Gaggan Anand’s Ms. Maria & Mr Singh Singapore offshoot rekindles the romance of Indian-Mexican flavours with revamped menus and a refreshed decor.
What happens when a beautiful Mexican señorita hitches up with a stately Indian gentleman? How would they live? What do they eat?
That’s what Chef Anand Gaggan, the avant-garde chef behind Bangkok’s award-winning progressive Indian restaurant Gaggan, was trying to explore when he opened casual eatery Ms. Maria and Mr. Singh in Bangkok back in 2020. In 2022, Chef Gaggan brought that here with Ms. Maria and Mr. Singh Singapore, in partnership with The Proper Concepts Collective (the folks behind concepts such as steakhouse The Feather Blade, casual Japanese bar eatery RAPPU, and wine-cocktail gastrobar Mish Mash).
Tucked along Craig Road in Singapore’s bustling F&B enclave of Tanjong Pagar, Ms. Maria and Mr. Singh Singapore imagines what dining in the home of that fictitious couple would be like. The space is splashed boldly with vibrant yellow and vivid blue – as inspired with the cultures of Oaxaca and Jaipur, they tell us – with decor to match. It’s bold, loud and cheery, the way both Mexicans and Indians are when it comes to hospitality and hosting people.
Much like Chef Gaggan himself.
There’s definitely a welcoming conviviality in the air, and rocking vibes to match.
As for the food itself? It’s a curious but fun mishmash of Indian and Mexican culinary cultures. You’re looking at comforting homestyle Mexican and Indian cookery that blends rather seamlessly together in the lunch and dinner tasting menus offered at Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh Singapore. Both cuisines, after all, love their strong and robust flavours, so it’s little wonder they work pretty well together over the same meal.
There’s the Papdi Chat, their take on the traditional Indian street snack with flavours inspired by a signature Gaggan dish. This may then be followed by a skip to a totally different continent with the Guacamole Ikura, a herb-laden guac dip you scoop up with blue corn tortilla chips. Or the Scallop Tostada, an elevated take of the traditional tostada that comes with topped with raw scallop, avocado, romesco, and spiced up with Mexican chillies.
You also have the clever Ceviche Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh, which tosses up cured hamachi, prawns and octopus in classic leche di tigre along with crunchy cucumber and prawn fritters for a flavour and texture galore.
The main courses of Chicken Tikka Masala and Gaggan’s Crab Curry are about as Indian as it gets. The latter, a creamily unctuous South Indian style curry studded with briny shredded crab, is an absolute winner when eaten with the accompanying coconut rice.
Like any marriage, there needs to be fusion. Here it comes as Pork Vindaloo Tacos, which feature slow-cooked vindaloo style pork collar served as tacos. They are fabulous. Fusion Indian-Mexican needs to be a proper thing.
We like the irreverent wine and cocktail programme at Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh Singapore. The wine list eschews the usual brand and grape suspects, instead opting for iconoclastic styles from less familiar regions; think a Greek Assyrtiko and Malagousia white blend, an Austrian Blaufrankisch, or a pet-nat Sauvignon Blanc. Cocktails range from a fun fruity selection of Margaritas (there’s even a free-flow option for you YOLO types), to signature tipples that lean on Mexican and Indian flavours.
Can we live in your casa forever, Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh Singapore?
Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh (Singapore)
Address 43 Craig Rd, Singapore 089681 (Google Maps link)
Opening Hours 6pm to 10pm Tuesdays to Thursdays; 12pm to 3pm and 6pm to 10.30pm on Fridays to Sundays; closed on Mondays
Web www.mariaandsingh.sg
Facebook mariaandsingh.sg
Instagram @mariaandsingh.sg
