René Redzepi pays emotional tribute to elBulli star
“Ferran Adria opened my eyes” says the Noma chef
Ferran Adrià has caused almost as much of a stir in closing elBulli as he did in turning it into the internationally recognised temple of gastronomy. The Catalan superchef, who publishes The Family Meal with Phaidon in October, was the subject of countless editorials in the press this week with British and American press lamenting the passing of the restaurant he took over in 1984 and speculating on his plans to set up a creativity centre on the same site in 2014.
"The spirit of elBulli will live on "Adrià told an international roll call of star chefs, gathered for the restaurant’s last meal. Many of them paid tribute to the godfather of molecular gastronomy - none more eloquently than Noma’s René Redzepi.
"Being here on this final day, this historic day, is very emotional,” Redzepi told the Sunday Telegraph. "This is the place where my eyes were opened to a new world. A seed was planted in my head and that seed has grown and grown. What Ferran has created here is not found anywhere else. It's a very special place. He taught people to think about food emotionally and created new techniques that have transformed the art of cooking."
And if you’re wondering what Ferran served at his last supper, Phaidon.com has the full, 49-course menu:
- Dry martini
- Mojito-caipirinha
- Mojito and apple baguette
- Gin fizz
- Spherical olives
- Mimetic peanuts
- Pistachip ravioli
- Parmesan cheese porra
- Parmesan cheese macaron
- Gorgonzola balloon
- Olive oil chip
- Flower in nectar
- Flowers paper
- Tender almonds
- Pa amb tomàquet
- Golden egg
- Clam meringue
- Liquid croqueta
- Smoked mousse
- Squid and coconut ravioli
- Soy cristal
- Nori ravioli with lemon
- Soy matches
24)Salmon niguiri - Boiled shrimp
- Two cooking prawn
- Roses with ham wonton and melon water
- Ham and ginger canape
- Cheese bread
- Icy quinoa of duck fois-gras
- Ajo blanco
- Veal bone marrow with caviar
- Pinenuts shabu-shabu
- Liquid hazelnut porra
- Curry chicken
- Lobster ceviche
- Oaxaca taco
- Gazpacho and ajo blanco
- Sea cucumber
- Hare fritter
- Game meat cappucino
- Blackberry risotto with game & meat sauce
- Hare loin with its own blood
- Spice plat
- 'Bones' of iced tea shavings with sugared mint
- Raspberry infusion
- Melba cornet
- Fondue melba
- Box
Follow the links to read more about Ferran Adrià and the closure of elBulli:
The Telegraph, elBulli: The finest meal you’ve never had
The Independent, Top restaurant in the world becomes a gastro think-tank
The Guardian, elBulli closes: Farewell parmesan frozen air...
The Daily Mail, Adios elBulli! 'World's best restaurant' serves up extravagant 49-course last supper as it closes its doors forever
The Financial Times, Why there’s only one elBulli