Gaggan (restaurant)

Gaggan was a restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand run by Indian chef Gaggan Anand from 2010 to 2019. It ranked number one among Asia's 50 Best Restaurants[1] and seventh overall in The World's 50 Best Restaurants from 2015 to 2018.[2] The restaurant also earned two Michelin stars in the first edition of the Thailand Michelin Guide.[3]

A tasting menu, "Best of Gaggan", in 2015
Tasting menus "taste of Gaggan" and "India reinvented" in 2015

Gaggan
Restaurant information
Established2010
ChefGaggan Anand
Food typeIndian / molecular gastronomy
Rating2 Michelin stars (Michelin Guide),

best restaurant in Thailand from 2015 to 2018,

4th best in the world in 2019
Street address68/1 Soi Langsuan, Ploenchit Road
CityBangkok
Postal/ZIP Code10330
CountryThailand
Coordinates13°44′04.7″N 100°32′24.6″E
Websiteeatatgaggan.com

History

Gaggan Anand lived in Bangkok from 1996, and wanted to bring Indian food to Thailand, with the same standard of fine dining offered by cuisines from other countries like France and Japan. In 2010, Anand opened Gaggan in a 19th-century townhouse renovated to accommodate the restaurant. While the property underwent renovation, the 2010 Thai political protests were also taking place, which prevented Anand from visiting the restaurant for a significant time.[4]

Description

Gaggan's interior decorations featured a white and beige color scheme with neon purple lights and scattered cushions in various colors. The restaurant's dining area spread across two floors, with some guests dining in small, enclosed rooms.[5]

Fare

Before opening Gaggan, Anand worked at El Bulli in Spain, a Michelin 3-star restaurant associated with molecular gastronomy. This experience influenced Gaggan's menu, which included dishes such as a coriander foam served with green peppercorn chicken kebabs entitled "Green with Envy," and another entitled "Beauty and the Beast" featuring fig-stuffed potatoes.[6] His signature dish, "Lick it Up", was a mix of different curries placed on a plate that the diner had to lick.[7]

Gaggan also presented a 25-course tasting menu made up of emojis instead of words, which Anand described as "a way to transcend language barriers."[8]

Closure

Anand initially planned to close Gaggan in June 2020 to start a new venture in Fukuoka, Japan, with his partner Takeshi Fukuyama.[9][8] However, due to complications with shareholders, the restaurant closed on August 24, 2019.[10] And also declared his plan to open a new restaurant in Bangkok by October 2019, with his daughter as the largest shareholder.[11]

Reception

From 2015 to 2018, Restaurant magazine named Gaggan Thailand's best restaurant as well as one of Asia's best restaurants.[6][12] This was an improvement when compared to 2014 when the restaurant was rated third overall in Asia.[4][13] Gaggan placed tenth in The World's 50 Best Restaurants in 2015 and reached number five in 2018. In 2019, the restaurant was voted the fourth best in the world.[14] Gaggan was the only Indian restaurant ever to rank in the top 50 worldwide.[15][16][17]

References
  1. PRICE, LAURA (27 March 2018). "Gaggan secured "Asia's 50 Best Restaurants" for the fourth consecutive year: "Ferran motivated me and I'm here to motivate the next generation" – Gaggan Anand, Gaggan". theworlds50best.com. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  2. Eversham, Emma (1 June 2015). "World's 50 Best Restaurants 2015: El Celler de Can Roca takes back top spot". Big Hospitality. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  3. "The Results: The Inaugural 2018 MICHELIN guide Bangkok Launches With 17 Michelin-Starred Restaurants". MICHELIN Guide. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  4. Napolitano, Dean (10 March 2015). "Indian Restaurant Is Asia's No. 1". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  5. "Gaggan Bangkok on Langsuan". Bangkok.com. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  6. "Gaggan". The World's 50 Best Restaurants. Archived from the original on 18 September 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  7. "50 Best Masterclass: try making Gaggan Anand's signature dish Lick it Up at home". The World's 50 Best Restaurants. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  8. "Why the Best Restaurant in Asia Is Shutting Down". Bloomberg.com. 24 May 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  9. "Gaggan Anand to close Asia's No.1 restaurant in 2020".
  10. "Gaggan Anand on Instagram: "Sorry 😐 🙏 an apology 🙈🙉🙊 from me and my 64 rebels. But it's high time for me to give u my side of situation... Please read all the 3 pages…"". Instagram. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  11. "'Rock star' Gaggan hungry for new Bangkok venture after restaurant closure | Coconuts Bangkok". Coconuts. 23 August 2019. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  12. "These Are the 50 Best Restaurants in Asia". Bloomberg.com. 27 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  13. "Gaggan". Archived from the original on 26 December 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  14. "Gaggan". The World's 50 Best Restaurants. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  15. "What makes chef Gaggan Anand's Indian restaurant in the heart of Bangkok so special". Financial Review. 27 September 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  16. "Gaggan, Nahm soar at World's 50 Best Restaurants awards". Bangkok Post. 2 June 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  17. Jung, Susan (6 April 2017). "New York's Eleven Madison Park named 'world's best restaurant' at gala event in Melbourne". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
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