El Bulli is a restaurant run by chef Ferran Adrià in Roses on the Costa Brava in Catalonia, Spain. Restaurant Magazine has judged El Bulli the World's Best Restaurant three times - in 2002 and 2006 and most recently in 2007
El Bulli is a three Michelin starred restaurant run by chef Ferran Adri? in Roses on the Costa Brava in Catalonia, Spain. The small restaurant overlooks the Cala Monjoi bay, and has been described as "the most imaginative generator of haute cuisine on the planet"., with a great deal of work done on molecular gastronomy. Restaurant has judged El Bulli the best restaurant in the world a record four times — in 2002, 2006, 2007 and 2008.
The restaurant has a limited season from April to September; bookings are taken on a single day in the previous October. It accommodates only 8,000 diners a season, with 800,000 people calling to try and book places — around 400 requests for every table. The average cost of a meal is ?250; the restaurant itself has operated at a loss since 2000, with operating profit coming from El Bulli-related books, and lectures from Adri?. As of April 2008, the restaurant employed 42 chefs.
Roger M. Buergel, Director of the Kassel Documenta 12 art show in 2007, designated El Bulli as Pavilion G of Documenta.
History
The El Bulli site was founded in 1961 by Dr Hans Schilling, a German, and his wife, who wanted a restaurant for a piece of land he had purchased. The name "El Bulli" came from the French bulldogs the Schillings owned. The first restaurant was opened in 1964. The restaurant won its first Michelin star in 1976 while under French chef Jean-Louis Neichel. Ferran Adri? joined the staff in 1984, and was put in sole charge of the kitchen in 1987. In 1990 the restaurant gained its second Michelin star and in 1997 its third.
