Rejected
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"The demand has again surpassed... we regret... blah blah blah..." |
You know how publicly posting your college rejection letters is supposed to be kind of cathartic?
I'm not sure what it says that I'm taking this harder than my college rejections, but... here it is.
*sigh*
One more chance next year...
Apropos of nothing, but I've been reading your site for a few months and I've just now made the connection between you and the Monkey Island games (which I love, btw). Guess I should read the About page on blogs more often. Anyway, keep up the good work!
Posted by: Chris | February 01, 2010 at 09:30 AM
Is is closing after next year? I must have missed that. You want a hard reservation, try Le Calandre. After many years of going to the parents house in Padua, I finally was able to get in. Worth it. So worth it.
Posted by: anon man | February 01, 2010 at 09:31 AM
Anon Man...
Yeah, he just announced that after the 2011 season, he's going to close down for two years, take a sabbatical, and then reopen the restaurant in 2014 -- in some new, drastically different format that he hasn't decided upon yet.
Posted by: Skillet Doux | February 01, 2010 at 09:41 AM
we need a write in campaign. Send Dominic to El Bulli! Send Dom to El Bulli! Clamor! Clamor! Clamor!
Rabblerabblerabble
Posted by: Jon Olsen | February 01, 2010 at 10:07 AM
I keep thinking of Patrick Stewart's character from 'LA Story'.
You cannot order zeee duck!
Posted by: Independent George | February 01, 2010 at 11:57 AM
It's closing for two years? Boo! Not that I have ever eaten there, but it's sort of like the Sistine Chapel. Even if you never go see it, its sort of reassuring to know it's being looked after.
Posted by: KinderJ | February 01, 2010 at 12:02 PM
Egads, Jon. It took until now for me to pick up on the 'Blazing Saddles' reference.
Clamor, indeed.
Posted by: Independent George | February 01, 2010 at 12:43 PM
Now see, I was rewatching the Bourdain documentary about El Bulli the other night and thinking how much I'd love to see a report on a meal there from you. Here's hoping you get a seat there next year (or on a short notice this year).
Posted by: SorchaRei | February 01, 2010 at 03:52 PM
SorchaRei...
Sadly, Spain's a little difficult to do on short notice when it requires coordinating grandparents to stay with the little ones. We're flexible enough that we could make it work just about anytime, provided we have some time to work on it. But suddenly getting in and having to jet off to Spain a week and a half later just isn't going to happen.
'Fraid it's wait 'til next year for me :-/
Posted by: Skillet Doux | February 01, 2010 at 03:57 PM
Okay then, I hope like anything you get in next year!
Posted by: SorchaRei | February 01, 2010 at 04:54 PM
Sadly, my reservation request was rejected as well. Glad to know there is one more shot though...I though this was the last season before the close. Try try again!
Posted by: Sarah C. | February 02, 2010 at 10:04 PM
I got dinged, too. I'm feeling it with your Sarah C. and Dom. Next year! Always next year! (until next year, sigh).
Posted by: Bill G | February 03, 2010 at 08:01 AM
Um, does anyone think this is a random drawing? I don't.
Posted by: anon man | February 03, 2010 at 03:31 PM
Question: If I got a reservation to El Bulli, could I give it to you?
The reason I ask is that much as I would love to eat there, my health currently prevents me from taking airplane trips. So I could apply for a reservation next year, and if I got it, I'd happily hand it over to you, because reading your blog post is as close as I'm going to get to that place.
Posted by: SorchaRei | February 03, 2010 at 10:49 PM
Dom, do you think your experience as a Cubs fan has helped you weather this rejection? ;)
Sorry, couldn't help it -- I'm still smarting from the latest Vikings tragedy and felt I had to lash out.
Posted by: mncharm | February 04, 2010 at 02:04 PM
mncharm...
No, no... a lifetime of commercial, film and voiceover auditions has helped me weather this rejection.
My experience as a Cubs fan has prepared me for bitter despair.
BTW... enjoy the Brett Favre Retirement Circus™ this summer. I know I will :-)
Posted by: Skillet Doux | February 04, 2010 at 02:09 PM
SorchaRei...
Absolutely no idea. But *I* certainly wouldn't be an impediment to the plan :-)
Posted by: Skillet Doux | February 04, 2010 at 02:10 PM
I've eaten there. It was about 10 years ago and I didn't have that much trouble getting a reservation. I did book months in advance, but it was doable back then. Oh, and Spain was not on the Euro and it cost about $60.00 US per person for the meal which was at least 20 courses. I can remember having clams with peanut butter brickle and a raw monk fish liver with a foam. In fact, I do have photos if anyone is interested.
Posted by: Mark Stickler | February 04, 2010 at 07:53 PM
Chef to close 'world's best' eatery in search for inspiration -
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/02/05/spain.master.chef/index.html?hpt=Sbin
Posted by: Anonymous | February 05, 2010 at 10:19 AM
Maybe because it's harder to get a res than to get into Harvard?
Anyway, I heard he serves those frozen fish squares, and the whole thing is run buy a little man behind a curtain!
Posted by: zsparks | February 07, 2010 at 05:35 PM
Sorry for the bad news...
http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/12/el-bulli-to-close-permanently/?hp
Posted by: jh | February 12, 2010 at 08:42 PM
Yeah, saw a link to that yesterday on Fark. Brutal. I kind of get the logic though, especially if you are losing money on running the place. On the flip side, can you imagine the academy this guy could run? I have a feeling the words 'booked solid' will take on a whole new meaning. Just imagine what you could learn...
Posted by: KinderJ | February 15, 2010 at 11:01 AM
Changing topic entirely, anyone notice on the last episode of 30 Rock they inserted Jon Bon Jovi into the credits of Top Chef behind Jen?
Posted by: KinderJ | February 15, 2010 at 11:03 AM
Some more on the closing (or not closing?) from an economic perspective (all of this from a restaurant I had never heard of until Dom was denied a seat). Dom, maybe someone will take note from the first linked article and you can buy a scalped seat.
Also, just like this blog, reading the comments from the Marginal Revolution link is time well spent.
http://www.knowingandmaking.com/2010/02/markets-in-nothing-el-bulli.html
http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2010/02/why-was-el-bulli-losing-so-much-money.html
Or is he not closing?
http://chefsandwich.blogspot.com/2010/02/el-bullis-not-quite-dead.html
Posted by: gilmore | February 15, 2010 at 11:48 AM
KinderJ, yep, I saw that and loved it.
Posted by: Naomi | February 15, 2010 at 01:26 PM
Darn, gilmore beat me to linking to the econobloggers.
Posted by: Independent George | February 15, 2010 at 03:43 PM
On happier note, it looks like Kevin is going to open a BBQ restaurant in Atlanta.
http://blogs.ajc.com/the-buzz/2010/02/15/checking-in-with-kevin-gillespie-post-top-chef/?cxntlid=thbz_hm
Posted by: jh | February 15, 2010 at 05:37 PM
Independent George - Economic blogs are my first stop every day.
Posted by: gilmore | February 15, 2010 at 08:41 PM
....after my first first stop, Skilletdoux
Posted by: gilmore | February 16, 2010 at 09:01 AM
Quick! Enroll at Harvard! http://www.salon.com/food/feature/2010/03/24/us_food_spanish_chef_harvard/index.html
Posted by: SorchaRei | March 24, 2010 at 03:00 PM