All of us know that Gaggan Anand is the world's greatest Indian chef. It isn't just the accolades (two Michelin stars, number one on Asia's 50 Best four years in a row, his own Chef's Table episode etc.), it is also that he broke into that exclusive club of great chefs in Japan, Europe and the Americas who had always thought of Indian food as no more than a chilli-filled, ethnic cuisine. Gaggan was the first chef to demonstrate that ours was one of the world's great cuisines and that it deserves to be treated with respect. Even now, he is the one Indian chef whose name means something to all of the world's top chefs.
So, how come we heard so little of him during the pandemic? Good question. And the answer is complicated.
The pandemic could not have come at a worse time for Gaggan. He had just fallen out with his partners at the original Gaggan restaurant and walked out. The staff had followed him to a new restaurant (called Gaggan Anand rather than just Gaggan) and it seemed like he had pulled off a successful transition.
Then, the pandemic struck and Thailand shut down. Gaggan was not worried. He thought it would take another three months for everything to return to normal. He had saved enough money to see him through, so he told his staff to treat the period as an extended holiday.
Of course, it did not work out that way. Thailand stayed shut for nearly two years. The foreign foodies who flocked to the restaurant, lured by the star quality attached to Gaggan’s name, stayed away. And Gaggan’s savings ran out. Though somehow, he managed to hang on to the building where his restaurant was located.)
この記事は Brunch の January 07, 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、8,500 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Brunch の January 07, 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、8,500 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
How To Pin Down A Scam
They pose as cops. They ask for OTPs. They lure you with bonuses. They're so smooth. Here's a cheat sheet to suss out a scam caller before it's too late
Sunny Leone
Entrepreneur, actor. @SunnyLeone
Going above and beyond
Marom specialises in nature photography. He started with macro photography, or capturing tiny subjects in extreme close-up, to make them look bigger.
Get cot in the act
Vivan Sundaram's 12 Bed Ward is sparse, simple, but haunting. Is this an abandoned hospital, a forgotten dorm, a bombed-out base or something more familiar?
In it for the long haul
Travelling gets better as you grow older. But less pressure and more funds bring with them aching bones and low energy. Here's how to cope
A whole different ball game
The kofta varies in name, taste and texture across continents. It's time India acknowledged its own contribution to the multiverse of meatballs
Opening acts
These young, new musicians are facing family pressure, juggling full-time jobs, and battling the rise of AI. They tell us what it's like to debut in 2024
Bring me the manager
Money won't conjure up a handbag that's out of stock. Angry calls will not get you off a waitlist. Don't be an entitled customer
Is there truth to this tale?
It's biopic season. It's also a good time to test what movies have learnt from true-life stories and from life itself
Mercury in the microwave
Heat wave? Wave back. On screen, summer looks gorgeous. These 10 films showcase the bright side of the season