Like Alinea in Chicago.....

[Kitchen Queen]

Unique and memorable I'm sure. Does anyone know if there is some place similar in Los Angeles, to the creative way food is made and served as at Alinea in Chicago? Must also be delicious. If not, What would a recommendation be for a 50th B-day.
I like the menu choices of Josie and Providence as an alternative but really would like to find an "off the map" style that is Grant Achatz.
Thank you -

KQ

[kevin]

possibly the spago tasting menu if you ask them to go really weired.

also, the bazaar from what i hear might fit the bill, with it's foie gras cotton candy, air bread philly cheese steak, and aerated drinks, and grilled watermelon skewers.

[SDGourmand]

Here is my pictures from Bazaar http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.... It was defintely an amazing meal. Possibly Michael Mina's XIV would be something as well.

[a213b]

Aside from El Bulli, The Fat Duck, and perhaps a few others, NOTHING comes close to Alinea. For me, it was the best (and certainly most expensive) meal I've ever eaten in my life.

In LA, I agree with Chowpatty and say Bazaar is worth checking out, though truth be told it's not even close to Alinea in terms of avant garde cuisine. There ARE some very cool items on the menu, though nothing approaching Achatz's "mad genius".

That being said, Bazaar IS delicious, and my meal there was only slightly shorter than my meal at Alinea (although 1hr of that experience was a private tour of the kitchens and hotel with Chef Andres, which he did because he could see we love food, NOT because we are "somebody"). I would heartily recommend it.

[Chowpatty]

Bazaar is likely the only place that comes close, with Sona a distant second. But I don't think either one are quite at the level that approaches what I have heard about Alinea. I'm sure Bazaar would be fun for a birthday though.

-----
The Bazaar by José Andrés
465 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048

[kevin h]

I'd actually put Providence a bit above Sona in that regard.