Gaggan (restaurant)
Gaggan was a restaurant run by chef Gaggan Anand in Bangkok, Thailand. On August 25, 2019 Gaggan closed and the last guest serving date was August 24, 2019. In 2018, it comes top of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants[1] for the fourth consecutive year in the list of The World's 50 Best Restaurants edited by Restaurant, ranking 7th overall worldwide.[2] Gaggan earned 2 Michelin star in the first edition of the Thailand Michelin guide in 2018.
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Gaggan | |
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Restaurant information | |
Established | 2010 |
Chef | Gaggan Anand |
Food type | Indian / molecular gastronomy |
Rating | ![]() best restaurant in Asia from 2015 to 2018, 7th best in the world in 2017 |
Street address | 68/1 Soi Langsuan, Ploenchit Road |
City | Bangkok |
Postal/ZIP Code | 10330 |
Country | Thailand |
Coordinates | 13°44′04.7″N 100°32′24.6″E |
Website | eatatgaggan |
Description
The restaurant was opened in Bangkok, Thailand, by Indian chef Gaggan Anand in 2010, who had lived in Bangkok since 2007. He sought to refine Indian food to the same fine dining level as seen by other styles of cuisine such as French or Japanese within Thailand. The restaurant is located in a former 19th century townhouse. While the property was being renovated prior to opening, the 2010 Thai political protests took place meaning that Anand couldn't visit the restaurant for a period of time.[3] The interior decor has a running color scheme of white and beige throughout, but there are additions of neon purple lights and scatter cushions in a variety of colors. The restaurant's dining area spreads across two floors which remain in a series of small enclosed rooms.[4]
Fare
Prior to opening Gaggan, Anand worked at the three Michelin star molecular gastronomy restaurant elBulli in Spain. The chef has incorporated similar techniques into the menu at Gaggan. These have included a coriander foam served with green peppercorn chicken kebabs in a dish entitled "Green with envy", and one entitled "Beauty and the Beast" which features potatoes stuffed with figs.[5] His signature dish turned out to be "Lick it Up" which is a mix of different curries placed on a plate that the diner has to lick.[6]
Gaggan serves a 25-course tasting menu with no words, only emoji, which Anand described as "a way to transcend language barriers".[7]
Reception
In 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018, the restaurant was named both the best restaurant in Thailand, and Asia's best restaurant in the list of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants collated by Restaurant magazine.[5][8] This was an increase from the third spot overall in Asia from in 2014.[3][9] The restaurant placed tenth in The World's 50 Best Restaurants in 2015, reaching number five in 2018 and remained the only Indian restaurant to ever place in the top 50.[10][11][12] In 2019, the restaurant was voted the fourth best in the world.[13]
Closure
Anand had initially planned to close Gaggan sometime in June 2020 to start a new venture in Fukuoka, Japan with partner Takeshi Fukuyama, which will draw on Buddhist principles.[14][7]
The restaurant was officially closed on 24 August 2019 before its scheduled date. Anand, in his Instagram post, stated the reason to be differences between the shareholders.[15] He also detailed the plans to open a new restaurant with more intimate space to open in Bangkok by October 2019. In the coming restaurant, he wrote, his daughter will be the highest shareholder.[16]
References
- PRICE, LAURA (27 March 2018). "Gaggan comes top of 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.
- 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.
- Napolitano, Dean (10 March 2015). "Indian Restaurant Is Asia's No. 1". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
- "Gaggan Bangkok on Langsuan". Bangkok.com. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
- "Gaggan". The World's 50 Best Restaurants. Archived from the original on 18 September 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
- "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.
- "Why the Best Restaurant in Asia Is Shutting Down". Bloomberg.com. 24 May 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- "These Are the 50 Best Restaurants in Asia". Bloomberg.com. 27 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 26 December 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "What makes chef Gaggan Anand's Indian restaurant in the heart of Bangkok so special". Financial Review. 27 September 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
- "Gaggan, Nahm soar at World's 50 Best Restaurants awards". Bangkok Post. 2 June 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
- 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.
- "Gaggan". The World's 50 Best Restaurants. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
- http://www.theworlds50best.com/blog/News/chef-gaggan-anand-to-close-asias-no1-restaurant-in-2020.html
- "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.
- "'Rock star' Gaggan hungry for new Bangkok venture after restaurant closure | Coconuts Bangkok". Coconuts. 23 August 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019.