Spain is on my short list of western European countries to visit on my backpacking trip. Spain also happens to be the home of Chef Ferran Adria of El Bulli restaurant. Located 177 km northeast of Barcelona, along the Mediterranean coast, El Bulli was ranked the #1 restaurant in the world in 2006 by over 500 critics, chefs, and gourmets around the world (for The Restaurant Magazine's annual Top 50 list).
The restaurant has become such a destination for international foodies, it's website has instructions for arriving by air, road, and sea! Unfortunately, such directions won't prove useful if you wanted to make a reservation for 2007 as they're booked for the rest of the year.
I've seen the food, cooking, and presentation techniques featured on several TV shows, and it's no wonder Time magazine listed Ferran Adria as one of it's 100 most influential people in 2007. I'm going to leave it to others to describe the fantastically innovative approach he takes to fine dining.
Instead, I ask whether you would consider paying $300 ($400 w/wine, $500 w/tip) per person for a 30-course menu at a restaurant with accolades such as these? You would literally need to build a trip to Spain around when you could get a reservation.
My answer? I would like to do it sometime in my life! Given how far in advance you have to book a reservation though, I do not know that El Bulli will be an option on my upcoming world tour. While I could pay for it by skipping an entire country, say Switzerland, I do not think it'd be an experience I would want to have alone, and I doubt I'd find any takers at the local hostel!
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Restaurant Review – Chocolate and Zucchini covers a 2006 Dinner at El Bulli, complete with details and pictures of over 30 courses, prices, and reservation strategies.
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Stu says
May 21, 2007 at 4:00 pmI love food and cooking, (i esp love the Top Chef tv show!) but I just dont get the high-priced super chef gourmet restaurants.
gordon ramseys show in england kicked ass, but didnt quite work over here in the usa :(
I hate a lot of the crap on the food channel tho (Im _SO_ over the rachael ray thing, she even has a daytime opra type show thing. ugh).
maybe when you go to spain you can crash his dumpsters!! that would be a cool blogging story that would require some good photos ;)
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Stu says
May 21, 2007 at 12:00 pmI love food and cooking, (i esp love the Top Chef tv show!) but I just dont get the high-priced super chef gourmet restaurants.
gordon ramseys show in england kicked ass, but didnt quite work over here in the usa :(
I hate a lot of the crap on the food channel tho (Im _SO_ over the rachael ray thing, she even has a daytime opra type show thing. ugh).
maybe when you go to spain you can crash his dumpsters!! that would be a cool blogging story that would require some good photos ;)
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Racquel says
May 21, 2007 at 9:04 pmwas it ranked #1 restaurant because of the taste alone? or does the price tag considered? thanks..
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Dave says
May 22, 2007 at 5:02 pmRacquel –
I’m quite sure it was ranked #1 for other factors besides price. The presentation and approach to food preparation is very, very unique, and therefore the chef is seen as an innovator. Some courses are only a single bite, however they pack a punch based on the complexities of flavor, and unusual “cooking” techniques used.
I’m sure their wine list is far out as well!
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Racquel says
May 22, 2007 at 1:04 amwas it ranked #1 restaurant because of the taste alone? or does the price tag considered? thanks..
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Dave says
May 22, 2007 at 9:02 pmRacquel –
I’m quite sure it was ranked #1 for other factors besides price. The presentation and approach to food preparation is very, very unique, and therefore the chef is seen as an innovator. Some courses are only a single bite, however they pack a punch based on the complexities of flavor, and unusual “cooking” techniques used.
I’m sure their wine list is far out as well!
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Dave says
May 22, 2007 at 9:02 pmRacquel –
I’m quite sure it was ranked #1 for other factors besides price. The presentation and approach to food preparation is very, very unique, and therefore the chef is seen as an innovator. Some courses are only a single bite, however they pack a punch based on the complexities of flavor, and unusual “cooking” techniques used.
I’m sure their wine list is far out as well!
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travelosity says
May 22, 2007 at 12:59 pmI love spanish food. Best paella I ever had was in valencia!
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travelosity says
May 22, 2007 at 4:59 pmI love spanish food. Best paella I ever had was in valencia!