India, Sept. 13 -- Vijay Kumar, executive chef and partner at Semma (meaning fantastic in Tamil), New York City's only Indian restaurant with a Michelin star, recently won the 2025 James Beard Award for New York state's Best Chef. The coveted culinary accolade is an homage of sorts to Kumar's storybook sojourn from humble beginnings in rural Tamil Nadu to American gastronomic zenith. Also read | Recipe: Make the mung bean salad served at Semma, New York

Semma, the first Indian restaurant to top The New York Times 100 Best Restaurants list, serves traditional Tamilian dishes besides some regular south Indian fare. "We have been totally blessed and have been full since the first day of the restaurant's opening. There's no slow day or empty...