Showing posts with label celebrity chefs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label celebrity chefs. Show all posts

Saturday, October 1, 2011

ferran adria

so ferran adria came to the harold washington library for a book signing & lecture.
i am so glad that i got to listen to this visionary speak.
he was the head chef of el Bulli, in roses, spain.


do some research (wiki) but this place was sick. 2 million requests per year, and they only served 8,000 meals. they didn't have a a la carte menu, only tasting. most years it actually lost money, the general operating fund coming from book sales & lecture fees. absolutely amazing.


chef adria was introduced by grant achatz, of alinea in chicago, another super important, famous, and respected haute cuisine restaurant in the nation / world.


he was hilarious. brilliant. had a translator. i am obsessed.


quit moving!


ah! anyways it was voted the number one restaurant by restaurant magazine a record 5 times. had three michelin stars. the restaurant closed earlier this summer, but it is going to reopen as a creative center. so amazing.


this is the book i bought & got signed. incredible!


the back cover!


his signature:


the cookbook he was promoting (and the only el Bulli cookbook)


the concept of the cookbook is that they showed what they made at the restaurant, but instead of a 70 - 80 serving size, they reduced it to two servings.


back cover. my friend got this one signed


'food for thought - thought for food' a book i bought at my museum years ago about the concept of el Bulli & everything chef adria does.


sample menu from 2008. changes daily.



a chronological chart of what adria & el bulli have been doing since 1983. split into the following categories: organization & philosophy, products, technology, and preparations.

this dude is seriously talented.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Chicago Gourmet 2011

the entrance to chicago gourmet!

this is my third consecutive year attending chicago gourmet
the first year i didn't pace myself at all, i got so wasted i came out to my mother...yeesh


the stella artois booth! they give out full size stella, hoegarten, & leffe pint glasses


Ardbeg, the Ultimate Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky. really peat-y.


South african liqueur, Amarula Cream is made from the exotic Marula fruit. it was actually disgusting tasting. but apparently elephants eat the fermented fruits and get drunk. i <3 elephants especially drunk ones


the absolut tent. this bartender was like 6'6".


Elijah Craig Bourbon


jimmy bannos, jr. head chef of the 'purple pig' in chicago. one of my favorite restaurants.


chef dirk flanigan. head chef of The Gage & Henri. the gage is like the ultimate gastro-pub and Henri is a super fancy french restaurant. two more of my favorite restaurants.


on the left is chef tony priolo. head chef of 'Piccolo Sogno'. awesome italian food!



michelle woods & i near the end of the festival. wowwy-zowwy.

however, i missed ted allen, andrew knowlton, and a few of celebrities. i need to get better about not just shoveling food & wine down my gullet.

SO MUCH FUN. can't wait for next year!