New York City chef/author Anthony Bourdain is invited to film the research laboratory of Ferran Adria, the most controversial and imitated chef in the world—chef/owner of El Bulli, voted "World's Best" by Restaurant Magazine and the most visited by chefs on sabbatical. The lab, an ultra modern, Dr. No-like facility with sliding walls, backlit ingredients, latest equipment and a full staff of devotees is tucked away inside a vast, renaissance-era palace in the old section of Barcelona, Spain. Adria and his chefs close the El Bulli restaurant for six months out of ever year to work on new concepts. Bourdain tracks Ferran's process from lab to a once-in-a-lifetime meal at El Bulli restaurant, enjoying a high-concept, surrealist, haute cuisine meal of unparalleled creativity and striking visual appearance.
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About the Author
Anthony Bourdain is the author of the novels Bone in the Throat and Gone Bamboo, in addition to the mega-bestseller Kitchen Confidential and A Cook's Tour. He is the host of the popular television show No Reservations.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
41 of 42 people found the following review helpful
This DVD is an amazing glimpse of the famous Chef Ferran Adria of Spain. Bourdain was the perfect choice for this doco on such a unique chef whose philosophy of blending science with gourmet cooking is so breathtakingly fresh. Bourdain goes through a complete meal with Adria, narrating his emotions and experiences, while showing the crazy creations of new-age food. From Apple Caviar to Cotton Candy style fish corpses served on dried skin, pasta-less ravioli, to carrot foam, the dishes alone make this DVD worth getting! A must have for any foodie!
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
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This DVD helped to satisfy my curiosity about the "best restaurant in the world", at least according to a recent survey. If you are interested in
molecular gastronomy, Chef Adria is the Mr. Wizard of food science, and
he and his crew seem to love their work in the state-of-the-art laboratory where they spend half of each year experimenting with new concepts. Anthony Bourdain is the perfect host to take us through the three-hour dinner that shows off the results of their research. The beginning is a little slow, but
there is nothing quite like this restaurant, and this was a great way to
see what all the fuss is about.
molecular gastronomy, Chef Adria is the Mr. Wizard of food science, and
he and his crew seem to love their work in the state-of-the-art laboratory where they spend half of each year experimenting with new concepts. Anthony Bourdain is the perfect host to take us through the three-hour dinner that shows off the results of their research. The beginning is a little slow, but
there is nothing quite like this restaurant, and this was a great way to
see what all the fuss is about.
11 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Anthony Bourdain is engaging as always as he looks into the goings-on at el bulli, the restaurant-cum-laboratory where Ferran Adria, the chef-cum-mad-scientist concocts the bizarre creations that the food world is swooning over. You'll learn a little bit about the processes and productions of "molecular gastronomy," but the coverage is not in depth. Still, a good introduction to the chef and the food, and definitely worth watching if you're curious about this curious cuisine.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Eye opening!
Anthony Bourdain makes no qualms about his ignorance to Ferran's approach to cuisine, and thus classifies him as a kook. Read more
Published 4 months ago by WVUCHEF
2.0 out of 5 stars
What is this really?
Just to be clear, the star of this show is Anthony Bourdain, which is usually wonderful, but you don't get enough of Adria - an opportunity lost, I think. Read more
Published on May 24, 2011 by David A. Smith
2.0 out of 5 stars
Sadly very superficial
I like Bourdain but this is sadly a very superficial video. Bourdain is so in awe of Adria that he cannot ask serious questions. Read more
Published on December 2, 2010 by Jackal
5.0 out of 5 stars
Molecular Gastronomy: A Primer
Ferrán Adrià is one of the most amazing and avant-garde chefs in the world. "El Bulli," near Barcelona, yet off the beaten path, is consistently ranked as the best... Read more
Published on February 25, 2010 by Robert I. Hedges
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting Look
It is an interesting look into the world of experimentation in the restaurant business. At times though it seems like there could have been more. Read more
Published on June 16, 2009 by Nelson Chen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Eulogy for a chefs' chef
While it's obvious Bourdain is a chef, as time goes on, one can tell he's neither a narrator nor a film-maker. Read more
Published on April 24, 2009 by fCh
4.0 out of 5 stars
From the prospective of a skeptic (Anthony Bourdain)...
The video is presented Anythony Bourdain; someone who knows traditional french cooking, and hates frills, fluff, and unpalatable food as he once referred Ferran Adria negatively as... Read more
Published on March 22, 2009 by A. Hsu
5.0 out of 5 stars
proceed with caution
o.k. so i admit it, i liked kitchen confidential, although it did not go far enough, but have never been a big fan of Bourdain the man. Read more
Published on March 11, 2009 by Bernard F. Pilon
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Cook's Pilgrimage
"Decoding Ferran Adria" is Tony Bourdain's fascinating journey into the inner world of renowned Ferran Adria. El Bulli is a pilgrimage destination for hardcore gourmands. Read more
Published on November 28, 2008 by Amaranth
4.0 out of 5 stars
Over priced
I am a fan of Bourdain's. I own some of his books and have purchased NO RESERVATIONS from itunes. This DVD is a 46 minute TV episode. Read more
Published on November 15, 2008 by Earl Brumfield
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