After nearly a year since it's opening, I finally made it to The Bazaar. I ventured to The Bazaar during DineLA Week with a group of fellow foodies. We tried about 20 items from the menu.
Highlights:
Sweet Potato Chips and Dip- Lightly seasoned and beautifully fried, thin sweet potato chip. They were accompanied by a delicious, interestedly flavored dip of Greek yogurt with a tamarind sauce and star anise. I love tamarind and this was a real treat.
Shrimp Cocktail-This was a special treat from the kitchen. This was no regular shrimp cocktail. The skewer was a droplet containing the sauce. Food with instructions! Fun!! We were asked to lightly press the the dropper to release the cocktail sauce. It was a surprising burst of flavor. Loved the spin on an oldie, but goodie.
Apple and Fennel salad-I LOVE apple and fennel salad. It just works so well. Refreshing and crisp. The Bazaar apple and fennel sets itself apart by the inclusion of manchego cheese and walnuts. Again, refreshing, light, and simply delicious.
Sauteed Cauliflower "couscous"-I'm not a huge fan of couscous, but I LOVE cauliflower. This spin on couscous is a definite win. Cauliflower puree, harissa, lemon and fried quinoa. Fantastic!
Ottoman carrot fritters-Who doesn't like a good fritter? I am a HUGE fan of chickpea fritters (Tiara Cafe--if you haven't had them, go now!). So, I was excited about the carrot fritter. The texture was really nice. It was nice and crispy on the outside, not too soft on the inside. Nicely flavored with ras al hanout (with I LOVE), and the addition of apricots and a nice pistachio sauce. Carrots didn't know they could be this good.
Foie Gras Cotton Candy-Foie, while ethically wrong, is delicious. I'm sorry. I'm just not a warm, fuzzy animal person. I eat meat. It's good. We sat at a table right next to the machine. So, we were able to watch as it was prepared. Pretty awesome! I mean, how often do you see a cotton candy machine in a restaurant? It's a small piece of foie surrounded by fluffy, cotton candy. It was ok. The foie was cold, so it was a little off-putting. However, it was a highlight, because it was one of the most interesting foods I've ever had.
"Philly Cheesesteak" (pictured above)-Ok, I truly saved the best for last. It was love at first bite. OMIGOODNESS! It was simply the most delicious thing I've had in a long time. Jose Andres' interpretation of the Philly Cheesesteak is air bread, filled with warm cheddar, and topped with thinly sliced pieces of Wagyu beef. ***fainting*** Yes, it was that good. It's an expensive two bites ($8). But, well worth it. I could have eaten them all night.
