El Bulli

[Louisa Chu]

Pinch me - pinch me hard.

It's just been confirmed. But I still don't believe it yet. Nor have any of the details worked out. Don't speak Spanish - forget about Catalan. But one thing I do know is that I will be working there up until closing night Season 2004 - the hottest night of the year at El Bulli!

[Schielke]

Congrats!

[Chad]

That's amazing Louisa! Congratulations. First ADPA, now El Bulli? You'll be unstoppable.

Chad

[tan319]

Congrats, Louisa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You are awesome!

Have fun, a friend and former co worker of mine just finished a stage there.

All the best.

Ted

[docsconz]

That is exciting! Best wishes.

[Varmint]

You rock!!!! Way to go!

[bloviatrix]

Congrats! I look forward to reading your posts on your experiences.

[Bux]

Terrific. It's really great to hear that it's final and official.

[pedro]

Great!. I can't think of a better place to be from April to September. Cala Montjoi is a wonderful place, as many parts of the Costa Brava Nord (North Costa Brava), both by the seaside and the inland towns. There are great restaurants to sample traditional dishes, others with a more creative edge, others specialized in serving terrific products with minimal intervention, ... .

[paulbrussel]

Congratulations! How very nice and exciting to get there!

Do enjoy, but I am sure you will.

We will read your recipes in volume 4, of course :-)

[GG Mora]

Congrats! I look forward to reading your posts on your experiences.

I look forward to dining in your restaurant someday. Big time congratulations!

[byrdhouse]

We are thrilled that we have a rising star. Please keep us posted.

Bux, can we have a special forum for Louisa's adventures?

[tan319]

We are thrilled that we have a rising star. Please keep us posted.

Bux, can we have a special forum for Louisa's adventures?

Please, please,please!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't wait to hear about how it all works.

2004 is gonna rawk!

[Bux]

Bux, can we have a special forum for Louisa's adventures?

I'm tempted to say she can have whatever she wants here. As usual, we'll be looking forward to as much communication from Louisa as possible. Cala Montjoi and Roses are certainly going to afford a very different experience than Paris. I hope she gets out and around Catalunya a bit as well. This will be a great experience and I'm sure Louisa knows how much you all want to share it.

[Simon Sunwoo]

Louisa,

Congrats. Looks as though we will be neighbors in the upcoming year. Definately keep us posted.

Simon

[Bux]

Simon,

What's up in San Celoni?

[bcnchef]

Congratulations!

I'll see you at the end of August -- after much gnashing of teeth, begging and a little good luck, I managed to snag a table.

Jordi.

[victornet]

Congratulations. I can't even get a reservation.

I'll keep trying (last year I heard that Jan 15 was the day, now I was refused in November)

maybe when I'm 70!

[GordonCooks]

Holy Phenomenal Resume Batman !

[anil]

Pinch me - pinch me hard.

It's just been confirmed. But I still don't believe it yet. Nor have any of the details worked out. Don't speak Spanish - forget about Catalan. But one thing I do know is that I will be working there up until closing night Season 2004 - the hottest night of the year at El Bulli!

What ever you do - Do enjoy Costa Brava - A beuatiful region and very nice and passionate people. Nice beaches....

[Pan]

Congratulations, Louisa!

(It's none of my business, but I hope they pay you something, because I can't imagine what all of this has been doing to your finances.)

[Louisa Chu]

Thank you all so much for your interest and support - it's what gets me through the particularly meticulous mise en place sometimes - knowing that someone cares.

Ted - and anyone else who might know - what was your friend's housing situation? Their dorms are full up and I'm waiting to hear back about alternates. Part of me thinks - hey, they're in a national park - near the beach - why not camp out? Kidding.

GG - me too, me too.

Simon, I was thinking that too. And yeah, quoi de neuf?

Hey Jordi - that's so cool! Come on - give it up - how'd you get it? victornet and I want to know!

Pan, nope - no pay - and no, please don't try to imagine what it's doing to my finances - it's quite frightening. Some stages do pay - nominally - that's what I get at ADPA - but it's all part of my education - an investment in my future, as they say. At least I don't have to pay them - which on really good days, I can't believe I don't.

[Pan]

Louisa, are you doing any freelance writing on the side?

[tan319]

Ted - and anyone else who might know - what was your friend's housing situation? Their dorms are full up and I'm waiting to hear back about alternates. Part of me thinks - hey, they're in a national park - near the beach - why not camp out? Kidding.

Louisa,

My friend was staying in the dorm.

I don't know what else is available out there.

Can they hook you up close?

maybe Bux knows about some stuff there.

I don't think the 2 hour drive will work though.

So happy for you!!!

[Bux]

I seem to recall there was some commercial campground nearby, but I'm also under the impression its season was shorter than the one at El Bulli.

Ted, what 2 hour drive are you talking about?

The town of Roses is about 7 kilomters away from El Bulli. We picked up a young American on our way back into town the first time we were there. He had just had lunch and we recognized him as we passed him on the road, so we stopped. It turned out his girlfriend was working in the kitchen and he was just visiting and dining there. We met her further along the road. It seems they missed each other at the restaurant and thinking he had already left, she left without him. It struck me that 7 kilometers was a long hike after working a shift. That was in the afternoon in the days when they served lunch. I can't imagine walking it at night on an unmarked unlit road.