A Sneak Peek At Gaggan Anand's Pop-Up In Singapore

The opening of Chef Gaggan Anand’s highly anticipated Singapore pop-up at Mandala Club (formerly Straits Clan) is just a week away. Here’s what we know about it so far...

On November 3rd, Bangkok-based chef Gaggan Anand and his team will be bringing the Gaggan Anand Restaurant experience to diners at Mandala Club in Singapore.

Gaggan rose to fame with his now-closed restaurant, Gaggan, in Bangkok, which was ranked number one among Asia's 50 Best Restaurants for four consecutive years from 2015 to 2018. In November 2019, after parting ways with his investors, Gaggan went out on his own to open Gaggan Anand Restaurant.

Not much has been revealed about the Mandala x Gaggan Singapore pop-up, so we caught up with the revered chef to get a sneak peek of what diners can expect.

Teamwork Makes The Dream Work

Gaggan has brought 19 members of his team from his restaurant in Bangkok to ensure that Singapore diners get the full Gaggan Anand Restaurant experience.

This includes his sous chef, pastry chef, sommelier and full front of house.

A Pop Art Pop-Up

The dining room of Gaggan’s pop-up will draw inspiration from the pop art movement. Reflective of the Gaggan's love of the arts and the boldness of his dishes, the space will feature monochromatic design elements with tasteful splashes of bold red and neon lights inspired by Berlin and Amsterdam nightlife.

We're not sure if the food will follow the theme, but if history is anything to go by, Gaggan does have an affinity for thematic menus —in the past, he’s created menus based on emojis and Star Wars to name a few.

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Progressive Indian Cuisine

What we do know about the menu is that it will stay true to Gaggan's M.O—taking inspiration from regional Indian dishes and creating refined yet playful interpretations to challenge diners' perceptions of Indian cuisine.

“The way Gaggan cooks is very much an extension of his personality: larger than life. He’s an absolute dynamo in the kitchen and on the floor of the restaurant,” says Ben Jones, CEO and Founder of Mandala Group, who has described the experience as more of a “production” than a pop-up. “I think after everything we’ve gone through in the last 18 months, people are hungry for a bit of fun.”

A Culinary Comeback

With Bangkok going in and out of lockdown since the beginning of the pandemic, the Gaggan pop-up in Singapore is an exciting return to the kitchen for the celebrated chef.

When reservations opened in September, first to club members and then to the public, all tables sold out in just two and a half hours.

“I was shocked,” Anand tells us, “That really gave me my confidence back after losing it during the pandemic. I’m an artist, and I haven’t been able to do what I want to do, what I need to do. I want to cook again.”

Originally, Gaggan's pop-up in Singapore was slated for two months, starting from November 3rd. But rumour has it that due to popular demand, Mandala Club and Gaggan are planning to extend the chef's residency at the private club. So if you're still hoping to book a table at Gaggan Anand's pop-up at Mandala Club, stay tuned...

Topics

Gaggan Anand Gaggan Mandala Club Dining Singapore Pop-Up Restaurant

Tatler Asia

Sneak Peek: What To Expect At The Gaggan Anand Pop-Up In Singapore

Teamwork Makes The Dream Work

A Pop Art Pop-Up

Progressive Indian Cuisine

A Culinary Comeback