Imagine a sprinkle of Mumbai magic and a dash of Staten Island sass—that’s how vegan chef, author, and TV personality Priyanka Naik is making a mark on the culinary scene. By combining her Indian roots with her New York know-how, the Food Network champ is on a mission to showcase the versatility of vegan cuisine and the richness of South Asian flavors.
Naik’s commitment to her Indian heritage profoundly influences both her culinary approach and lifestyle. She even prioritized learning her native language, Kannada, before English. As a teen, Naik discovered that dining out as a vegetarian in one of the world’s largest cities, NYC, was difficult, with menu choices limited to salads or side dishes.
This made her realize that maybe the Western world wasn’t fully aware of the incredible culinary possibilities that exist with vegetables. In 2011, Naik launched her website,…