A LAUDED RESTAURANT... with a stand-out chef at the helm isn't too much of an unusual sight around Southern California, but one that sees its reputation over the better part of a decade is a rather rare bird. SAAM at The Bazaar at SLS Hotel Beverly Hills became such a fabled place, thanks to its expansive and often idiosyncratic tasting menu (think 22 courses), a Spanish-influenced menu that's seen dishes like a taco with Iberico ham and American caviar, spicy hand rolls, and seabeans in tempura. Now José Andrés, SAAM's top toque, is ready to roll out a new concept in that very space — it's called Somni, Chef Aitor Zabala of SAAM will be at the helm, and it is due to debut in the autumn of 2017 — but fans of such flavors can still visit The Bazaar at the La Cienega Boulevard hotel for a special tasting. It's a tasting that involves guest chef Andoni Luis Aduriz of Mugaritz, a Michelin two star restaurant in Spain. If you want to enjoy the visiting artist's delectable dishes, then...
JULY 18 THROUGH 21, 2017... are your dates. The restaurant is currently taking reservations for Chef Aduriz's residency at The Bazaar during that window, which will not only give diners a sense of what the acclaimed Mugaritz is about, but also a feel for the chef's latest concept, TOPA Sukaldería. Prepare to happily wend your way through a half dozen dishes with flavors that summon the Basque traditions of Spain as well as global influences, too. Think of your visit, during those special four days, as a culinary trip across the Atlantic, with no plane required. Reservations? Give the restaurant a call now. (Update: Note that the special Chef Aduriz event will happen at The Bazaar, and not SAAM, from July 18-21.)