Head Chef Wasif Qadri of Shalimar Restaurant cut his teeth in the culinary world during the 1980s, cooking French and Pacific Northwestern cuisine tableside at Maxi's Bar and Grill in Portland. After preparing meals for celebrities such as Madonna, the Beach Boys, former president George H. W. Bush, and the ghost of William Howard Taft, Qadri opened Shalimar Restaurant in Seattle, adding an inventive twist to classic Indian-Pakistani cuisine. At Shalimar, the bill of fare spans the Indian subcontinent, from the clove-kissed korma curries of Lahore to the cayenne-infused spice blends and veggie-stew sambals of Madras. Chef Qadri and his kitchen staff fashion tandoori tikka naan sandwiches, pasta dishes smothered in liberal doses of curry sauce, and vegetarian specialties.