A Bazaar Brunch

For those of you expecting a recap of our anniversary weekend in Vancouver, prepare to wait. For those of you ready to see the whimsical, creative food of The Bazaar by José Andrés in the daytime, rejoice!

Like the magical dinner we had earlier this year, brunch is innovative and entertaining. Sitting on the patio makes it even more so. We felt like we were in the outdoor library of a crazy person with a penchant for orange and predilection for organized clutter. I felt right at home, of course.



Bloody Mary with freshly-made tomato juice and celery-wasabi foam ($16).

Our friend let me have a sip. Very interesting and appreciated, but not really my speed. Mr. Monkey liked it, though, but he is a fiend for tomato juice and wasabi.

Housemade lemonade with freshly-squeezed lemon juice and rosemary syrup ($6).

Tart and lovely. The touch of rosemary gave it a little extra something.

"Evolving" iced tea with pineapple flavored ice cubes ($6).

I enjoyed this freshly brewed premium tea, but I was hoping for a bit of sweetness. All I got was the essence of the fruit, no sugar.

The brunch tasting menu ($40), which is ever-changing, is a convenient and cost-effective way to sample a strong array of morning-appropriate tapas. We especially enjoyed experiencing this with friends. Few things are better than communal feasting.

All of the following tapas were included in our tasting menu in May (when I was still using my kit lens, mind you). Prices in parentheses are regular non-tasting menu prices.

Bagel and lox cone ($5 per person).

So dainty! So delicate! So fun! The globules go pop, pop, pop in your mouth! The little cone is light and crisp!

Watermelon tomato skewers with Pedro Ximenez reduction and lemon dressing ($8).

I was skeptical about the combination but quickly converted. Very refreshing.

Boneless chicken wings with green olive purée ($9).

Why can't all wings be boneless? Seriously, just like this. I'm not talking about wing-shaped reconstituted chicken nugget faux boneless shit. I'm not even a big fan of wings (yeah, I know, total weirdo), and I loved these crispy crunchy bites. They left grease stains on the paper. You know that's good.

Organized Caesar with quail egg and parmesan ($8).

Cutest salad ever! And tasty to boot! None of the ingredients will surprise you, perhaps save the quail egg, but the composition is exquisite. There is something to be said about beautiful presentation.

12 tiny eggs sunny side up -- huevos a la Cubana "Andy Garcia" ($12).

I have no idea what Andy Garcia has to do with this, but mad props to him, the 12 tiny eggs, the bacon shreds, the toasty bed of rice underneath, and dollops of tomato and what I think was banana purée. Whatever it was, the mixture of the different flavors actually worked very well. Such a merry morning morsel!

Beef hanger steak with piquillo pepper confit ($10).

As modern as the culinary wizardry is at The Bazaar, the kitchen still turns out solid Spanish classics, and this was evidence of it. Ah, if only all evidence were this rich and succulent!

Catalan spinach with apples, pine nuts, and raisins ($8).

When I lived in D.C., one of my favorite things to eat was espinacas a Catalana at Jaleo just down the street from my law school. With each delicious bite, I was transported back to my first encounter with the artistry of José Andrés. This spinach still makes me swoon. Yes, I swoon over spinach. It's good spinach, damn it.

SLS tres chocolate mousse ($12).

How often do you get to pipette chocolate on top of chocolate on top of chocolate? And then eat it all? This lovely combo of various textures is sure to please any chocolate lover. It even pleased me, and I'm no chocolate lover. In fact, I'm a tad allergic. Shh.

Greek yogurt panna cotta with apricots and muscat gelatin ($12).

Just as yummy as the last time I had it.

If it's not obvious already, I absolutely adore The Bazaar by José Andrés. (And, for what it's worth, I'm totally rooting for Michael Voltaggio on Top Chef, who was the executive chef here when we dined.) If you haven't visited yet, brunch is easier on the wallet and still gives you a decent glimpse of all the fun to be had. Go!

Now I just need to try high tea here. It's only $26. Who's in?