El Bull - The History of a Dream

Season 1

15 episodes · Oct 2, 2010

"El Bulli: The Story of a Dream" tells the amazing story of how Ferrán Adrià, a boy with a modest background with no interest in cooking, became the most influential chef in modern history and one of the world's most disruptive thinkers of our times. His legendary restaurant El Bulli changed forever the way we eat, pioneering a dialogue between gastronomy, art, design and science.

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S1E1

Episode 1 (1963-1986)

Oct 2, 201055m

In 1956, the Schilling family buys some land in the Montjoi Cove. In 1963, El Bulli takes its first steps as a restaurant business. In 1981, Juli Soler takes over the position of director. Two years later, Ferran Adrià joins as a stager.

S1E2

Episode 2 (1986-1991)

Oct 9, 201056m

Ferran Adrià remains as the only chef in 1987. That year, he decides to step away from the cookbooks and pursue his own style. He finds it by taking inspiration in the traditional cuisine in his environment, its products, cooking techniques, sauces, and garnishes.

S1E3

Episode 3 (1991-1993)

Oct 16, 201056m

After a few years of autochthonous-based cuisine, a more personal style started making way. This path was bond to avant-garde cuisine and to the intention of conquering absolute creative freedom. The first creative processes are born. The structure of the menu highlights the appearance of the tapas and the change of the dessert cart in favor of plated desserts.

S1E4

Episode 4 (1994-1996)

Oct 23, 201056m

The technical and conceptual research begins, which is probably the most important turning point for El Bulli. Ferran Adrià and his team point towards the research of new techniques, concepts and executions that would lead to a vast number of recipes. The settlement of the sweet-and-salty symbiosis takes place, along with the birth of the deconstruction and minimalism.

S1E5

Episode 5 (1996-1999)

Oct 30, 201055m

El Bulli earns its third Michelin star. In the technical and conceptual research field, a new caramelisation technique is found, leading to the development of new pastries, warm gelatin, warm foams and iced powder.

S1E6

Episode 6 (1999-2002)

Nov 6, 201056m

Investing in creativity yields results. A permanent workshop is founded in Barcelona. Later, they open Bullicarmen, el Bulli's business HQ. Also, the menu is eliminated, leaving the tasting menu as the sole option. In the kitchen, a new breading is developed and CO2 siphons are used to create carbonated beverages.

S1E7

Episode 7 (2003-2005)

Nov 13, 201056m

El Bulli offers a huge variety of new concepts, techniques and executions: air foams, spherification, liquid nitrogen, cru technique and freeze-drying. Morphings are shown on the menu, while the industrial design contribution focuses on the kitchen and the table.

S1E8

Episode 8 (2005-2007)

Nov 19, 201056m

This period is highlighted by the starring of Ferran Adrià in the Documenta12 art showcase. In 2007, the unifying thread along El Bulli's history since the late fifties broke: Marketta Schilling, the founder of the restaurant, dies at age 87.

S1E9

Episode 9 (A Day at El Bulli)

Nov 27, 201060m

Filming of an entire day, following cooks, waiters and diners, from dawn until the last customer decides to leave. This depicts in the most realistic image how this restaurant in Roses works on a daily basis.

S1E10

Episode 10 (2007-2009)

Dec 4, 201056m

There is a wide consensus about El Bulli and Ferran in many fields, not only in the culinary world. Along with several awards from Restaurant Magazine, they receive design awards and honoris causa degrees. Ferran Adrià goes on a world tour for the presentation of his book "A Day at El Bulli." The Alicia Foundation is created.

S1E11

Episode 11 (2009-2011)

Dec 11, 201055m

The last two years at El Bulli restaurant. Ferran and Juli decide to transform El Bulli and announce in Madrid Fusión 2010 the closure of El Bulli restaurante with the purpose of taking some time to reflect on how they will reopen it in 2014 as a creative center. Albert Adrià decides to start his own new challenge in Barcelona.

S1E12

The Last Waltz

Dec 18, 201053m

The 30th of July 2011, El Bulli - five-time winner of the World's Best Restaurant award - shut its doors to be transformed, in 2014, into a Foundation. Its chef, Ferran Adrià, organized one last and spectacular dinner surrounded by those that are now the best chefs in the world.

S1E13

Episode 13 (2011-2014)

Dec 25, 201054m

The exposition promoted by Palau Robert about the history of El Bulli restaurante makes us reconsider the initial project to expand the future Foundation's mission to preserve the essence and legacy of El Bulli. El Bulli's universe, Ferran Adrià, Juli Soler, Albert Adrià continue expanding the myth and manage to transcend the gastronomy world towards the world of innovation.

S1E14

Episode 14 (2014-2017)

Jan 1, 201156m

After three years of work, El Bulli foundation achieves its goals based on three pillars: Sapiens (El Bulli foundation methodology), La Bulli grafía (visitable archive) and El Bulli 1846 (a place in Cala Montjoi to study and explore the efficiency of the creative process).

S1E15

Documenting Documenta

Jan 8, 201179m

It collects the testimony of artists, museum directors and curators that for the first time reflect on the place of avant-garde cuisine in the world of modern art.