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Welcome Ollie

 

 We literally flew in last night around 9pm.  Today, the new addition to the family came at 11am. 

Josh and Jessica (not Emily so much) have been hocking me for a dog for quite some time.  They finally figured out how to make it work.  Of course, Josh says he will take care of the dog, yeah right.  But, the hook, line and sinker was when they both established that when Josh goes to college, Jessica will be back in the city and she can take the dog, if not permanently, anytime.  Ok, ok, ok...probably not happening but I felt like every boy needs a dog.  I do love the dogs. 

Ollie came today.  He is super cute with a great disposition.  He is a mini golden doodle.  What will they think of next. 

Last Day in CA

Today was the last day in Napa and the last day of our vacation unless you include tomorrow which basically consists of traveling home.  I am frankly surprised that I have not put on 10 pounds over the course of these past 2 weeks.  Luckily we actually did exercise the first week hitting the slopes daily.  Another bonus is I have lost a bit of my tan from the first week.  I can wear 50 sunblock and still get tan like I am sitting in the Mediterranean on the beach.  I always look as if I have gone somewhere by myself and not with the family. 

Today we had a serious treat.  Through the school, I met a guy who is part owner in a vineyard.  His best buddy from camp (childhood buds) owns the place.  The vineyard is called Silver Oak Cellars.  David Duncan runs the place and his father started it.  The family was originally in the gas and oil business, his father had also started a ski resort in Colorado and eventually ended up in the wine business in Napa around 1972.  Must be a helluva guy.  David gave us the full on tour and it was fantastic.

First of all, David's passion for what he does comes across immediately.  It is always wonderful to hear someone talk about something they love with such bravado.  What is incredible about Silver Oak is that there was a fire a few years back and it gave them an opportunity to rebuild the place basically from scratch.  The attention to detail is stupendous.  Check out the wine cellar picture. From the vats to the way the barrels are stored to the music piped in through out the winery to the lab to the area where you can have a huge dinner party to the meeting rooms even to the bathrooms.  Truly over the top.  The wines are quite good too.  They basically make Cabernet's and 70% of their business is directly with restaurants.  An interesting niche and a smart  one too.  Consistent wines that customers continue to order when they go out and they can always order them directly too.  Smart family.  It was the perfect way to spend the morning in Napa. 

We then headed off to lunch.  Taylor's Automatic in Saint Helena.  Classic old school fast food with a twist.  Made me remember the old A & W drive-in we used to go to in Ann Arbor growing up.  The food ranges from burgers to chicken to salads, dogs, fries, milkshakes and of course beer and wine.  To me, at a place like this, you have to go with the burger.  And we all basically did with fries on the side.  Although Emily lamented a few times that the Shake Shack burger is clearly better by a long shot.  Regardless, it was great to sit out on the picnic benches waiting for our name to be called and enjoying a good lunch without having to be waited on.

The afternoon was basically relaxation by the pool.  This place, the Carneros Inn, is really unbelievable.  The cool air at night makes for great sleeping but the best is the outdoor shower.  Our bathroom shower (inside) has a door that opens up to the outdoor shower so you can go either way.  Brilliant.

Next and thankfully our last big meal.  We went to Ad Hoc.  Thomas Keller, I think, is probably the best chef in America.  First of all, his restaurants Per Se and French Laundry was foodie feasts.  French Laundry is a tad better just because of the location and whole vibe but both are fantastic.  The attention to detail, the creativity of each meal, and the flavors  Genius.  Then you go to Ad Hoc which is like eating a really excellent home cooked meal.  Each night the menu changes and what they are serving is what you get.  I really do like that concept and if you can get away with it and have success, it is financially smart.  Tonight, our meals consisted of four parts.  We began with a wedge of iceberg lettuce, shaved radishes, pancetta bits, sauteed red onions and olives with a green goddess avocado dressing.  Simple, light and tasty.  Next out was the main course.  Each course is in one container served in the homestyle fashion.  Tonight, in an All Clad bronze open faced pot was roasted baby potatoes next to roasted cauliflowers tossed with crusty breadcrumbs and sliced spicy flatiron steak over the top.  Good home cooking.  Next was a chunk of a Gloucester cheddar cheese, buttery slabs of toasted bread ( think French toast ) and a tiny container of a citrus marmalade.   Last out everyone got their own parfait glass with chocolate mousse with the bottom coated in a thick chocolate sauce and on the top pieces of brownie, walnuts and some caramel.  It was perfect and they give you just the right amount. 

Back to the rooms to sleep, breakfast at the hotel in the morning and off to the airport.  A really nice vacation.  I do love visiting California.  And as always, I will be back.

Jessica gets interviewed

Jessica was interviewed for Chic in Paris, a blog by Susan Tabak who is incredibly plugged into the fashion world.  She happens to also be the mother of a good friend of Jessica's but believe me, she doesn't take fashion lightly and interviewing Jessica is the real deal. 

Napa

Napa valley is one of the most beautiful places in the world.  I was saying today that when Fred and I drove across country after graduating college for 6 weeks that driving up the California coastline was hands down our favorite part.  Napa, Big Sur and Carmel are just jaw dropping. 

We are staying at the Carneros Inn.  We should have tried and stayed her a few more days, its wonderful.  The property sits on numerous vineyards.  Small bungalows with old school style porches and rocking chairs, outdoor showers (indoor too), your own personal backyards, fireplaces, and each room has a different colored door.  Fred and I have our own room and Jessica, Emily have one and Josh is solo and loving every minute.  The is a big communal area in the front where you can have a drink that has an outdoor fire place.  Very California and just so gorgeous. 

Our plane was screwed up.  Won't even go there as I am sick of travel issues.  We were so hungry by the time we got here that once we got to the Carneros Inn we immediately went to The Boon Fly Cafe which is one of the restaurants on the property.  Serving breakfast through dinner.  We had a variety of things from salads to sandwiches and everyone was happy.  Good basic organic food with a bit of a twist.  Yum. 

Some of the kids hit the pool.  It is unseasonably warm here today and a few others hit the spa.  I was one of the spa goers.  Nice facility.  There is a pool in that area too if you have no interest in hearing noise which is always a good feature.

We drove into Sonoma for dinner.  Such a cute town that basically hasn't changed at all since I had been for the first time 25 years ago.  Old architecture and of course some new that has definitely taken into account the integrity of the town.  We had dinner at El Dorado Kitchen.

The restaurant is part of the El Dorado hotel.  I loved that when we walked in they were having a wine tasting and there was a small trio playing Wilco.  They played all night in the bar area. 

The restaurant is big and airy.  Large open kitchen and the menu was a tad heavy.  Even though they are slowly moving out of winter, the weather to me seems like spring so the menu was more a reflection of the winter months which I understand.  There were a few highs and a few whatevers. 

To split, we began with a warm olive plate which was fine but we also split a fried egg pizza which stole the show.  Thin but not too thin crusted pizza so there was a bread feeling to it that was browned and covered in mozzarella and thin slices of house made ham and a few sunny side up eggs.  Absolutely genius and delicious. 

The other high notes were some of the salads.  I bunch of us got the maiche beet salad which was a hit.  Deconstructed with a bunch of sliced red and yellow beets, a handful of maiche, some sections of blood oranges and grapefruits and a thin wedge of goat cheese and a very very light citrus vinaigrette.  Simple yet delicious.  For dinner, there were some fish eaters who seemed to be happy.  Fred had the bouillabaisse which he said was just okay.  I went with the steak but the bio dynamic organic stuff, I think, sometimes leaves the meat flavorless and that is exactly what I'd call this.  Accompanied with a sliced celery root made into a gratin.  Nothing wowed me about the main course.  My niece on the other hand had the macaroni and cheese which was so decadent and I finally asked our waiter to take the bowl away as I seemed to be eating more of it than her.

Desserts were amazing.  The pastry chef is supposedly one of the best in the country.  We went with 3 to split.  Chocolate mousse with espresso anglaise, chocolate ganache and vanilla ice cream.  I admit that I was late to this plate and only had a tiny taste as I begged for the last bite.  Tasty.  Ice cream sandwiches were really good.  Large pieces of rectangular short bread that is about an inch thick, 2 pieces, with ice cream in between.  One is coffee shortbread with vanilla ice cream and the other is vanilla shortbread with caramel ice cream. Each has been dipped in dark chocolate which has hardened to seal up the end of the stick.  Next to this is a pot of caramel for dipping.  Really clever take on a classic dessert.  Yet, hands down on being the best was the warm granny smith apple tart.  It was more of an egg strudel that was rich and eggy with apples as the afterthought.  Out of this world. 

Dinner was really fun, loved the vibe of the place.  Didn't love the menu.  The menu does have options to order charcuterie and cheeses.  I might go back, drink some wine, order a few tastings of that along side the fried egg pizza and most definitely order the dessert.

Although the best part of the entire day is that Jessica got into one of her colleges of choice.  Since there are only 2 she really wants to go to, this was huge.  We are all so excited for her and you can just see the relief drain from her body.  She finds out about the other one on Tuesday.  An incredible moment for her and I must admit, for Fred and me too. 

Last day in LA

 Today was our last day in LA.  We took our time getting out this morning.  The first order of importance was going to my niece's school to celebrate every kid who had a birthday in March.  My niece being one of them.  It was very cute.

Next shop, sushi.  Having sushi in LA is essential.  Everybody has their favorite spot.  Most of these spots are basically hole in the walls at the local strip malls.  Your first reaction when you walk in is an unsure feeling if this is really going to be any good.  But, it generally is.  We went to one place a few years ago that was with plastic picnic chairs inside and bad neon tube lighting.  It was fantastic. 

Today we went to Sushi Zo which is just outside Culver City.  A real sushi purist type of spot.  A few rules.  No cell phones.  No ordering.  It is only omikase.  What they have that day is what you get.  The waitress is firm and will decide exactly how to take the drink order by deciding who she will begin with and how to go around the table.  She will also tell you when to use soy sauce and when not to.  Pay attention.  There were some true highlights and other things that were not as out of this world.  All sushi is served on the warm rice, not a lot of rice but just enough.  Some of the sushi also has a tiny topping to add to the flavor.  For instance, the mackerel had a spicy pepper grated yuzi on top, like a spot ( see the picture ).  The best, hands down, is something that is big in Los Angeles,  the blue crab roll at the end.  Not cut up, just one long roll that should be eaten immediately because the seaweed is fresh.  The waitress stressed that, do not wait for everyone else to be fed.  Delicious feast and certainly one that should not be taken lightly.  Follow the rules.

Everyone went separate ways.  Josh went to hang with his cousins, the girls and I went to get pedicures then I went to look at a store on Abbott Kinney, Fred had a business meeting.  Nothing to write home about. 

Next group event, dinner.  Everything is always planned around the meal.  By the time I get back to NYC, I might try something very LA and go on a detox flush program. 

Dinner was on Abbott Kinney.  You basically can't go wrong at most of the restaurants on that street.  We went to GJelina.   You can either share a variety of different small plates or there are a few big plates to have a regular meal if you want your own.  We opted for the big share.  BTW, GJelina is also open for lunch and brunch. 

The restaurant was packed.  We sat in the back which was classic LA.  Lots of heat lamps, a mixture of tables and a huge sofa which was for us.  I love it.   In the middle was a fire burning rock piece to add to the ambiance.  Also, if you stood up around our couch you can peek into the kitchen.  They have a big fire burning oven in there for the pizzas.  Sweet.

I am just going to give some of the highlights.  Charred Brussel sprouts with dates, bacon and vinegar; grilled radicchio with olive oil, balsamic and sea salt; Gruyere, caramelized onion, fromage blanc and arugula pizza ( super crispy and thin crust ); Burrata with sliced yellow tomatoes, arugula and pesto; Grilled octopus on white beans, arugula and smoked paprika.  There were more but you get the gist of the menu.  Everything was good, the plates are small and I always love the communal share. 

For dessert, we all shared just 2 dishes except for my nieces that had the flourless chocolate cake to themselves.  That went quick.  In a small old time diner coffee cup is butterscotch pudding with a dollop of whipped cream and topped with crushed sea salt.  Woah.  The other was a large square, about an inch high of banana bread pudding topped with melted chocolate and whipped cream in a bowl for the oozing to take place.  Another omigod.

A perfect ending to a really nice week.  Except for the driving, which is truly insane, I do love this town.  Next stop, Napa ( and of course more meals ). 

Restaurant Fraiche

 There are so many things that I love about living in NYC that I couldn't even begin to compose a list, well maybe that isn't entirely true.  But I would have to say that on the top of the list is that you can completely function in my town without ever having to drive.  It is truly a beautiful thing.  You can go out to whatever time and drink without worrying about the drive home. The only downside is that if you are a teen learning to drive, you just don't get enough day to day experience driving. 

Last night we had dinner with my brother and sister-in-law and some friends of theirs who I have heard about over the years and no surprises, we have many people that we know in common.  So, it was like seeing old friends. 

We had dinner at Fraiche Restaurant in Culver City.  The restaurant opened up 2 years ago to rave reviews and they have been on a roll ever since.  A small little intimate bar tucked into the left hand corner of the restaurant with a elevated indoor dining area.  Dining outside too.  Very clean, modern and with an open kitchen.  I particularly liked the hanging ceiling over the dining area which defines that area. 

The service was a tad slow last night from taking the order to getting it to the table, although well executed, there was definitely some type of back log in the kitchen last night. 

We all had the Fruits de Mer platter to split.  Thinly sliced calamari that had been marinated and served cold in a vinaigrette, tuna ceviche which was chunky and really delicious, shrimp, mussels, clams and oysters.  We did the petit platter for all and then everyone also had a starter of something else. 

I split the mushroom salad with my sister-law.  Thinly sliced mushrooms served with arugula and sliced fennel and grated parm.  There was something almost smokey tasting to the salad, not too heavy and just the perfect balance.  My brother went with the burrata.  3 nice sized pieces of a creamy tasty barrata with each served over a thin sliced piece of prosciutto and a thick aged balsamic dripped across the plate.  Again, simple and full of flavor.  All the plates had good presentations.

For dinner, I went with the Dorado.  Crispy skin fairly decent sized pieces of Dorado, well cooked, served in a creamy broth with tiny pieces of chorizo and clams.  There were orders of the pork chop and the Branzino roasted in parchment paper.  The cheesy polenta served on the side of the pork chop was so good that it was hard for me not to stop honing in on my brothers meal. 

The menu is a mixture of French and Italian but slanted towards Italian.  For instance, there is steak tartare ( very French ) and then a variety of pastas that you can have for a meal, a starter (half portion) or just share. 

Nice night, always fun to meet new people.  Worth putting Restaurant Fraiche on list when coming to LA.  But, if you are coming from NYC, think about the designated driver. 

Damn, another sunny day

I was born in Los Angeles although I left when I was 6/7, there has always been something pulling me back.  My Grandmother lived in Laguna Beach for years, my sister worked in LA for about 4 years, my brother moved there with his family a few years back and so on.  I feel comfortable here.  I like the vibe and the energy.  I couldn't do it 12 months a year but a few times a year is really a pleasure.

This morning we got up and drove to Santa Monica to have breakfast at Huckleberry Cafe.  An excellent place for breakfast.  Big windows, lots of light, a very Southern California place.  All the produce comes from the local farmer markets.  They also sell a few products like one particular olive oil, one vinegar, etc.  Delicious eggs, breads, pastries and coffee.  They probably have a good lunch too.

Afterward we drove over to Venice Beach.  What's a trip to Los Angeles without a stroll down the boardwalk.  Such a trip.  Henna tattoos, lots of bong shops, loads of silver jewelry, t-shirts and then of course just the people.  Muscle beach is classic as the men come and flex their muscles working out on the boardwalk.  Paddle tennis courts.  Tourists and locals abound.  Em and Jess went for the henna tattoo...how could you not?

We drove over to Century City after to meet up with my brother.  He is shooting a commercial and the kids went to watch.  Fred and I took this as an opportunity to make a loop through the galleries in the area.

We started on S. La Cienega near the corner of Washington.  There are a few random galleries on that strip and actually none worth mentioning.  Hate to say that but there was absolutely nothing I found intriguing.  The one (and quite frankly I believe the best gallery) in that area is Blum & Poe.  Great space and the artists that they represent aren't emerging but a few years past that stage so the prices run more in the 10-50K range.  The other galleries in the area are really about emerging art but not sure how emerged any of them will get.  IMHO.

Then we spun down Washington where there are other galleries as well as architecture offices and ad agencies.  Cerasoli Gallery, Koplin del Rio, Cardwell Jimmerson, LeBasse Projects are a few of the galleries.  The one I really liked in Culver City was called Lab 101 which has moved to Santa Monica. 

After leaving the area, we stopped by Surfas which is a restaurant supply and gourmet food store.  It is pretty awesome.  A small cafe and a chef's paradise.  Cheeses, chocolates, parchment papers, serving trays, pots and pans, etc.  They also have classes from baking to cooking to wine tasting.  A real community place.  Really well done and if you need it, they most likely have it.  Been around since 1937. 

We then went over to the set, picked up Emily while Jessica and Josh stayed behind.  Next event, dinner. 

Los Angeles, Day 3

Started off with a lazy 2 hour breakfast with one of my best friends who I do not see often enough.  The kids came down one by one to say hello and chat.  It was really nice.  Then our activities began.

We started off at LACMA, the modern art museum of Los Angeles.  The new building is fantastic and they are still building more. This photo is of the other building which will be completely covered with solar panels.  Thanks to Eli and Edythe Broad who basically saved LACMA from going under.  The building we were in had large open spaces with red steel and glass ceilings.  We walked through the permanent collection which is what you would expect, Lichenstein, Warhol, Koons, Rushka, Rauschenberg and more.  What I love is the rooms where the work is hung.  On the first floor is a Serra installation  I really prefer his work outside but it is always amazing.  The current exhibit is called the Art of Two Germanys Cold War Cultures. 50 years of art, from Germany, which represents the time of WWII to present. An really well curated exhibit that I found interesting.

After LACMA, we drove over to Joan's on Third.  Joan's on Third is a family run gourmet marketplace.  You can sit down and have a meal from the menu and salads made that day or you can have a coffee and a cupcake or a scoop of ice cream.  If not, you can always pick up a soup, a homemade salad dressing, a bag of homemade cinnamon sugar pita chips or even a frozen meal with directions on what to do when you get home.  We have seen many places like Joan's on Third in different places around the globe.  Mary's Marvelous, in Amagansett, although all take out, is smaller and has a bit of the same feel.  Melissa's in Cape Town is very similar.  Barefoot Contessa when she was open in East Hampton.  Daylesford Organic in London is also very similar.  All conceptually the same with a different twist. 

That particular street also has a few stores worth walking into.  Noodle Stories ( women's clothing ) and another home furnishing store called OK which my sister-in-law loves. 

Tonight was a night for a home cooked meal.  We went over to Whole Foods in Venice.  There is nothing quite like the grocery stores in California.  They are huge.  They are also a visual sight to behold.  Everything looks so perfect and clean and the produce is generally beautiful.  This particular Whole Foods is impressive.  We got our goodies and I volunteered to cook.  It was a pleasure after eating out the last few weeks.  Butterflied fresh herb rubbed chicken on the grill, grilled asparagus and a big Greek salad. 

The weather was beautiful today too.  Afterward, we went back to the hotel to watch Obama speak.  He is one impressive man.  Tomorrow is another day in beautiful sunny Los Angeles. 

Bazaar Restaurant

My sister-in-law made reservations at Bazaar a few weeks back.  Last week Frank Bruni wrote a huge piece gushing about Bazaar.  Always knew my sister-in-law was on top of the latest and greatest. 

The restaurant is located inside the the SLS Hotel on La Cienega in West Hollywood.  SLS is a product of many talented people, Philippe Starke being one of them.  Even if it isn't your taste, you have to appreciate the concept.  The main hotel floor consists of a variety of rooms each with a different vibe.  There is a covered room outdoors, books shelves on the right side leading into the hotel, a very chic bar when you enter the hotel and the Bazaar restaurant on the left.  Moss, which is one of my all time favorite stores in NYC, has incorporated their products with their design and the lounge and restaurant so you might eat on one of their plates but you can order it to bring home.  I am a huge fan of this idea and have been talking about it for awhile.

The chef, Jose Andres, is brilliant.  He is originally from Spain and has not only been given many accolades through awards such as from the James Beard Foundation, he trained under El Bulli in Spain for many years.  His food is innovative yet refined for the American palette so you won't finding yourself eating strange foams at every turn. 

Bazaar's menu is all about tapas, some traditional and others modern.  We had 9 people so we really got to taste a lot.  As my brother put it  ( I am usually a fan of sports analogies but this is pretty good ) that the dinner is like going to a movie with an all-star cast.  Some of the actors are just incredible while others just give decent performances yet the movie is incredibly entertaining and enjoyable.  There are parts of the movie that you'd even like to go back and see again because they are so brilliantly written and performed and you will remember them for years to come.  That is a good description of Bazaar. 

We started with a mixture of tapas and then ordered again about 3-4 times.  The first thing out is sent by the chef.  A bowl of thick yogurt coated with balsamic vinegar and olive oil served with very thin sweet potato chips for dipping.  Really delicious and the mixture of vinegar and oil with the yogurt changed the taste of sour to something sublime.  Next out was what began our ordering frenzy with.  A mixture of the jambons from Spain which are now available in the states.  Supposedly Andres had something to do with that.  Each piece was more delicious than the next.  That is accompanied with a classic Spanish bread that is toasted and smeared with chopped tomatoes mixed with olive oil.  Some of the bread comes with a very thin slice Manchego cheese over the top.  One slice of that with a piece of jambon hits the spot. 

With this first round we also had the olives which we had all read about.  There are 2 parts to this dish.  The first is a stuffed green olive with a spicy jalapeno taste.  You have to eat that first and once you have finished, then you need to immediately take the small spoon which has a round green looking olive in it and pop it in your mouth.  Don't take a bite but eat it whole and keep your mouth closed.  The heat inside your mouth makes the olive explode like a balloon and ooze out an olive flavoring.  Quite innovative and really good.  We also had a few of the cones which are a straight take off of Thomas Kellers starter at French Laundry and Per Se, the tiny cone filled with salmon and creme freche.  We had 2 different types at Bazaar.  One was like Kellers which was a cone filled with a marzipan type cheese and soy marinated salmon roe on top.  Quite explosive in the mouth.  The other was so over the top and brilliant that I still remain speechless.  On a small stick, is foie gras that has been covered with white cotton candy.  Really beautiful.  The combination of the sweet sugar melting in your mouth from the cotton candy with the oozing of the foie gras in your mouth creates an incredible taste mixture that truly renders you speechless.  That is all I can say on that. 

Next round.  Sauteed cauliflower couscous.  Sort of explains itself.  Cauliflower puree mixed in with fried quinoa, lemon peel and harissa broth.  I didn't love this one.  Interesting and tasty but didn't rock my world.  We also had the Brusell sprouts.  Leaves of Brussell sprouts with a lemon purees, piece of apricots, grapes and a lemon foam over the top.  Really good and the lemon made the dish light.  With this grouping we went with the caprese salad.  Another brilliant move.  Cherry tomatoes that had been peeled ( that alone is an accomplishment without the tomatoes breaking ) served in a small bowl with a leaf of basil over each tomato next to a round mozzarella ball that is loaded with liquid mozzarella and explodes when you bite into it.  This dish is cold.  Take the tomato, the basil, the ball and a little bit of the oil in the dish on a spoon.  Put all of this in your mouth and just let the flavors melt through your mouth.  Genius. 

We tossed in a few random things here.  Chicken croquettes.  They actually felt heavy when you picked them up.  Lightly covered with maybe a smashed panko crust and filled with pureed chicken and bechamel cheese.  Quite delicious.  The boneless chicken wings looked so perfect which being able to do that alone gives someone kudos.  Deep fried boneless chicken wings with a green olive puree on top and sage leaf.  Nothing spectacular but both dishes were solid. 

Believe it or not, I am not done.  We went with a few "little" sandwiches.  Air bread, which is like a crisp stuffed with melted hot cheddar cheese and thinly sliced raw pieces of wagyu beef over the top.  His version of the Philly cheese steak.  Really delicious.  But, this is the other sandwich reigned supreme.  Small steamed buns ( think Chinese pork buns ) filled with sea urchin and slices of avocado.  A total omigod. 

Just because we felt we should taste more, we did.  My niece ordered the sauteed mushrooms.  A mixture of every type of mushroom you can think of with herbs.  Honestly, bland.  Pass on this one.  The oysters come served in a tin can, like sardines, and you open up the top and there are 4 shelled fresh plump oysters with a bit of black pepper and lemon over the top.  Good, salty and sea worthy.  His version of paella is really interesting too.  Angel hair pasta cooked in a certain way that makes it taste like paella and the pasta is cut into small pieces and made to be almost crunchy like a rice with a few shrimps over the top with a dollop of creme fraiche on the side.  Really interesting and worth ordering.  We also did an order of the potatoes.  Tiny potatoes that have probably been roasted in an oven that sucks all the water out and the salt just sets into the potatoes.  This was served along with a green salsa verde.  Simple and good. 

Wow, I can't even believe how much we ate looking back.  BTW, we also had the white wine sangria which is pretty good and I like how they make it.  They bring out the pitcher filled with the fruit and ingredients and then open the bottle of wine at your table and pour it into the pitcher.  A nice touch. 

Last round, before dessert.  Tuna that has been chopped with watermelon and soaked in a red wine, soy jalapeno reduction, made into a square, on a stick with a cherry tomato on top.  Refreshing.  Japanese tacos.  Rolled in a shiso tasting wrap was grilled eel, shiso, cucumber and wasabi.  Good.  Josh thought he was in heaven on this one.  Another had to taste was an egg shell filled with a warm potato foam, a poached egg and carmelized onions.  Fascinating but not an omigod.  Last but not least, the Japanese eggplant.  Small eggplant, sliced, roasted and served with a soy sauce dashi glaze and yogurt.  Yum. 

The desserts were mixed.  We had candy and chocolates which were a mixture of different things, all handmade and fun to taste.  We also had the apple tart which was cold and not that interesting.  The chocolate mousse was rich but the best was definitely the creamy chocolate tart with cardamon.  A small chocolate cylinder that oozed when you broke into it and the cardamon made all the difference served over a whipped cream.

Bazaar is a true foodie experience.  Innovative, tasty, creative, good service and just all around fun.  It's fun to taste new things with a group and have every one discuss each bite.  Also, the setting matches the pushing of the envelope food.  So Los Angeles, so worth going.  Just in addition, check out the bathrooms ( see picture ), I am sure many minds and hours were spent just designing the sinks.