London:
Glasgow-based Indian curry king Raj Bajwe cooked delicacies for hundreds of celebrities including Michael Jackson and Amitabh Bachchan, and has now completed a book that sets out his experiences with the bold and the beautiful from across the world.
Bajwe, 46, particularly remembers Jackson, who relished his 'saag paneer' and 'aloo gobhi', during the latter's visit to Glasgow in the mid-1970s with the Jackson 5. "Michael Jackson was a soft spoken man. We became good friends. We met seven times and twice I cooked 'saag paneer' and 'aloo gobhi' for him. He later invited me to his private parties in the Neverland ranch," Amritsar-origin Bajwe told PTI.
Bajwe's book, to be published later this year, is titled 'Tikka Picture: Eat It' and includes pictures with over 200 celebrities including Jackson, Sean Connery, George Clooney, Mel Gibson and Indian film actors such as Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit, Kajol and Sunil Shetty.
"Jackson was 90 per cent vegetarian, and sometimes had chicken. He always liked extra hot spicy food. When he tasted my 'alu gobi' he remarked it was cooked to perfection, that he could taste the flavour of cauliflower," Bajwe said.
Bajwe, who was the master chef for 11 years, now owns one of the most well known Indian restaurants in Glasgow, called Cafe India. His book, he said, will reveal culinary secrets of celebrities that feature in the Wall of Fame in his restaurant.
In 2004, Jackson paid 2000 pounds to fly Bajwe and two staff to London to cook his favourite 'saag paneer' and 'aloo gobhi'. Bajwe was due to fly to the USA to cook for him shortly before his death last year.
Bajwe, who is travelling to India next month to marry, said, "He hated being called Jacko. Anyone who used the term was asked to leave the room."
Raj's all-time favourite guest is Tom Jones, who scoffed four starters, three curries and a sweet in a two-and-a-half hour feast.
But his biggest disappointment came when the Spice Girls failed to show for a booking.
"Their manager, Simon Fuller, had promised to bring them, but he was sacked a few days previously," said Bajwe.