Combine one of leading and award-winning food writers, Colman Andrews, with what is by most culinary authorities tout as “the chef of the decade”, Ferran Adrià, for an enlightening, engaging and entertaining must have book for the food passionate.
Colman Andrews, a name recognizable as one of the founders and the former editor in chief of Saveur. It is a name well recognizable in food writing from his many columns in Gourmet magazine to his cookbooks, Catalan Cuisine to The Country Cooking of Ireland which won the 2010 James Beard Cookbook of the Year.
Andrews drew on his observations but also reaching out to the people who know Ferran the best for their insights. Paraphrasing from the book, for some Adrià might be the most influential chef alive, if not that, Ferran is absolutely the most controversial.
Adrià really thinks about cuisine and how we dine. The question is raised why when we eat breakfast we have coffee and then the egg and at lunch we have the egg and then the coffee. Simple thought, but Adrià is that intense, that curious about food, flavors, and the many, many food combinations and variables.
Serious chefs and food connoisseurs know of Adrià and some have been lucky enough to get a reservation and dine at El Bulli in Roses on Spain’s Costa Brava. Most would have a better chance winning the lottery than getting one of the limited reservations.
It was not Ferran, who sought a biographer, but it was Colman, who through the assistance of Chef José Andrés that brought the two together and it was not an idea that Ferran warmed to immediately. More details on this partnership, the humor, passion and Ferran’s sense of cuisine is in the video from the book launch in New York which is on this page.
Book launch of Ferran – who was in the audience, tells its own story
Mid-October was the official book launch of Ferran – The inside story of El Bulli and the man who reinvented food that was held at the International Culinary Center home to the French and Italian Culinary Institutes. Adrià, an animated, passionate man who speaks with hands, his eyes and his whole body captured the audience as no one moved for the two hour up close and personal chat. The small amphitheater was filled with leading food luminaries the likes of chefs Mario Batali, José Andrés, Jacques Torres, André Soltner, Alain Sailhac, Jonathan Waxman, Michael Lomonaco, and Michael Laiskonis.
Drew Nieporent, renowned restaurateur of Myriad Restaurant Group held his Flip camera as did this writer throughout the talk. Tim and Nina Zagat of the Zagat survey and Steven Shaw of EGullet.com also listened intently.
Champagne and wine flowed, the food; glorious examples of Spanish cuisine (see photo slide show) was abundant and for many a real close up encounter with the chef who made the world look at food through new eyes. What are myths and what is real about Ferran Adrià are best answered in Ferran – The inside story of El Bulli.
Please enjoy the video of Ferran’s talk (this is Part 1) and the slideshow of the evening.
Comments