Fig Restaurant, Santa Monica - 50% off (amazing deal)

 One of the few restaurants of this caliber to offer such an amazing deal, I had to try it for myself. First of all from 5PM to 6PM everyday, Fig Restaurant (Inside the Fairmont Hotel in Santa Monica) offers their entire  menu at 50% off including Cocktails and their wine list!! (excludes truffle dishes).  To add to the excitement, park at the valet with confidence, since the restaurant will validate it for you for the first 3 hrs, making this one of the few (and maybe the only) upscale hotel in this area to be able to get valet for free.
For reference the SLS charges $15 regardless if you are dinning at Bazaar.

"Honey under the Kilt" (12 year Scotch, Honey, Tarragon and Lemon)

The cocktail was pretty well balanced (albeit a bit too much Scotch for my taste, but I don't think most would complaint about that) they honey did a nice job at smoothing the punch from the Scotch, along with the lemon to add a touch of freshness and acidity and surprisingly the tarragon added a nice herbaceous finish.

Your own personal mini baguette arrives in this cute little paper bag

Mini Baguette

Fresh baguette was next served along with a nice compound butter.  Very good.

Starter - Foie Gras & Chicken Liver Parfait with Fig Marmalade & toasted Baguette

One of the most famous starters at FIG and with good reason.  It was very good, the combination of Foie Gras with a sweet accompaniment is classic, and this one did not disappoint.  The Fig Marmalade was delicious and I just wished there would have been more of it, as there really was not enough for the 3 pieces of toast. 

Foie Gras & Chicken Liver Parfait

The Parfait comes of course with the fat on top, which you take out and set aside to find the delicious livery goodness.  Be forewarned though that it is a bit heavy on the livery notes.  I wished it would have had more Foie, less Chicken Liver but that's just me.  I was able to taste the Foie Gras notes separately from the Chicken Liver ones. 

Scallops, Cauliflower pure, Pine Nuts, Golden Raisins and Tangerines

Delicious!! Superbly fresh tasting, well cooked and a very nice combination with the creamy cauliflower pure chewy sweet golden raisins and a nice tang and sweetness finish with the tangerines.  The pine nuts added a nice nutty flavor and a bit of crunch. 

Nutella & Chocolate Tart with Candied Hazelnuts and Marshmallow cream

This tart is not for the faint at heart.  Consider yourself warned! it was very good, but also extremely rich and dense. The crust is almost non existent and the dish really could have used another texture to cut through the richness of all that chocolate.  It was difficult to taste the nutella, although hints of it are noticed, it was overpowered by the rich, rich chocolate.  Definitely a desert to share.