Priyanka Naik is a former data scientist in tech turned self-taught award winning eco-chef, Food Network champion, TV Host, Author of THE MODERN TIFFIN, columnist of "Ecokitchen" for The Washington Post, pop-up restaurateur and a TEDx Speaker! An avid traveler who’s been to 48 countries, her globally inspired original recipes, with a focus on sustainability, have been featured on FOX, TODAY Show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, Food Network, ABC, TOYOTA and more, as well as to her 360,000+ followers.
She is first-generation, Indian American, raised on Staten Island, New York, and has two elder sisters. Priyanka's Indian heritage is very important to her cooking style and lifestyle, so much so that she even learned her native language of Kannada before English and weaves in Indian elements throughout all of her original vegan cooking. She attributes her devotion to her Indian roots and passion for Indian food to her loving and supportive parents. Priyanka's love for the environment and animals drives her desire to share approachable plant-forward recipes that are inspired by her Indian culture, global travels and emphasis on low-waste living.
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Being both a chef and content creator requires a unique mix of skills. What’s something you’ve had to learn that people might not see?
Being a chef requires it’s own set of skills that can be acquired or innate and it mainly involves creativity, vision and organization. But being a chef AND a content creator really means that you’re an entrepreneur and that is exactly what I consider myself to be. Not only do I develop original recipes, manage my own prep, cooking, organization and menu development, but I also have to manage my business which involves building relationships, projecting revenue, reviewing contracts, goal setting, building a team, and much much more. This career I straddle requires you to be the host of the restaurant and the head chef in the kitchen. You must know how to do it all, to some degree!
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How do you honor your roots while still reaching for new heights?
I am a first generation Indian, born & raised in NYC. My Indian roots make up my identity and are one of the main driving forces behind my love for food, cooking and caring for the environment. Ayurvedic philosophy on living, which uses nature to heal oneself and nourish oneself runs throughout my food and cooking choices. Everything I share in my book, online, on TV and at my live events in some way are always influenced by my culture/roots. My tips on using all of the produce or repurposing leftovers or making sure your dish is as colorful as it can be indicating a nutrient dense dish, are all directly from Indian culture. I’m not here to reinvent the wheel, but I am here to teach our new generations on techniques and traditions that are rooted in thousands of years of success. Cooking is a direct way for me to express my roots and it just so happens to be fun, connecting and delicious!
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We’re focusing this season on transition and change. Was there a moment in your life that you made a significant pivot?
Some may know this and some may not, but prior to being a full time chef and content creator, I managed a career in tech for almost 13 years. My last stop was Twitter (when it was still Twitter) where I led the Global API Partnerships team. My previous professional life was in data science and product, so you can say it was vastly different from what I do today. I had always managed ‘Chef Priyanka’ as my side hustle, but it wasn’t until November 2022 when I was laid off by Elon Musk, that I decided to go full time entrepreneur, chef and creator. The transition was immensely difficult and to this day there are certain challenges. It’s not easy to go from having a thriving career in tech and being a high achiever to then having all of that responsibility taken away and focusing solely on your own business. It has taken me time to adjust, but the most important lesson I have learned is that you cannot put a value on time and I am fortunate and grateful enough to be using my time exactly how I want to now. Working towards my goals, my dreams and my mission of doing better for our environment and animals. Nothing worth having is easy to get.
