World-famous restaurant El Bulli closes for good today
El Bulli, Ferran Adrià's world-famous restaurant on the Costa Brava in Spain, closes for good today.
The iconic, three-Michelin-starred restaurant will reopen as the El Bulli Foundation some time in 2014.
Adrià's creative genius is renowned and well documented. He became famous for his trailblazing innovations and the application of molecular gastronomy which have influenced a generation of chefs and changed the face of international cuisine forever.
His innovations include dishes such as nitro-caipirinha with tarragon concentrate; lobster and lamb's brain salad with a nest of courgette and baby broad beans; belly of tuna with blackcurrant and eucalyptus; or blackberry water ice with tobacco and blackberry caviar.
Adrià is now set to take this a step further with the formation of a creative not-for profit private foundation.
"The foundation is, above all, a transformation of the spirit of El Bulli. The mission of the foundation will be to create," the chef said last year.
The foundation's goals have yet to be comprehensively defined but so far two objectives have been identified. The site will become the archive of the El Bulli restaurant and it will also be developed as a centre for creativity, with the objective of creating and then sharing ideas and findings through the internet.
Adrià explained: "After taking the decision to change direction, it became necessary to think about the best way to implement the project. It seemed to us that the most appropriate option was to create a foundation.
"For many years, we've been extremely fortunate in having the opportunity to do that which fascinates us. Now is the time for us to return something to society."
Adrià and his partner Juli Soler will be the principal patrons of the foundation, Adrià's brother, Albert, will also be on the board, while the core team of El Bulli will remain involved.
The changes will result in two creative centres: elBullitaller, currently located on Portaferrissa Street in Barcelona, and the original El Bulli restaurant in Cala Montjoi.
Adrià recently opened two new restaurants in Barcelona together with his brother, Albert. The duo launched tapas bar 41 Degrees in the Catalan capital as well as tapas restaurant Tickets.
In addition to being one of the most widely awarded restaurants in the world, El Bulli will forever be remembered for its incredible food combinations, 34-course tasting menus, its phenomenal waiting lists, and for closing six months of each year to concentrate on food development.
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By Emily Manson
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