Ringmaster of LA’s Bazaar, José Andrés has earned his place on top of the molecular gastronomy food chain with his Cirque du Soleil-esque culinary feats.
When he’s not winning James Beard awards and running his 21 restaurants across the U.S. like the veggie-only Beefsteak in Washington D.C. or Bazaar Meat in Vegas, José somehow squeezes in time to teach culinary physics classes at Harvard.
Amidst all this juggling of food-related frenzy, the chef never takes anything too seriously:
“If you want your life to be fucking meaningful, you have to try Iberico ham!” he joked while flinging packages of said ham to the audience at the recent Dine & Dash fundraising event at SLS Las Vegas Hotel & Casino.
The Spanish-born chef has also been credited with bringing tapas-style dining with mind-bending flair—think cotton candy foie gras and reconstructed olives—to the U.S. over a decade ago. Considering this and his knack for lacing his speech with jovial F-bombs, the coolest thing about José is still his commitment to ending hunger and poverty. His non-profit, World Central Kitchen, equips locals with skills to own and operate food-related businesses in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Zambia and more.
So, when the one and only José Andrés, one of Time’s “100 Most Influential People,” tells us his favorite eats in LA, you better believe we listen up:
SAAM at The Bazaar by José Andrés, SLS Hotel
José Andrés: My beloved SAAM! Watch for the truffle menus. My team loves to celebrate the truffle and its exquisite flavor.
The Black Truffle Dinner Series. Image courtesy of @ChefJoseAndres
Sushi Zo
DTLA, $$$$
JA: Amazing sushi! Greatest in LA! I go here every time I am in town, at least one time.
Kumamoto Oysters. Image courtesy of @jennamour
Ink
Beverly Grove, $$$$
JA: The talented Michael Voltaggio, he is doing the cutting-edge, but his way.
Celery root pasta, baby carrots, mojito (R-L). Image courtesy of @jlims
B.S. Taqueria
DTLA, $$
JA: Lardo and clam. When you eat Chef Ray Garcia’s tacos, you must prepare to be surprised!
Cauliflower Al Pastor Tacos. Image courtesy of @veganfatkid
Petit Trois
Hollywood, $$$
JA: My friend Chef Ludo Lefebvre is now a Knight of Arts and Letters of the French government. Believe me, he will give you a bistro experience.
The Big Mec. Image courtesy of @caiooliveira
LocoL
Watts, $
JA: My friends Roy Choi and Daniel Patterson are making sustainable fast food for the people of Watts. I was there the first week. Go, eat, and help them succeed in their mission!
LocoL. Image courtesy of @houseofhoney
Belinda Gosbee is an Aussie writer, actress and coffee snob based in Los Angeles. Follow her jaunts on Twitter @belindagosbee or Instagram @gos22.
