Inside Raga, Gaggan Anand’s long-awaited return to India, with a plus 1

In 2007, Gaggan Anand relocated to Bangkok to pursue a consultancy career, eventually establishing his renowned restaurant, Gaggan, in 2010. The establishment quickly gained international recognition, topping Asia's 50 Best Restaurants five times and earning two Michelin stars. Despite this success, Gaggan harbored an unfulfilled aspiration: to own a restaurant in India.

He collaborated with Garima Arora on this vision for over a decade, but their attempts never materialized into a concrete plan. They even hosted sell-out residencies priced around Rs 50,000, but none provided the permanence Gaggan sought. Then, Zorawar Kalra entered the picture. Initially, Gaggan's goal was to launch another restaurant named Masala Library in Janpath, New Delhi.

The couple originally toured several restaurants to gather a fresh perspective before committing to any project. Upon visiting Gaggan, Zorawar was captivated by the quality of the experience, which led to a handshake agreement without any formal contract or paperwork. This trust-based partnership marked the beginning of Raga, a restaurant owned by both Gaggan and Rydo Anton, an Indonesian-born chef who joined Gaggan around 14 years ago and currently serves as the executive chef.

Rydo's role transcends mere assistance; he is co-founder and chef at Raga, leading the kitchen alongside Gaggan. The restaurant's design, created by Gaggan's own architect, features a box within a box, with concrete interiors and low, warm lighting. The cuisine emphasizes texture, color, and innovative presentations, with a total of 22 courses, reflecting Gaggan's lucky number tied to his birthday.

Raga opened its doors for dinner on Wednesday, August 26, offering a unique dining experience that showcases Gaggan's culinary expertise and Rydo's creative contributions.