José Andrés To Open His First Arizona-Based Restaurant Concept

Beloved for everything from inventive cuisine to inspirational philanthropy, it seems all José Andrés touches is going to turn to gold. So as this celebrity chef is about to open his first restaurant concept in Arizona, it’s bound to cause a lot of excitement.

A restaurant that represents a whole new direction for Andres, Bar Mar will be located at the upcoming Glendale, Arizona-based VAI Resort, and while its still in the works, the menu already earning a lot of attention.

This new restaurant will be something of a love letter to the sea and all the delicious bounty it holds. "I absolutely love the sea and everything that comes from it!" said chef José Andrés in an email interview. "Chilled oysters, vinegary mussels, briny cockles, there is not much better than sharing these delicious bites with your friends and family," said Andres, who looks forward to using his new setting at Bar Mar at VAI for "celebrating this bounty of the oceans our way."

For the Bar Mar project, Andres will again be collaborating with friend and longtime partner in design Lázaro Rosa Violán from Spain. His vision is that "this will make this restaurant like a voyage to the sea you have never seen before."

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While the menu is dedicated to what Andres lovingly refers to as sea creatures, it also speaks to the tradition and evolving trend of tinned and canned seafood, and enjoying it in unexpected ways. "In Spain, we love to can everything: squid, sea urchin, mussels, anchovies, sardines, you name it. If it is from the sea, it takes a journey all the way from those beautiful waters in a little can, perfectly lined up, just waiting to be opened up and enjoyed," said Andres, who previews that at Bar Mar the menu will include plenty of these "beautiful little sea creatures." It's something that the chef and his team think will be a rather special experience. "I promise you, when you eat any one of those tins you will be transported to a gently rocking boat at sea enjoying life," Andres said.

Many coming to experience Bar Mar will be doing so having enjoyed other Jose Andres restaurants in the past, and may be looking for some of his classic signature dishes. Although this restaurant is going to stand apart from the others, these signature tastes will absolutely be making appearances on the menu as well. "We will, of course, have Bazaar classics like our Croquetas and Patatas Bravas, Spain’s famous fried potatoes with spicy brava sauce, aioli, and pimentón, as well as Boquerones en Vinagre, white Spanish anchovies cured in vinegar, with pan con tomate and Mussels in Escabeche, which is mussels with sherry vinegar, and pimentón served with sourdough," said Andres.

This new restaurant is about new beginnings, and that had to involve unexplored territory in an untapped region. "Opening at VAI is not only an opportunity to bring our restaurants to an entirely new market but to be a part of a new kind of entertainment destination," said Sam Bakhshandehpour, Global CEO of José Andrés Group, in an email, who shares that growth in the West is part of the team's overall strategy, having successful restaurants in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

"We know there is strong demand in this region with the vibrant dining scene in Phoenix continuing to expand into areas like Scottsdale and now Glendale," said Bakhshandehpour.