For me, creativity really sparks {especially in the kitchen} when I am inspired by someone that I admire. I am continuously trying to learn as much as I can about cooking from the cream of the crop chefs, and take their creativity into the dishes I make. Whether I’m visiting their restaurants, reading their cookbooks, watching their shows…there is always an opportunity for me to learn something new from the cooks I look up to.
Courtesy of Soho House Food Magazine
It’s a well-known fact that I’ve always wanted to go to one of the top restaurants in Spain called El Bulli. Unfortunately, I never made it before its recent closing this past July! I was incredibly disappointed that I might never be in the presence of its inspiring chef and owner, Ferran Adria. But, I was recently given an even better opportunity. A good friend, who knows my love for all food and cooking, invited me to hear the one and only, Ferran Adria, speak at New York’s exclusive Soho House. When I was asked if I wanted to go my mouth literally dropped – I told him, “I am so there!”
Courtesy of Soho House Food Magazine
On a recent rainy afternoon at Soho House, Ferran Adria spoke to a small group about his new book, The Family Meal, which was born from the menus he created at El Bulli to feed his 75 member staff. It was so interesting to hear a man that I have always looked up to speak about what he loves {there was even a translator present, which made his thick accent comprehensible!} and his brilliant knowledge about restaurants and food.
After he spoke, there was an opportunity for us to ask questions followed by him signing his book, The Family Meal.
When I got home, I immediately popped open The Family Meal, and was amazed by the talent, precision, and dedication Farran Adria put into his book. The best part about The Family Meal is that he shows you sample meals that you can make from 2 people to 75 people, what ingredients are needed, and he even included step by step pictures of each recipe! Every dish you will create from this book is easy to make in your home, and the final concoction will only look like you spent hours creating it.
One recipe that caught my eye was the Banana with Lime dessert. The curiosity to taste the flavor combination of both lime and bananas together was striking. Obviously, I had to try it out! Who knew that a dish with minimal ingredients and simple directions would produce such a delicate and beautiful masterpiece on a plate? Recipe below.
Begin with boiling water into a medium pan. Pour in the sugar. Heat gently until the sugar has dissolved. Pour in the syrup into a shallow dish and let cool.
Finely grate the lime zest into the syrup. Squeeze the lime juice into the syrup and stir.
Peel, then thinly slice the bananas.
Put the banana slices into the syrup and marinate in the fridge for 1 hour before serving. Serve in a small bowl with a couple of spoonfuls of syrup. Yum!
Farran Adria is now turning El Bulli located just north of Barcelona into El Bulli Foundation, which will open in 2014! Although I never had the opportunity to dine at El Bulli, the fact that I got to hear Farran Adria speak and listen to his inspiring knowledge of what I love right here in New York was just fascinating. I’m definitely putting a trip to Spain to see the new center into my bucket list of things to do!
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