The Anita G Christmas Party was up in LA at the Bazaar and when we were there we were told about SAAM, the private dining room where they serve a 22 course menu and it is Chef Jose Andres idea of a perfect menu.
Last night for Anita's 61st birthday we went to celebrate with that perfect menu... this is how it went :)
David and me before we headed in...
The 1st course was called The Golden Boy, it was a cocktail with flecks of gold leaf :) Super fun.
You can see the gold in the drink... and this was the "snack" it was a Beet "Tumbleweed" It was really good, like a yummo tater chip. And since we all know beets can even stain plates... I checked and it turned our tongues pink too :)
Anita was so sweet to invite my mom out for this birthday dinner too so she could celebrate with us and have a night away :)
Julie and Kirk too...
Next course was black olives... but the server had to explain how to eat this one because they have been molecularly altered. They were liquid inside. It bursts in your mouth, strange, but cool.
Then this tuna hand roll... ahi, black bean puree, guac... yummo. I actually enjoyed it, even though it was not cooked. I am growing :)
Then a Bagel & Lox Steam Bun... David ate the caviar on top of mine... I am not that far yet :)
But this was the softest bagel ever... so good, and it was stuffed with this amazing cream cheese mixture.
Then some Olive Oil Bonbons... Strange, but I really liked it. It was like hardened sugar filled with the olive oil.
I peeked down at the twin and saw that her napkin was really dirty... come to find out, she did not listen to the explanation the server gave us about not opening your mouth after you stick the exploding olive in your mouth... this is why :)
Course 7 was called Jose's Combination, some caviar with the most yummy ham.
Now onto one of my favorites... this was a boneless coconut thai chicken wing! I wish I had a whole bucket of them right now!
At this point in the meal we told the server to stop telling us what we were eating until we after we started eating... it was fun to guess. So he would give us one word descriptions... I started tasting the foam, and it was really good... then in the middle was Sea Urchin Ceviche. Umm... I was not a huge fan. David finished it for me.
For this one he just said "Chipirones"... I was not getting anything from that, although, my mom knew it was calamari so I knew what I was getting myself into. I promised myself I would at least try everything... and I did. I ate 1/2 of this dish, but the texture finally got to me. Although the squid ink tater chips were awesome.
Dish 11 was a delight. It was Japanese Baby Peaches and Persimmons
Then, Guacamole "New Way" there was tomato and onion sorbet in the avocado. It was super cold.
This one everyone started eating and really liked it... saying it was a mushroom soup. I tried it and was a little put off, I love mushrooms and it did not taste good to me. I drank about 1/2 and David finished it for me (he was the lucky one sitting next to me to get more food :)
Then some Olive Oil Bonbons... Strange, but I really liked it. It was like hardened sugar filled with the olive oil.
I peeked down at the twin and saw that her napkin was really dirty... come to find out, she did not listen to the explanation the server gave us about not opening your mouth after you stick the exploding olive in your mouth... this is why :)
Course 7 was called Jose's Combination, some caviar with the most yummy ham.
Now onto one of my favorites... this was a boneless coconut thai chicken wing! I wish I had a whole bucket of them right now!
At this point in the meal we told the server to stop telling us what we were eating until we after we started eating... it was fun to guess. So he would give us one word descriptions... I started tasting the foam, and it was really good... then in the middle was Sea Urchin Ceviche. Umm... I was not a huge fan. David finished it for me.
For this one he just said "Chipirones"... I was not getting anything from that, although, my mom knew it was calamari so I knew what I was getting myself into. I promised myself I would at least try everything... and I did. I ate 1/2 of this dish, but the texture finally got to me. Although the squid ink tater chips were awesome.
Dish 11 was a delight. It was Japanese Baby Peaches and Persimmons
Then, Guacamole "New Way" there was tomato and onion sorbet in the avocado. It was super cold.This one everyone started eating and really liked it... saying it was a mushroom soup. I tried it and was a little put off, I love mushrooms and it did not taste good to me. I drank about 1/2 and David finished it for me (he was the lucky one sitting next to me to get more food :)I was correct, it was not mushroom... it was Hot & Cold Foie Soup with Corn. I have had Foie Gras a couple times before and not really liked it, and I guess I still don't love it.
Next came Norwegian Cigalas (Lobster)
Then Smoked Arctic Char with Tzatziki which was cooked sous vide in an immersion bath with a compressed cucumber. It was good.
This was a favorite for most at the table... not your every day caprese, the mozzarella cheese was one of the little orbs that bursts in your mouth.
Finally dish 17 came with some meat on it :) Wagyu Beef Cheeks with mandarine sauce and segments. I heart this!
At the beginning of the meal, the server asked us if we would like to add a 23rd course to the meal that was on special that night... like we needed another course... but then when we heard mushroom risotto with black truffles there was a resounding YES! It was one of my favs, and Kirk does not like mushrooms and so....
... After finishing mine... I started on his. :)
Next was the Philly Cheese Steak... fancy huh? and served on a bronze monkey :)
That was the end of the savory and now onto the sweet... Dragon's Breath Popcorn.
Carmel Popcorn cubes dropped into liquid nitrogen for 30 seconds and then we were told to put it into our mouth as quick as possible and chew really fast (to avoid it burning our tongue) and exhale threw out nose...
.... Then we saw how it got the Dragon name :)
This was not my favorite! I am not a peanut butter fan... this was peanut dust. When you put it into your mouth it became peanut butter. Very cool, Kirk's favorite.
Then came a hot cocoa mousse with pear sorbet... I loved it... which is most likely why I forgot to take a picture of it, oops.
Then they brought this amazing sugar thing out with a birthday candle in it for Anita to blow out for her bday. It was very unique.
We asked if we could get some of the chocolate covered pop rocks we had last time and they did not disappoint. Yummo
There was a some good times had... and some strong drinks :P
And the last course was the Petit Fours.such a cute presentation!
They brought Julie and Kirk an anniversary dessert (they got married 2 years ago on Anita's bday).
At the end of the meal they gave us each a menu of the nights courses.
23 courses and 5 1/2 hours later we finished and ended with a tour of the kitchen. So full... pretty tired and soooooo much fun! Happy Birthday Anita! It was a blast! We love you!
Next came Norwegian Cigalas (Lobster)
Then Smoked Arctic Char with Tzatziki which was cooked sous vide in an immersion bath with a compressed cucumber. It was good.
This was a favorite for most at the table... not your every day caprese, the mozzarella cheese was one of the little orbs that bursts in your mouth.
Finally dish 17 came with some meat on it :) Wagyu Beef Cheeks with mandarine sauce and segments. I heart this!
At the beginning of the meal, the server asked us if we would like to add a 23rd course to the meal that was on special that night... like we needed another course... but then when we heard mushroom risotto with black truffles there was a resounding YES! It was one of my favs, and Kirk does not like mushrooms and so....
... After finishing mine... I started on his. :)
Next was the Philly Cheese Steak... fancy huh? and served on a bronze monkey :)
That was the end of the savory and now onto the sweet... Dragon's Breath Popcorn.
Carmel Popcorn cubes dropped into liquid nitrogen for 30 seconds and then we were told to put it into our mouth as quick as possible and chew really fast (to avoid it burning our tongue) and exhale threw out nose...
.... Then we saw how it got the Dragon name :)
This was not my favorite! I am not a peanut butter fan... this was peanut dust. When you put it into your mouth it became peanut butter. Very cool, Kirk's favorite.
Then came a hot cocoa mousse with pear sorbet... I loved it... which is most likely why I forgot to take a picture of it, oops.Then they brought this amazing sugar thing out with a birthday candle in it for Anita to blow out for her bday. It was very unique.
We asked if we could get some of the chocolate covered pop rocks we had last time and they did not disappoint. Yummo
There was a some good times had... and some strong drinks :P
And the last course was the Petit Fours.such a cute presentation!
They brought Julie and Kirk an anniversary dessert (they got married 2 years ago on Anita's bday).
At the end of the meal they gave us each a menu of the nights courses.
23 courses and 5 1/2 hours later we finished and ended with a tour of the kitchen. So full... pretty tired and soooooo much fun! Happy Birthday Anita! It was a blast! We love you!
