CATALUNYA - COSTA BRAVA - CALA MONTJOI - elBulli 2009

Three Michelin Stars

elBulli

This is an old one from 2009, but it's good to look back sometimes, especially when the restaurant is no longer open. This review is from the world-renowned elBulli, which closed in 2011 and was run by Catalan chef Ferran Adriá.

Restaurant Magazine judged elBulli Number One on its Top 50 list of the world's best restaurants for a record five times: in 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009. In 2022, the restaurant was voted number one in the best of the best group on www.theworlds50best.com. This is a list of all the restaurants that have topped the annual poll of The World's 50 Best Restaurants over its 18-year history but are no longer eligible to be voted on new list editions.

The restaurant was around 7 km outside the town of Roses on the Costa Brava coast.

You will spend a hair-raising taxi drive along the coastal road before getting to the elBulli. The restaurant sits alone above the small bay of Cala Montjoi in an old Catalan Finca.

Looking across to Cala Montjoi

The real elBulli.............

Chefs at work in the kitchen.

There were 70 staff for 54 customers.

Below are some items from the 37-course tasting Menu, which everyone in the restaurant is obliged to have.

Cane Mojito-Caipirinha

Spherical Olive

Vanilla Chips

Crunchy Rabbit Ear

Cherry Umeboshi

Black Sesame Sponge Cake with Miso

Balsamic Seed & Basil Infusion

Oyster Leaf with Dew Vinegar

Grilled Strawberries

Soya Milk with Soya

Mimetic Almond

Yolks

Mushroom-CRU with Hazelnut

Pumpkin & Almond Sandwich

Sea Anemone with Te

Razor Clam with Seaweed

Abalone

Cockles & Foie

Parmesan Ravioli

Suckling Pig Tail

Pond

Mango Ravioli

Milk with Gold Leaf

Coco

Morpthings............

The Menu from the day

The food menu of 37 courses

Wine Menu

Looking across to Cala Montjoi

Cala Montjoi looking up at elBulli

The restaurant had a limited season: the 2010 season, for example, ran from June 15 to December 20. Bookings for the next year were taken on a single day after the closing of the current season. It accommodated only 8,000 diners a season but got over two million requests. The average cost of a meal was €250. The price that evening, with wine, was €375pp.

The restaurant has operated at a loss since 2000, with operating profit coming from elBulli-related books and lectures by Adrià. As of April 2008, the restaurant employed 42 chefs.