El Bulli 2003-2004 [Hardcover]

I'll start with a disclaimer - I am a hobbyist and not a prefessionally trained chef. Even if you are a very experienced hobbyist don't expect to be able to prepare more than 5-10% (or less) of the recipes in this book. This book is not a beginner or even an advanced cookbook. While it contains recipes (on the attached CDROM), most of these recipes contain techniques that are far from standard and that may require specialized chemicals (such as Sodium Alginate and liquid nitrogen) and/or devices (such as a PacoJet, or a syphon with elBulli devised attachments). Furthermore, these recipes are far from forgiving, and most of the time you'll end up with a *really* unappetizing mess rather than a meal. Practicing before inviting friends is not an option with this one... For perspective, I own about 50 cookbooks, from the basics to celebrity chef bibles. To compare, apart from a few complex recipes, about 50% of Thomas Kellers' book is pretty doable.

Now for the good. This book is more of an inspirational journey than a cookbook. It chronicles a team of chefs journey outside of the realm of the known. Ferran Adria has reached the pinnacle of traditional cuisine, got the elusive third Michelin star, and instead of cashing in by opening cloned 3 star restaurants (like Alain Ducasse and Thomas Keller) has decided to venture out and explore.

The book is part of a series of books obssessivly annotating this journey. As an example of the depth of the obssession lies the tools the team created: To the young team yet unaware of the rigorous language of food science - mere words seemed inadequate to describe the products and procedures they had invented. So with a semi-deranged, Tolkien like fastidiousness, a philosophy, a methodology, an alternative supportive language (along with rune like icons)and even a map were created.

This tome is obssessive compulsive creativeness at its best. Like a Peter Greenaway film, it attempts to establish its place in a made-up chronology of food evolution. But just as cinema will never resemble a Greenaway Film, haute cuisine, while taking up some of Ferran's creation, will never become elBulli.

As for the recipes? These techniques, while (somewhat) annotated, are difficult to master for the home cook. As an example, I am still waiting for my Airs to emulsify properly. I'll get there, but it will take time and lots of thrown away food. But I'll keep trying. As for my pasta less raviolos? They are getting much better thanks!

I apologize in advance to all my fellow foodies for stating a minority (and probably politically incorrect) opinion here -- please forgive me. This is a beautiful book, and it describes amazing food; but for anybody who is not a professional chef AND a mad scientist, the preparations are totally unattainable. Reading this book is like reading about a supermodel: admire and ogle and fantasize all you want, but do you really think you have any chance of meeting, conversing with, or dating such a woman? It also reminds me of the music of Harry Partch, which can only be played on one-of-a-kind instruments which Partch invented; without the cooking implements available only to the chefs of El Bulli, plus a fully-stocked chemistry lab to synthesize nanofoods and monitor pH levels, recreating the vast majority of these dishes is largely impossible. And since the restaurant is only open 6 months a year, and accommodates less than 1% of those requesting reservations, it is highly unlikely you'll ever taste any of the food either, even if you can afford the 300-Euro-per-person tab (hotel & airfare not included). So, one is forced to ask: What's the point? I suppose, for about the price of a single meal for one at El Bulli, it might yield some vicarious pleasures and satisfy some of your curiosity about how a particular dish is made. And it is certainly a VERY generous Christmas gift for your relative the foody who has absolutely everything. But if you're expecting to be able to take this book into the kitchen and recreate El Bulli cuisine, sorry -- you're whistling past the compost pile.

If you are considering purchasing this product you are either in the industry, know somebody who is in the industry, or someone who just plain loves food. The El Bulli books, created by the Culinary Dynamic Duo the Adria brothers is by far some of the most amazing and inspirational abstract food art in the world.

While these food creations are not intended for the home cook, the likes created by these two remarkable chefs and the Molecular Gastronomy movement that they helped to create have made these once unheard of ingredients slightly more available to the general public. There are various resources out on the internet that are reasonably priced ([...] comes to mind) for anyone who dreams of replicating what they see.

Even if you haven't the patience or the talent to perfect these now classic techniques, this book is an invaluable addition to anyone's private collection simply for the historical wonder of this ever-changing craft. The photos and memiors are incredible to read and the production value is just outstanding. A must own for any enthusiast.