Chef Vijay Kumar, executive chef and partner at New York’s Semma — the only Michelin-starred Indian restaurant in the city — has won the 2025 James Beard Award for Best Chef: New York State. From his humble beginnings in rural Tamil Nadu to leading one of the most acclaimed restaurants in America, Kumar’s journey is as soulful as the food he serves: unapologetically Tamil, deeply personal, and universally praised.
