El Bulli 2008: Sneak Preview
El Bulli's opening day is tomorrow.
By the way, how did those reservations work out this year? Is anyone else going?
I have a friend staging there this season, Lee Wolen, most recently chef at the late Butter restaurant in Chicago - no relation to celebstaurant Butter in New York.
Lee sent this email over the weekend:
from: lee wolen <xxxxxxxxx@gmail.com>
to: Louisa Chu <louisa@movable-feast.com>
date: Sun, Mar 30, 2008 at 2:48 PM
subject: el bulli
signed by: gmail.com
just writing to say i am here safe and sound and have been working for 4 days now. It's beautiful here and we get 2 and a half days a week off and once a month we get 4 days in a row off. The biggest problem is my language and it's impossible to understand them and speak back so i have to follow every one. I can't read any recipes and pretty much nobody seems to care to speak in english. the place is amazing tho and hopefully it will get better. hope all is well and will talk to you soon
--
Lee
Lee actually just started taking intensive Spanish lessons, as soon as he received his acceptance letter a few months ago. And things will get better once service starts of course.
Last night was the annual pre-season Friends and Family. Ferran himself personally hand-picks guests every year. The list is never the same and he never explains his choices. That is truly the toughest reservation in the world. Check out the exclusive undercover footage.
Wrong link! Please fix!
Posted by: Anonymous | 01 April 2008 at 15:58
AHHH! You got me!
Posted by: JeffG | 01 April 2008 at 16:06
At first I thought, "Great! Another dinner I'll never have at El Bulli!" Now I don't feel so bad! Good one!
Posted by: mr. anderson | 01 April 2008 at 16:13
Very good question on el bulli - would be curious to hear what people think about it this year.
Posted by: Alex | 04 April 2008 at 15:15
OH MAN!.... I was RICK ROLLED. I did not expect that from you, not in a million years. Nice one.
Posted by: James | 05 April 2008 at 12:12
I had lunch there on Sunday (April 6th, so on the fifth day) - it was wonderful!!! I'll be reporting on my blog and eGullet soon, with lots of pictures :)
Posted by: Pille | 08 April 2008 at 03:06
I'll be at El Bulli for lunch in June...
I've got a reservation confirmation after several emails sent in different periods in october 2007!
I sent a first email in march 2007, and they replied to ask again in mid-october. I did that, and after a first fully booked answer I finally got an OK for the date I was asking for...
Posted by: Fede - Fiordimela | 14 April 2008 at 06:39
Hi I rember how it feels I was there in 2006 didnt speak spanish. It will get easier. Its a magic place which changed my world have fun
Posted by: uwe | 18 April 2008 at 03:25
I just got back from a dinner at el Bulli, and it was a wonderful experience! I can't imagine getting to work there; heck, I'd even do the dishes.
http://imoralist.blogspot.com/2008/07/dinner-at-el-bulli-getting-there-part-1.html
Posted by: Michael Buitron | 16 July 2008 at 23:10