Judith Gebhart

Dear dfunghi: I know, as one of the other eGullet members has indicated, that el Bulli is closed both Monday and Tuesday evenings. TRY another day of the week! If you aren't successful--and I hope you are--El Raco con Fabes (Con Fabes) chef Santamaria is a true mycologist and a superb cook. Santamaria is a three star chef with both traditional and inventive dishes that will wow you. He is not Ferran Adria. Ferran will offer you a mind-blowing new dining experience. Read Pedro's most recent post on Food Media and News: El Bulli, Soler & Adria in Context for understanding Adria's unique culinary contributions. Santamaria offers the best combination of food and lovely accommodations in the Catalunya area. Joan Roca is another outstanding chef not far from Sant Celoni. But your evening meal there, will not allow you to go upstairs to a lovely room, as you could at Con Fabes. If you do get a reservation at el Bulli book a room at the Roses hotel, Almadraba Park. It is drivable to and from el Bulli. It is also a wonderful Costa Brava destination. Hopefully it is not too expensive. Sant Pau is another great restaurant destination but it is not as accessible to lovely overnight accommodations, As I have no idea what your itinerary is for that time frame, my various ideas are probably less than helpful. Your fungi monaker caught my eye. I am an amateur mycologist. A chef with serious interests in foraging mushrooms always gets my attention. Your date for enjoying the best of the mushroom season in Spain is not April, but I am sure you already know that. Try Con Fabes for your anniversary dinner and spend the night in their wonderful newly created tiny hotel. You have a unique Spanish experience with a three star chef and a beautiful hotel for the evening. One of the first experiences as such that Spain can offer. Hope this is helpful. We have been researching the best of Spain's culinary elite for almost 10 years. We visited El Bulli early in 1997 and have since been yearly afficionados. Unfortunately El Bulli no longer has lunches which limits its availablity to the clamoring public. I understand why. Good luck and hope my post has been useful. J Gebhart

Hello Mark: Since '97, we have made many visits to El Bulli and almost every visit has been a remarkable culinary experience. I would suggest that you fax a request to Luis Garcia for 2 or 3 dates in May but do that sometime next Spring. Make sure you remind them of your last visit to El Bulli. You will probably get a positive response. I also echo Robert's response about Barcelona's other options, especially El Raco con Fabes. Santemaria presented his finest, most inventive menu ever, in our experience, at the time of our May 2003 visit. He has also redesigned his dining area. The dramatically colored interior both urban and upscale transforms the dining experience to 2003. This is a radical change from it's original stone walled, renovated country mill ambience. There are many other extraodinary culinary talents in and around the Barcelona area that deserve your attention. I must add that your plans to visit the Basque area are equally exciting. Of course visit all of those Robert visited, if possible. I would however plead the case for Mugaritz, a best value for all those resstaurants Robert reviewed. I also agree with Robert's wife who felt quite taken with Mugaritz. Andoni I believe is a cauldron of talent deserving a far better rating by Michelin. I feel he will be one of the best of the region. Hope you manage to succeed with your itinerary in 2004. Judith