Even More Bazaar

For my third dinner at The Bazaar by José Andrés, I sat in the Blanco Room with Mr. Monkey and our friends, The Oros, during dineLA in October. By chance, we sat right next to the insomniacs. This was the second time we were at the same restaurant at the same time while not actually dining together!

Totally different vibe from the Rojo Room, no?

I started with a nitro caipirinha cocktail with cachaca and lime ($20), which involved quite the tableside production by our server. Double, double, toil and trouble! Fire burn and cauldron bubble!

I am obsessed with liquid nitrogen! Three cheers for alcoholic slushees!

Our dineLA dinner cost $44 per person, and we were limited to selecting our tapas from a slightly truncated version of the usual menu.

Tortilla de patatas new way, potato foam, egg 63, caramelized onions.

As good as I'd remembered from my first visit way back when all I had was a kit lens. So airy yet luscious. Really something special.

Hilly cheesesteak air bread, cheddar, mushrooms and Philly cheesesteak air bread, cheddar, Wagyu beef.

Mrs. Oro doesn't eat red meat, so she noshed on the mushroom version while the rest of us played carnivore. She said her little sandwich was great.

Buñuelos -- codfish fritters, honey aioli.

Who can resist gorgeous golden crunchy fish? Not me! Like fancy fish 'n' chips sans chips.

Sea scallops, Romesco sauce.

Simple and beautifully seared.

"The ultimate Spanish tapa!" -- ensaladilla rusa potatoes, carrots, mayo, tuna belly.

This may be the one and only dish at The Bazaar that I don't like. There's too much going on, and I just can't handle all the mayo. I don't even like regular potato salad.

Japanese taco, grilled eel, shiso, cucumber, wasabi, chicharron.

Huzzah for an unagi taco! Huzzah for the melding of two things I love!

Sautéed shrimp garlic, guindilla pepper.

An oldie but a goodie.

Embutidos platter, chorizo, lomo, salchichon.


Charcuterie is the new black. Embrace it.

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

Yes, the sprouts again. Had to get them for Mrs. Oro! She is bonkers for Brussels!

Apple and fennel, Manchego cheese, walnuts, Sherry vinegar.

Tangy and refreshing, but probably not something I'd order again.

Croquetas de pollo -- chicken and béchamel fritters.

Deep-fried chicken and cheese is the bee's knees and sure to please the Weez.

Boneless chicken wings, green olive purée.

Bite-sized nuggets of wonderful. More than finger-licking good.

Ottoman carrot fritters, apricots, pistachio sauce.

It's a fried fest, yo. And carrots are spectacular when fried, too.

Butifarra Senator Moynihan -- Catalan pork sausage, white beans, mushrooms.

Not sure what Moynihan has to do with sausage. Not sure I want to know. I am sure, however, that this was plump, juicy, and splendid. Yes, that's what she said.

Beef hanger steak piquillo pepper confit and natural jus.

It's back. Can't come with meat eaters like Mr. Monkey and Mr. Oro and not get this.

Time to go to the Patisserie for dessert.

Monkey!

Traditional Spanish flan, vanilla and fruit.

Predictable but yummy.

Greek yogurt panna cotta, apricots, and muscat gelatin.

Still my favorite.

Creamy chocolate heart, coffee, and cardamom.

Warm and gooey.

The requisite Through-the-Looking-Glass-type shots.

See this finger? It is pointing at you and telling you that you're missing out if you haven't been to The Bazaar by José Andrés.