During the peak of his Thriller popularity, between 1982 and 1985, Michael Jackson employed a personal chef who was a sikh. Punjabi Sikh Mani Niall Singh Khalsa was not only in charge of keeping the King of Pop fed through one of the most demanding phases of his professional life, he also exposed him to healthful, vegetarian cuisine that was suitable for Jackson’s dietary requirements and spiritual preferences.
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Niall, now the owner of Sweet Bar Bakery in Oakland, was introduced to Jackson shortly before the Thriller album came out. The timing was dreamlike, he had a front-row seat to the emergence of an international superstar from his kitchen. In an interview with People Magazine, Niall described how amazing it was to see Jackson’s popularity burst. “It was like watching someone caught up in a tidal wave of culture,” he said. Though the world perceived Michael Jackson as larger than life, Niall’s recollections depict a more personal image, one of meal times and a daily routine. Jackson would reportedly go through extended rehearsals and shows without food, then suddenly be ravenous at the end. Meal preparation was thus problematic.
Even more difficult? Jackson was a vegetarian but didn’t much like vegetables. “He had a limited palate,” Niall said. Although the singer enjoyed pizza, he didn’t enjoy pasta. He also didn’t eat sugar and chocolate despite having a high sweet tooth, posing a particularly tricky problem for his chef.
But Niall got inventive about cooking meals Jackson enjoyed. Spicy smoked red chile enchiladas were one of his staple dishes, a tribute to Jackson’s love of strong flavour. Tofu shish kebabs with couscous and Moroccan sauce were another favourite, tasty but healthy meals that fit his style of life.
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To this day, Niall looks back on those times with a smile. Indeed, he feels honoured by his time with Jackson by designing a special menu at Sweet Bar Bakery. Items include a shiitake mushroom and Japanese eggplant-topped pizza, a creative means of getting the kids to eat their greens, and maple-glazed pecan cookies, a salute to Jackson’s bodyguard who used to jokingly refer to them as “ookies.
As Jackson was a Jehovah’s Witness at the time and did not celebrate birthdays, Niall never had the opportunity to celebrate while working for him. Now, years later, he feels this tribute menu is one way to pay homage to that era in an earnest, personal manner.
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