Who’s behind it: Last month, chef and humanitarian José Andrés opened his fifth Las Vegas restaurant, Bazaar Mar, in the Shops at Crystals, a luxury shopping destination on the Las Vegas Strip. A counterpart to the chef’s Bazaar Meat, which offers a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence–winning wine program just down the road at the SAHARA resort, Bazaar Mar is a Spanish tapas eatery with whimsical seafood dishes, in sync with Andrés’ cooking style.
Here, guests are welcomed into a theatrically designed dining room that incorporates oceanic elements with shades of orange and emerald green, as well as details like marble centaurs and ceramic Sicilian teste di moro (male and female heads adorned with crowns).
“We’ve received phenomenal feedback from our guests, who trust us to take them on an incredible journey of the sea and create a special experience for them,” Bazaar Mar head chef Daniela Romero told Wine Spectator via email. “They love the decor and ambiance, the details we incorporate in the service we provide, and our creative and playful dishes.”
When it opened: Aug. 7
[article-img-container][src=2024-09/restaurant-news-bazaar-mar-interior-090524_1600.jpg] [credit= (Katrina Frederick)] [alt= The dining room of Bazaar Mar in Las Vegas, with a floral mural, Cubist paintings and orange lighting][end: article-img-container]The culinary approach: Bazaar Mar’s menu weaves in elements of molecular gastronomy and staples of Andrés’ repertoire, such as liquid olives (made famous by chef Ferran Adrià at El Bulli in Spain), “Neptune’s Pillow” (spicy tuna served over puffed “air bread”) and “Honey, I Shrunk the Elote” with popcorn powder. The team incorporated a large portion of the Bazaar Meats menu, Romero noted, while adding new and exciting dishes like Catalan Rossejat (a paella-style pasta), lobster salpicon and grilled Ora King salmon served with salmon roe and Meyer lemon. The dessert menu also features creative offerings, including “Key Lime Beach,” a “sand castle” of graham cracker crumble served with “lime air,” a foam that looks like waves breaking on shore.
What’s on the wine list: Sommelier Roy Arias oversees the wine program, which has a strong focus on Spain, as well as on leading Bordeaux châteaus. The list features around 220 selections, backed by a cellar containing more than 1,600 bottles, with a range of seafood-friendly Sherry, white and sparkling wines from the likes of R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia and Josep Maria Raventós i Blanc. For reds, options include bottlings such as Señorio de San Vicente Rioja and Bodegas Vega Sicilia Ribera del Duero Unico from Spain, as well as knockout wines like Château Latour Pauillac 1990.
A second opening: In tandem with Bazaar Mar, Andrés also opened Bar Centro one floor below. The versatile space doubles as a coffee shop by day and a cocktail lounge by night. “Bar Centro allows guests to enjoy a range of experiences throughout the day, from coffee, tea and pastries in the morning, to cocktails, caviar and elevated bites in the evening,” Arias explained.—Chris Cardoso
Emmer & Rye Team Opens Isidore in San Antonio, Texas
Who’s behind it: Isidore is the latest project from Texas-based Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group, a collection of restaurants in Austin and San Antonio that includes Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence winner Hestia and Award of Excellence winner Emmer & Rye. Isidore is the fourth full-service restaurant inside Pullman Market, which the group debuted earlier this year just a short distance from San Antonio’s iconic River Walk, in the historic Pearl District.
When it opened: Aug. 13
What’s on the wine list: Wine director Ali Schmidt, who leads the wine programs for all of Emmer & Rye’s concepts, told Wine…
Source : https://www.winespectator.com/articles/jose-andres-bazaar-mar-las-vegas-otium-los-angeles-closure
