El Bulli, 'world's best restaurant', closes

[Hum]

A Spanish restaurant repeatedly voted the best in the world has served its final dish to the public and is closing its doors for the last time.

El Bulli, owned by award-winning chef Ferran Adria, will mark the end of a remarkable 27-years with a special sitting for staff and their families.

The eatery, in the town of Roses, has topped a renowned World's 50 Best Restaurants list a record five times.

Mr Adria said El Bulli would re-open but as a culinary think-tank in 2014.

"El Bulli is not closing, it is transforming itself, because its soul is going to remain," he told students in Valencia earlier this month.

The restaurant, which specialised in molecular gastronomy, opened for only six months of the year and, despite its reputation, never turned a profit.

Mr Adria said the final sitting would be a tribute to all those who helped make the restaurant so prestigious.

The last menu would be secret, Spanish news agency EFE reported.

Dinner consisted of a set menu comprising some 40 small dishes costing about 250 euros (?220).

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[Draconian Guppy]

The restaurant, which specialised in molecular gastronomy, opened for only six months of the year and, despite its reputation, never turned a profit.

more

Opened only for six months? No wonder no profit...

[BoredBozirini]

Molecular gastronomy? What the **** is that supposed to mean?

[tiagosilva29]

Molecular gastronomy? What the **** is that supposed to mean?

That Science is delicious.

[Draconian Guppy]

Molecular gastronomy? What the **** is that supposed to mean?

A lot of molecules of salt, a lot of molecules of pepper, a lot of molecules of oil + egg = Scrambled eggs ! :p

[Hum]

Molecular gastronomy? What the **** is that supposed to mean?

Molecular gastronomy is a discipline practiced by both scientists and food professionals that studies the physical and chemical processes that occur while cooking.

It is also the use of such studied processes in many professional kitchens and labs.

Molecular gastronomy seeks to investigate and explain the chemical reasons behind the transformation of ingredients, as well as the social, artistic and technical components of culinary and gastronomic phenomena in general.

Molecular gastronomy also refers to a modern style of cooking, which takes advantage of innovations from the scientific discipline.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molecular_gastronomy

[Draconian Guppy]

A lot of molecules of salt, a lot of molecules of pepper, a lot of molecules of oil + egg = Scrambled eggs ! :p

Molecular gastronomy is a discipline practiced by both scientists and food professionals that studies the physical and chemical processes that occur while cooking.

It is also the use of such studied processes in many professional kitchens and labs.

Molecular gastronomy seeks to investigate and explain the chemical reasons behind the transformation of ingredients, as well as the social, artistic and technical components of culinary and gastronomic phenomena in general.

Molecular gastronomy also refers to a modern style of cooking, which takes advantage of innovations from the scientific discipline.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molecular_gastronomy

Sounds exactly like what I said!

[Worthington]

Hey Hum, I looked up this place on Youtube, and believe it or not, the tv show "No Reservations" is going to do an episode completely centered around this restaurant tonight. Might be something worth downloa...er...legally watching on the Travel Channel.

Here's a preview.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6qKkMhz0_A

[Hum]

I wonder how their new recipes, new cooking ideas will make it to restaurants.

[Nerd Rage]

It was only open for 6 months but was voted best restaurant in the World "a record 5 times"? This is a monthly vote? How did it get the best in the world reputation as soon as it opened. That's crazy

[_neutrino Veteran]

kinda sad that you can be the best and still lose.

[c.grz]

The restaurant was only open six months out of the year...not just six months.

[DJ-Light]

The restaurant, which specialised in molecular gastronomy, opened for only six months of the year and, despite its reputation, never turned a profit.

[episode]

It was only open for 6 months but was voted best restaurant in the World "a record 5 times"? This is a monthly vote? How did it get the best in the world reputation as soon as it opened. That's crazy

Six months a year, not six months total. Its been open for 27 years.

[remixedcat]

still that would explain the not turning a profit thing...

businesses that are restrictive hours are the same as well.

several local businesses had to shut down in my area becuase nobody came to buy stuff... they were only open during regular business hours, a time where not very many working people can show up to buy stuff.

the places with expansive hours tend to do better since they can make more money from the evening traffic and rush after work. peak shopping times in my locale are from 2pm-10:30PM. Any time before that is dead. so therefore the businesses see only 2.5-3 busy hours a day.

for a clothes place, for example, would be best opened from 11:30AM till 10PM. many do this and they are more stable, however there were a few clothing places opened from only 9AM-5PM and they never did well around my area. Many of them would close doors and those same slots at the mall would rotate a lot from shops that had the more restrictive hours. Specially ones targeted at teens. Most teens go to the mall around 7:30-close.

I know it costs more to have expansive hours, however you have more chances to make more money. If you have rest. biz. hrs and people that would have bought your products, would just go to another place that was open, make thier purchase, and you lost the sale.

a high class romantic eatery would be best having hours from 2:30PM-10:30PM or later rather then having hours from 9:30-6:00PM Many people crave that nicer fancy atmosphere at night rather then during the day.

Taco bell should be open from lunch till at least 5:00AM. Most people crave tacos at night. However, they close at 10:00PM here and I crave them between the hours of 1:00AM-3:30AM. Most people love tacos at nite. late nite.

I think businesses need to re-adjust to the ever changing sleep and work schedules of modern people. as well as re-strategize the hours. depending on the industry.

Also many people have to take off work to get things done like docs offices, car repair, etc. those places need to expand their hours so people don't have to take off work to go to them.

If less people take off work they will have more money to shop and take care of biz. More money to circulate.

This issue is so often overloooked.

[Solid Knight]

Business hours are very important. I hate places that are only open for about a half hour after I get home from work or class. How do they expect me to shop there? Take a sick day?

[sanctified Veteran]

I think many of you are misunderstanding El Bulli.

[Kerm]

^I was just about to post the same thing. Ha.

[Growled Member]

Sad to see them close but hopefully this "Think Tank" will produce many good ideas.

[DirtyLarry Veteran]

Hey Hum, I looked up this place on Youtube, and believe it or not, the tv show "No Reservations" is going to do an episode completely centered around this restaurant tonight. Might be something worth downloa...er...legally watching on the Travel Channel.

Here's a preview.

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=l6qKkMhz0_A

I have actually seen this episode, very interesting stuff this dude does. Not sure it would be my thing from a satisfy my hunger standpoint, but definitely some plates I would be interested in trying.

[ichi]

still that would explain the not turning a profit thing...

businesses that are restrictive hours are the same as well.

Turning a profit was not the point. They had a huge waiting list, you could easily have to make a reservation a whole year beforehand.

[remixedcat]

wow!!!