for-money three-course meals'. Photo: Al Khayma -
Fi'lia at SLS Dubai Hotel & Residences made Michelin's Bib Gourmand list. Photo: Fi'lia -
Bait Maryam in JLT is now a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant. -
Ibn AlBahr at Club Vista Mare is in Michelin's Bib Gourmand list. Instagram / @ibnalbahr -
Indya by Vineet at Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa is now a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant. -
Beetroot and ricotta at folly. The restaurant made it into Michelin's Bib Gourmand list. -
Kinoya at The Onyx Tower 2 in The Greens is in Michelin's Bib Gourmand list. Pawan Singh / The National -
Red umami prawns at Orfali Bros in Wasl 51 mall. The restaurant is now in Michelin's Bib Gourmand list. Photo: Orfali Bros -
Goldfish at The Galleria Mall made it into Michelin's Bib Gourmand list. Photo: Goldfish -
Beef gyoza at Reif Japanese Kushiyaki at Dar Wasl Mall. The restaurant is now in Michelin's Bib Gourmand list. Photo: Reif Japanese Kushiyaki -
Beef garum at Teible in Jameel Arts Centre. The restaurant is now in Michelin's Bib Gourmand list. Photo: Teible -
Chef Daniel Boulud at his Brasserie Boulud in Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk. The restaurant is in Michelin's Bib Gourmand list. Pawan Singh / The National -
Shabestan at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek, is in the Michelin Bib Gourmand list. Photo: Shabestan -
Ninive at Emirates Towers is in the Michelin Bib Gourmand list. Photo: Ninive
