Former tour chef says ‘Michael’ biopic featured surprise nod to her early career

Akasha Richmond, Michael Jackson’s former private chef, is reflecting on a nostalgic full-circle moment after the upcoming biopic Michael included a subtle reference to the Los Angeles vegetarian restaurant where she first met the pop icon.

Richmond, 66, attended the film’s premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, where she was surprised to hear a mention of The Golden Temple — the now-closed restaurant where she worked in the 1980s before joining Jackson’s touring and catering team.

She first met Jackson at the famed Los Angeles vegetarian spot and later went on to become one of his trusted tour chefs, traveling with him during major global runs including the Bad Tour (1987–1989) and the HIStory World Tour (1996–1997).

Between tours, she also catered private events and studio gatherings for the late singer.

Speaking exclusively about the premiere, Richmond recalled a brief but meaningful reference in the film tied to her early career.

“There’s a scene when he’s in the hospital and they bring in this big platter of food,” she said. “And someone says something like, ‘We brought you all your favorites from The Golden Temple.’ So our restaurant got a shout-out. We were excited.”

The moment, she said, stood out as a personal highlight amid a larger cinematic retelling of Jackson’s life.

At the premiere, Richmond also prepared one of Jackson’s favorite desserts — maple-pecan cookies known as “ookies” — which she shared with guests attending the event.

She described the film, directed by Antoine Fuqua, as an emotional and energetic experience for fans, praising its depiction of Jackson’s creative process and legacy.

“The film’s great. People were screaming, the fans were going nuts,” she said. “Even the young actor who played Michael was really great. The music, the story — it all came together.”

Richmond added that she believes Jackson would have appreciated the film, particularly Jaafar Jackson’s portrayal of his uncle, noting that the family appears supportive of his performance.

Beyond the premiere, Richmond reflected on her unconventional path into culinary work, explaining that she is self-taught and developed her skills through travel, cookbooks, and hands-on experience in kitchens and on the road.

“I learned how to cook from other people, from traveling, from taking cooking classes,” she said.

She recalled that both she and Jackson were initially shy when they met, bonding more through food preparation than conversation. Over time, her role expanded from restaurant chef to touring professional, accompanying him across continents.

Jackson eventually brought her onto his touring team, where she says she learned as much about global travel as she did about cooking.

“Michael Jackson taught me how to travel,” she said.

Today, Richmond runs Travel by Akasha, a boutique travel experience company focused on culinary and cultural immersion.

The idea grew out of a personal trip to India that mirrored her earlier travels with Jackson, eventually evolving into curated group journeys.

“We went to India with 12 people, and it was so much fun,” she said. “It felt like being on tour again with Michael.”