Lunch with Ferran Adria and Jose Andres

Me listening to Ferran

To say I had butterflies in my tummy as I walked into Spago on Tuesday with Jennifer Ferro, Good Food's executive producer would be, hmmm, how shall I say, playing it down.  I've never been to El Bulli, but I've consumed so much media about the place, about Adria that I feel like I've had a deep vicarious experience.  The word unique is thrown about a lot but is rarely apt.  He is unique.  His extreme intellectual curiousity married with a passion for perfection and respect for ingredients is what fascinates me.  That he has created a new language to express himself.  Fascinating.  The new El Bulli book A Day At El Bulli is like mind candy for a culinary voyeur such as myself.  I allowed myself one entire day to do nothing but read it cover to cover.  Blew my mind.  You get to be a fly on the wall as the restaurant readies itself for one more day.  One more day of rigorous execution so the eater can experience the inside of the El Bulli team's mind.

Me and Jose Andres

So I was nervous.  I'm not so good when confronted with people I admire.  I become a gushing stupidity.  But not this time.  First of all there was Jose Andres, one of the most entertaining, lovely people around.  He's a good counterpart to Adria's seriousness.  If you've never watched Made in Spain do so now.

So onto the lunch.  Adria announced that to respect the chefs we would refrain from talking when the courses were presented.  We would just concentrate on eating, then we would talk.  Here's a couple of tidbits to know about him.  He doesn't eat bell peppers.  And he is a fast eater.  Fast.  I'm fast.  My whole life I've been told I need to slow down.  But he beat me on every course.  First the head dips into the plate for a deep inhalation to enjoy the aromas.  Then he eats.  so the time without talking was very brief indeed.

A lovely experience.  An absolutely delicious and beautiful lunch.  Thank you Wolf, Lee and Sherry!