Thailand | Love Should Never Be Mild- Dinner at Ms. Maria & Mr Singh
My culinary journey at Gaggan Anand left me in a state of euphoria for hours after my meal ended. It was the dopamine hit that kept on giving the entire time I was in Thailand. So much so that I was plotting my return visit, but this time, I wanted to check out his upstairs restaurant, Ms. Maria & Mr Singh.
You might ask, “ Who are Ms. Maria & Mr Singh?”
Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh is a fabulous dining experience from chef-restauranter Gaggan Anand. They have brilliantly coined the term” fantasy cuisine” as their approach harmonizes Mexican and Indian cooking, highlighting the flavors and traditions the two cuisines offer. Upon arrival, guests are greeted with a book depicting a slightly fictional love affair between a Mexican girl, Ms. Maria, and an Indian boy, Mr. Singh. The narrative illustrates the inspiration for the restaurant and sets the stage for the culinary experience to come.
Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh | Housemade Chips
After a two-hour drive from Pattaya, I dropped my bags at the hotel, changed clothes, and immediately called the restaurant. Knowing that this is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, determination set in, and I was hell-bent on making my last meal in Bangkok a great one.
That evening, the odds were in my favor, and we snagged one of the few remaining tables.
After navigating Bangkok traffic for what felt like an eternity, we arrived at our destination with a few minutes to spare before our reservation. While Chef Gaggan Anand's namesake 14-seater restaurant resides on the lower level, guests are invited upstairs to explore the "fantasy cuisine" of Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh.
Eclectic. The first word that came to mind as I entered the restaurant. There was so much to take in. The vibrant blue adorning the walls, the colorful skeletons, and figurines scattered about the space, but perhaps my favorite was the neon sign illuminating the interior - "love should never be mild." Perhaps it was foreshadowing for the dishes to come but truer words have never been spoken.
Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh | Papdi Chaat | Yogurt Sphere + Crispy Papdi + Tamarind + Pomegranate
Knowing this would be the last meal before my journey home and my future food options for the next 24 hours would soon be limited to pasta or chicken on the airplane, I brought my A-game appetite. At Ms. Maria & Mr Singh, guests can choose from the “Crazy In Love” tasting menu or order à la carte. If you want a little culinary adventure filled with fun and flavor, look no further than the tasting menu. There were a few dishes that I wanted to try that weren’t available, so we went the à la carte route.
Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh | Golgappa | Chole Mousse + Pomegranate Panipurri
As I perused the menu, I smirked as I made my way through it. Anand was thoughtful and meticulous as he curated this menu, with each section named after a love song or romantic comedy.
But fair warning, friends…Buckle up! This menu is not for the faint of heart. There are so many incredible offerings that it proved quite difficult to reel myself in when it came to ordering. I wanted one of everything! Luckily, our server was more than willing to guide us through the process.
To start, we ordered the Papdi Chaat, Golgappa, and Guacamole Of My Chips from the Love at First Bite portion of the menu. While there’s no shortage of restaurants in Nashville, we lack diverse and ethnic restaurants. To say that I cherished every bite of these dishes is an understatement.
Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh | Guacamole Of My Chips | Freshly Made Guacamole + Homemade Rice Papadum
As I was enjoying a margarita and reflecting on the trip, the staff brought out our selections from the “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” portion of the menu: Keema Quesadilla and Sampanadas. Don’t get me wrong—I love anything with melted cheese, but I was most excited to try the Sampanadas, a creative combination of a samosa and empanada. I don’t want to give all the details away, but it did not disappoint.
Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh | Keema Quesadilla | Minced Lamb Curry + Flour Tortilla + Cheese
Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh | Sampanada | Potato + Cauliflower + Peanut + Raisin + Mango Salsa
As the evening progressed, we made our way to the “ I Need You Now… More Than Words Can Say” portion of the menu, where we sampled Tacos Ensenada, Tacos Adobado Short Ribs, and, of course, the infamous Tacos Pork Vindaloo. Of the three, the standout was the Tacos Pork Vindaloo. Between the melted mozzarella on the tortilla and the incredibly flavored pork, I could have devoured both without blinking an eye.
Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh | Tacos Ensenada | Flour Tortilla + Prawn Tempura + Chipotle Mayo + Pickled Cabbage + Pineapple Salsa
Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh | Tacos Adobado Short Ribs | Grilled Corn Tortilla + Slow-Cooked RIbs + Norteño Adobo + Salsa Martajada + Pickled Onions
Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh | Tacos Pork Vindaloo | Flour Tortilla + Mozzarella Cheese + Pulled Pork Vindaloo + CHargrilled Pineapple + Chillies
If the truth be told, I was a little aggressive when it came to ordering. Countless items caught my eye, and I wanted to try all of them, even if it was just one bite. We couldn’t leave Bangkok without trying Gaggan’s Crab Curry. In the words of Barney Stinson, it’s legen—-wait for it——dary.
I’m not exaggerating when I tell you I almost slid out of my seat after the first bite. Y’all, this was next level. The amount of crab swimming in this delicious coconut curry sauce was unreal. My only regret was the fact that I couldn’t take the leftovers with me. RIP Crab Curry. I don’t care what you order- this dish is a must.
Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh | Gaggan’s Crab Curry | Jumbo Lump Thai Swimmer Crab + Coconut Curry
At this point in the evening, I was ready to throw in the napkin. Your girl could not eat another bite. Our server came by to tempt us with dessert, but I had my mind made up—CHECK, PLEASE.
Until I wasn’t.
Let’s say it took very little convincing from our server to order the Mango Yuzu Snowball. While this is one of Gaggan’s more popular desserts, I had no idea what I was getting into until it arrived at our table. Little did I know that this particular dish was Gaggan’s final pressure test in the first season of MasterChef Asia in 2015. Delicately assembled in a balloon, the dessert is comprised of mango puree, melted white chocolate, cream, and yuzu and flash-frozen with liquid nitrogen. When it’s presented to the table, be prepared for a little show.
Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh | Mango Yuzu Snowball | Gaggan’s Remake For The Love Birds
Undoubtedly, if Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh weren’t on the other side of the world, I’d be a repeat customer—a true standout. If you find yourself in Bangkok, even for a short time, I encourage you to seek out one of Gaggan’s restaurants. They are quite remarkable.
Tariff: The tasting menu for two people is THB 6,000. Dishes vary in price, starting at THB 320 and ranging upwards of THB 1890.
Can’t Miss: Anytime I get to this part of a blog post, I always think- “why the hell do I do this to myself?” Such a tough decision! In this case, Tacos Pork Vindaloo, Gaggan’s Crab Curry (with a side of Basmati Rice), and the Mango Yuzu Snowball. Honestly, there are no wrong choices.
Potential Pass: Again, there are no wrong choices, but next time I’ll skip the Tacos Ensenada so I have more room to devour the crab curry!
Until Next Time!