Even though I knew my chances of finagling a reservation were slim to none, I, like many other dining-denied foodies around the world, breathed a heavy sigh as the last plates of the notable El Bulli left the kitchen over weekend. Those of us who are serial Tweeters followed as famed chefs Jose Andres, Grant Achatz, Andoni Aduriz, Massimo Bottura, Joan Roca, and Rene Redzepi joined chef Ferran Adria, and his brother Alberto, in the revered Catalan restaurant to assist with the final service of what has been an inspirational …

When he announced he’d be closing his world-famous El Bulli, chef Ferran Adrià made his plans for an upcoming new culinary school known. According to Time, the advisory board of Adrià’s new Basque Culinary Center recently came together in San Sebastian to brainstorm about the new institution. The culinary dream team – chefs from around the world, including New York’s Dan Barber, Copenhagen’s Rene Redzepi, and London’s Heston Blumenthal – met in the beachside Spanish city to discuss the aims and goals of the new school. Tackling culinary consciousness, a …

Seems we’re full-swing into “awards season” (I didn’t even realize there was a food awards season), with everyone and their mother naming their favorites across the culinary board. While in Portland for their annual conference, the International Association of Culinary Professionals handed out their awards for best cookbooks, food journalism, food styling, food photography, and awards of excellence.
Some of the winners include:

Cookbook – American: My New Orleans, John Besh
Cookbook – Chefs & Restaurants: Ad Hoc at Home, Thomas Keller and Dave Cruz
Cookbook – Compilations: Gourmet Today, Ruth Reichl
Culinary Writing …

According to Nation’s Restaurant News, a new book being released in May will feature a look at what kitchen workers around the country are being paid. The book, written by Rick Smilow, president and CEO of the Institute of Culinary Education, includes profiles on various executive chefs, sous chefs, and line cooks who discuss their annual salaries, as well as advice for finding your “dream job in food.” Titled Culinary Careers, the book even includes a bit on what to expect if you’re applying at El Bulli, Restaurant’s Best Restaurant …

Will he? Won’t he? What’s going on? The food world did a collective gasp last week when The New York Times declared that instead of merely closing for a few years of reinvention, famed chef Ferrán Adrià was actually planning on closing El Bulli, noted by many to be the best restaurant in the world. As thousands of eager fans sat readily at the wait by their computers dreaming only of the day when their reservation request would finally be confirmed at the avant-garde eatery, Chef Adrià explained that he …

When I started this Friday Five, I was thinking I’d just jot down a few of the restaurants I’m still needing to visit. As I started compiling my wishlist, however, it grew until it became more of a collection of culinary treks I’d like to make – and all the restaurants I want to hit during those adventures. Food & Wine’s feature on top ten “life-changing” restaurants didn’t help either.
My five ambitious foodie adventures:
1. Royal Mail Hotel, Dunkeld, Victoria, Australia. After studying abroad in Australia for a year in college, …

World-renowned chef Ferrán Adrià surprised many in the food world when he announced early Tuesday at the Madrid Fusion Summit that he would shutter his landmark restaurant, El Bulli, during the 2012-2013 seasons. Adrià, known as a leader in the world of molecular gastronomy, has facilitated the award-winning restaurant since 1984. Named the number one restaurant in the world five times over the last decade, El Bulli features an extensive course lineup offering the latest in avant-garde cooking techniques.
According to the official El Bulli press release, the restaurant will close …

Strolling into a West Seattle restaurant on a dreary November afternoon, the man himself enters nearly unnoticed. Revered in writeups and showered with culinary awards, Chef David Chang remains a humble cook, without entourage, without fanfare, and generally in a friendly state. All despite his rock star status.
Local journalists and food writers trail in one by one for the media reception, while glasses of prosecco and lychee are passed about. Chang shifts uneasily from one foot to the other in his black Converse, the glass of water in his hand …

The food world seemed astonished earlier this week when New York Times restaurant reviewer Frank Bruni unleashed a four-star rating on Danny Meyers’ Eleven Madison Park. With previous two and three star ratings, the highly regarded food aficionado awarded an additional star to the New York establishment, commenting that it’s “the best restaurant Danny Meyer has ever operated.”
In response to the collective foodie surprise, Bruni followed up his initial review with more thoughts on the four-star rating, expounding on his reasoning for the additional star while discussing others who have …

Posted by Jennifer Heigl
Famed master chef, and owner/executive chef of El Bulli, Ferrán Adrià, has decided to venture into the pizza-making business! According to the Los Angeles Times, Adrià, along with his brother and collaborator, Alberto Adrià, are in the process of developing a new pizzeria to be located in Barcelona. Known for his avant-garde style of cooking, more commonly referred to as ‘molecular gastronomy’, Adrià hopes to create an ‘honest interpretation’ of the popular food.
“We’ll learn to make it well, this national dish of yours,” Alberto told La Stampa, …

Posted by R.K. Gella
It was in December when Chef Seamus Mullen and Sommelier Roger Kugler (of Suba Restaurant and Boqueria) edged out the adroit competition (wd-50 and Michy’s were among the top seeds) at the Copa Jerez food pairing semi-finals.  Last week the duo was in Jerez, Spain, representing the US in this international competition that featured talents from Belgium, Germany, Spain and England.
But unlike the ubiquitous food and wine pairing competitions, the secret ingredient at this gala was Vino de Jerez, otherwise known as sherry, the under prescribed and …

Famed chefs Anthony Bourdain and Ferrán Adrià in one place? Where do I sign up?! Sadly, unless you were really on top of things and ordered your tickets to Saturday’s TimesTalk super early, you may have missed out on Eric Asimov’s chat with Bourdain and Adrià. Tickets to ‘A Revolution of Food’ sold out in record time, but luckily, your favorite Daily Blender blogger had her name at the top of the waiting list and shimmied in just as the talk was about to begin.
Chef Ferrán Adrià is one of …

Oy! Between the outstanding food and drink at this weekend’s NYC Wine & Food Festival and the early morning flight back to the West Coast, I’m beat! The festival, I have to declare, was a smashing success as well as a fantastic addition to an already established capital of culinary stars. Kudos to festival creator Lee Brian Schrager!
A few of my personal highlights:

“Do I have chocolate in my teeth?” asked legendary crooner Billy Joel, flashing me his pearly whites while departing last night’s SWEET event. Joel’s beautiful wife, Katie Lee …

NY Times writer Allen Salkin talks about his recent impromtu dinner with El Bulli chef Ferrán Adrià during his visit in NYC. Salkin naturally speaks highly of the opportunity, enjoying snapper, scallops, and dragon fruit with the avant garde chef and his “interpreter”, chef José Andrés.
I mourn, as do others. Our friends at Chow, via YumSugar, reported Friday that Mother’s Cookies, known for their striped bags of animal cookies, has <a href=gone out of business. Filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and laying off all of its 230 employees, the …

Earlier this summer a self-employed scooter courier from Geneva embarked on an ambitious journey to dine at all 68 Michelin three-starred restaurants in 68 days. 
After two years of saving for the trip, Pascal Henry had completed 2/3 of his gastronomic expedition when he cut his meal short at El Bulli (Barcelona) and set on an unexplained two month hiding that spawned a countryside manhunt.  Mr. Henry was eventually spotted, and last week was reported to be back in Geneva.
The last morsel Mr. Henry savored before his odd disappearance was …