Celebrity private chef Harsh Dixit recently opened up about one of his most memorable projects where he prepared a meal for everyone’s favourite couple, Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli on their wedding anniversary in December 2019. The chef revealed how the couple are vegans and he too cooked a completely vegan and gluten-free Vietnamese-style dinner for them, but with a twist.
How Virat Anushka had ‘snakes’ for their anniversary dinner
In a recent conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India, Dixit recalled how he solved the problem of curating a vegan meal even though Vietnamese cuisine is heavily non-vegetarian.
“For Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma’s anniversary in December 2019, I made Pho, but with a twist,” Dixit said. Traditionally, Pho, a classic Vietnamese soup, is made with a meat-based broth, often including chicken or beef. “They were eating gluten-free at the time, so we went with rice noodles, which are traditional in Pho and gluten-free,” he explained.
“Vietnamese cuisine includes a lot of snake — snake wine, even snake meat. So, how about serving ‘snakes’ to vegans?” he said. That’s when inspiration struck him – snake gourd. By using the plant-based ingredient as the centerpiece, Dixit managed to serve something that fit Virat and Anushka’s dietary choices, while retaining cultural authenticity. “The idea was to have fun while staying within the dietary boundaries. That’s what being a private chef is about,” he added.
The task, however, came with its own pressures. In an earlier interaction with IANS, Dixit revealed how last-minute the planning was. “There was a lot of madness that went behind that too, because I got a call for it on a Saturday, and I shared the menu that evening. Their anniversary was on Thursday in 2019 and they wanted to bring it in via a Wednesday night dinner. I only got the confirmation on a Wednesday afternoon at 12:30,” he recalled.
Despite the tight timeline, Dixit managed to whip up a meticulously planned and delicious five-course vegan menu, all prepared and served at the couple’s residence. “It was a five-course vegan dinner, an entirely private dining experience in his home. For me, the opportunity was not just a win professionally, but it also underscored the importance of providing personalised, private dining for athletes who can’t enjoy the same restaurant freedom as others,” he said.
About Chef Harsh Dixit
Chef Harsh Dixit has become a go-to name among celebrities for private and intimate dinner parties. He continues to redefine private dining for high-profile clients with extremely diverse lifestyles.
