570757 Sun Nov 09 08:38:17 -0800 2008 7 33 Food Media and News 0 4159670 We've heard so much about Chef Adria and his restaurant El Bulli in Spain. His experimental takes on cuisine are compelling...but have any Chowhounders actually eaten there? Are there any reliable reviews about his work or his place? Or is he viewed as one of those unique talents that are beyond such things. I am curious... Sun Nov 09 08:38:17 -0800 2008 141554 gutreactions 1 4159998 Have you done a search on the International board? Surely people have posted about their experiences there. He's undoubtedly been receiving reviews all along, just like any restaurateur; not quite sure what you're asking? For instance, here's a Guardian review from 2002. http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2002/oct/26/travelfoodanddrink.foodanddrink.spain Sun Nov 09 12:14:16 -0800 2008 4159670 11106 tatamagouche 1 4160205 Bourdain made a show of a trip there which I thought was very informative: http://www.amazon.com/Decoding-Ferran-Adria-Anthony-Bourdain/dp/0061157074/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226267556&sr=8-1 The genre or movement of "molecular gastronomy" has many practitioners, including pure scientists, like Hervé This in France, and science writers, like Harold McGee, to other chefs, like Heston Blumenthal in the UK and Wylie Dufresne in NYC. Adria is unique in many ways - he closes down his restaurant for 6 months out of the year just to experiment in his lab - and he has originated many of the techniques that have become more and more utilized, but the other leaders in the field are unique in their own way. Like all movements, there are plenty of wannabees - second tier chefs that copy the leaders, but produce no original work. And that's ok too - we can't all get to Barcelona, and even if we did, we can't all get reservations at El Bulli. If these guys can do it well, then they're at least spreading the techniques. Heston Blumenthal's UK TV series, In Search of Perfection: Reinventing Kitchen Classics is a wonderful way to see how these guys think - maybe even experiment at home. The series was floating around for a while, the book is still available: http://www.amazon.com/Heston-Blumenthal-Perfection-Reinventing-Classics/dp/1596912502/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_c Sun Nov 09 14:09:09 -0800 2008 4159670 10312 applehome 2 4162812 Bittman also has an episode that includes an Adria segment on his Best Recipes in the World series. Episode 109, Cutting Edge, is playing today and Tuesday on Create TV http://www.createtv.com/CreateProgram.nsf/vProgramsByNola/BRMB?OpenDocument&Index= http://www.randomhouse.com/broadway/bittman/episodes/the_cutting_edge.php "EPISODE 9: The Cutting Edge To call one restaurant the "best in the world" seems ridiculous, arbitrary and totally subjective. But in the case of El Bulli, Bitty believes the statement is valid. This entire episode is dedicated to the genius of Chef Ferran Adria. But to understand one genius sometimes you have to look at the work of another, so Bitty visits Valencia to see the architecture of Santiago Calatrava, in an attempt to discover why Spain is at the cutting edge of so many different art forms." http://www.randomhouse.com/broadway/bittman/main.php?p=recipes the 'recipe' for this episode is really a description of several items he sampled on the latest visit. Mon Nov 10 14:55:09 -0800 2008 4160205 12139 paulj 3 4163305 It was interesting that Jose Andres acted as the translator for Ferran in this episode. Jose has a El Bulli visit in his Made in Spain series. It is also curious in light of how many hounds think the other Bittman series (Spain on the Road Again) is inferior to Made in Spain. I wonder if Mario and company managed to get reservations at El Bulli. Mon Nov 10 18:20:01 -0800 2008 4162812 12139 paulj 4 4163733 Andres got his start at El Bulli, working for Adria right out of culinary school. The cast of On The Road Again ends up at Inopia, which is Ferran's brother's place during the 6th show, but I don't believe they actually get to El Bulli during the two Catalunya segments. Mon Nov 10 22:38:53 -0800 2008 4163305 10312 applehome 1 4162956 Lots of discussion and reviews on other food message boards and blogs. Not sure they can be mentioned here. Would suggest doing a google search. Mon Nov 10 15:57:36 -0800 2008 4159670 16942 rjka 1 4164864 The Restaurant Whore had an entertaining (and detailed) review a while back (google "Confessions of a Restaurant Whore"). Tue Nov 11 10:56:31 -0800 2008 4159670 202198 ferret