A Bazaar Evening With the Girls

Our recent excursion to SAAM at The Bazaar by José Andrés inspired me to dig up a couple of previous experiences I'd had in the main dining rooms of the restaurant. I'm going post about these dinners before I recap our special 22-course meal in the semi-secret back room.

Here's the second of three "regular" dinners at The Bazaar by José Andrés.

Prior to this night, I'd visited once for dinner and once for brunch, but I still couldn't resist snapping a bunch of decor pics.

I had my first dinner with Mr. Monkey and Brother Monkey in the Blanco Room, so I was excited that Amber, Jen, Nanette, and I dined in the Rojo Room this night.

I loved my Magic Mojito ($16).

It was strained over cotton candy! Squeeeee! Truth be told, it tasted like a regular mojito, but you gotta love that disappearing act.

We got the Chef's Tasting Menu ($65).

American caviar cone.

Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Baskin-Robbins anymore. Loads of crème fraîche lay in waiting underneath the decadent little fish eggs. Eat the whole cone in one bite for crunchy, salty, creamy awesomeness.

Not Your Everyday Caprese -- cherry tomatoes, liquid mozzarella.

See those seeming balls of cheese? Well, they were spherifications of cheese -- globes that burst in your mouth!

Papas canarias -- salty wrinkled potatoes, mojo verde.

Less exciting than bursting balls of molecular gastronomic cheese, but these tasty taters were oddly addictive in their sodium-laden simplicity.

Seared figs with Jamon Iberico Fermin, Pedro Jimenez reduction.

It's like fruit and pig made sweet sweet love. Rawr! If it wasn't clear, I liked this a lot.

Pisto -- vegetable stew, tomato, egg 63.

Not as big a fan of this. Almost too good for you to be yummy. Yet...still good. That's the thing about this place -- even the less impressive dishes are still objectively good.

Jicama wraps, pickled cucumbers, ginger, peanuts, coconut dressing.

Crisp, creamy, and refreshing. Nice in-between-dishes coolness.

Brussels sprouts, lemon puree, apricots, grapes, lemon air.

It's not often that vegetables make me say, "Wow." So light yet so flavorful.

King crab, raspberries, raspberry vinegar.

Best thing I've ever had served in a can, no joke. Who knew that crustaceans and berries were a match made on eHarmony?

Sauteed shrimp, garlic, guindilla pepper.

A classic Spanish tapa done right.

Lamb loin, foraged mushrooms, potato.

Just as dreamy as I'd remembered from my first meal here. Oh, those potatoes. Pardon me while I wipe a tear from my cheek. I love you, foamy potatoes.

Sauteed wild mushrooms, hazelnut praline.

The girls went nuts over this dish, and even this fungus loather had to admit this was nicely done. High praise coming from someone who demanded a mushroom-free wedding.

Corn on the cob, baby corn, corn nuts, popcorn shoots.

Corn porn! Corn porn! Not outstanding, but...it's corn! Corn rules!

Beef hanger steak, piquillo pepper confit.

Bloody good. Don't worry. That's not a puddle of blood. That's the red pepper sauce.

After our savory dishes, our server led us to the Patisserie for dessert.

Trippy.

Creamy chocolate heart, coffee, and cardamom.

Get this if you like chocolate. Don't get this if you're allergic to chocolate.

Traditional Spanish flan, vanilla, and fruit.

Get this if you like traditional Spanish desserts.

SLS Tres Chocolate Mousse.

Get this if you like pipettes and monkeys.

Greek yogurt panna cotta, apricots, and muscat gelatin.

Get this if you're me.

Now here's something extra for you -- the super-mirrored, super-white restroom.

I was glad nobody else was in there, so I could take these photos. Phew.

And...more crazy stuff.

Man, I love this place.