With US prez Barack Obama hoping a five-star in Delhi will name a kebab platter after him, the way they did with Hillary Clinton, Anjana Vaswani decided to hunt down dishes at Mumbai's restaurants that foreign celebs have tasted and loved

Bryan Adams loves Aloo Gobi, Shakira enjoys Afghani Chicken, Paul McCartney raves about Paneer Korma
With its sparkling marble floors, stone carvings and soft Indian music, Khyber is the quintessential Indian restaurant. And though their quest for authenticity often translates into food that's spicy enough to warrant the use of a fire-extinguisher, their reputation for excellence certainly seems to have spread to distant lands. Singer Bryan Adams is a regular visitor, the manager says, sharing that on three previous visits, Adams ordered the Aloo Gobi (Rs 321).

Columbian hip-shaker Shakira's fire-breathing pose on the cover of her 2006 Hips Don't Lie single, may have actually been prophetic, it occurs to us, when manager Bhaskar describes her reaction to a fiery mutton dish that she tried here during her 2007 visit. "She loved the Afghani Chicken," shares Bhaskar, explaining that the tandoori item is marinated in a mixture of curd, saffron and assorted spices, and served on the bone (Rs 309).
Even Paul McCartney of The Beatles has a favourite dish here: the Paneer Korma (Rs 321). Weight-watchers, brace yourself.. this recipe involves frying paneer before cooking it in khoya-almond cream.
At: Khyber, Kala Ghoda.
Call: 22673227

Madonna tastes Rs 35-a-plate Puri Bhaji
The very day she arrived from Udaipur, back in 2008, Madge and then-husband Guy Ritchie were escorted by Shantaram author Gregory David Roberts to Hotel Saurabh, a modest, pure vegetarian, south Indian eatery for lunch. The restaurant's proprietor Shetty Seetharam Muddu said the diva sampled various items including Idli (Rs 25), Vada (Rs 25), Sambhar and Masala Dosa (Rs 35). She also sipped on Masala chai. "She loved the Puri Bhaji," Shetty recounts, as we look at photographs plastered on the wall besides the cashier's desk. In one, Shetty stands sombrely beside a very blonde Madonna with dark sunglasses on.

The stars didn't pay for their meal here, we are told. Shetty was too honoured to present them with a bill. But visitors who don't have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame should expect to pay Rs 35 for Madonna's favoured Puri-Bhaji.

Potatoes, deep-fried wheat-flour puris, chopped onions and masala are the meal's main ingredients. Clearly, after her walk around a Colaba slum, Madonna felt the calories were a fair price to pay for the simple, yet satiating meal.
For: Rs 35 a plate
At: Hotel Saurabh, near Colaba bus stand, next to Sizzling China, Wodehouse Road, Colaba.
Call: 22151703

The five-star penne Jessica Simpson loved

During her stay at the Taj Lands End in Bandra last year, actor-singer Jessica Simpson ordered Penne All'Arrabiata on several occasions. She preferred to enjoy the pasta in the privacy of her own room, but you can order the same at the hotel's coffee shop. Cooked in a tomato and cheese sauce, the Italian dish uses garlic, olive oil and parsley.
For: Rs 625 plus taxes
At: Taj Lands End, Bandstand, Bandra (W).
Call: 66681234

Richard Gere discovered Paya at Bori Mohalla
Mohammad Ismail speaks of Hollywood heart-throb Richard Gere's visit so casually, it's almost as if he is describing the time a neighbouring stall-owner dropped by. Of course, he mentions the visits of Bollywood celebrities with equal nonchalance. "He came across the restaurant's name in a magazine," says Ismail, telling us how Gere walked in off the street one day. Having made our way to the eatery, we are truly amazed, because though well-known in the area, Valibhai Payawala is hard to find in these narrow alleys, and all too easy to miss. We are even more surprised to learn that Gere is a regular at this humble restaurant.

Offering us a taste of Paya, one of Gere's favourite dishes, Ismail says the 125 year-old 'Bara-Handi' recipe he uses has been handed down to him from ancestors.u00a0 The Paya that stands before us is creamy and has rings of oil floating on top, but Ismail assures us that milk, not cream, features in the recipe.

One taste of the gravy that's prepared overnight, by allowing the meat to stew in its own juices, and we are happy to risk clogged arteries. Weu00a0 may as well die happy. Gere also enjoys the Irani Soup (Rs 40), Goat Pichoutas (Rs 120) and flanks and the bone marrow (Rs 80 for a quarter portion).
For: Rs 120 a plate
At: Valibhai Payawala, 45 Gujar Street, Bori Mohalla, near Bori Masjid.
call: 23459994

Lady Gaga's Pasand
A spokesperson for outlandish singer Lady Gaga recently revealed that she plans to tour India discreetly this year, to assess her own popularity and to take in Indian culture. The singer reportedly loves Pasanda, a traditional Mughal recipe. Usually the dish is prepared by marinating thinly-sliced lamb in an almond, cardamom, tomato puree and cream gravy, but vegetarian variants are prepared by substituting paneer for the lamb.

Mutton Mughlai, a Monday special at Jaffer Bhai's Delhi Darbar, Grant Road, is a variant of the traditional recipe in which cashews are used in place of almonds
For: Rs 145
Call: 23875656

Gerard Butler ordered Chicken Tikka at Leo's
Leo's at Colaba Causeway needs no introduction. The restaurant is a veritable landmark that draws a steady stream of regulars, and though the walls are still adorned with Persian artefacts, T-shirts emblazoned with Mumbai-centric slogans are a relatively new addition to the ceiling above the bar area. "Chicken Tikka and Chicken Tikka Masala are favourite dishes of western celebrities," shares Farhang, the proud manager of the bustling restaurant that was founded back in 1871. Traditionally roasted in a tandoor, the Chicken Tikka is prepared by marinating chicken nuggets in a blend of yoghurt and spices.

For: Rs 365 a plate
At: Caf ufffd Leopold, Colaba Causeway, opposite Colaba police station; call: 22020131