Books

The Sorcerer’s Apprentices. A Season in the Kitchen at Ferran Adriá’s elBulli

Lisa Abend

Title The Sorcerer’s Apprentices. A Season in the Kitchen at Ferran Adriá’s elBulli
Author Lisa Abend
Publication place United states of america
Publication year 2011
Publisher Free Press
Languages English
No. of pages 279
ISBN 9781849833226
Buy it online at Books4Spain

There are many books on ElBulli, the world`s most famous restaurant and perhaps the most influential ever. It has, undeniably, "attained a near-mythic reputation for culinary wizardry." There are texts on Ferran Adrià, his philosophy, his recipes, his life story, the story of the restaurant... but what about the other people that put it together and make it function like clockwork?
This book provides the first-hand stories of the stagiers, or interns, that work for free for Adrià in the hopes of learning from the master. It is the most coveted culinary job in the world. The training program provides an unforgettable experience for those fortunate enough to be accepted, but it is no picnic. The text reflects how the apprentices push themselves to the limits of their culinary skills, how they adjust to the demands for creativity, and how they deal with the intense pressure of performing night after night, cranking out up to 1,500 dishes per day.
"Taken together, their stories form a portrait of the international team that helps make a meal at elBulli so unforgettable. But they also offer a look at a Ferran Adrià few ever see, a Ferran who is not only a genius chef and artist, but also a boss, teacher, taskmaster, businessman, and sometimes flawed human being."
Moreover, the apprentices live together, which further intensifies the situation while also making it more human. They are aspiring chefs from all of the world, submitted to a grueling challenge and pursuing a dream. Some excel, some crack. And here are their stories.