On Tuesday 16th February, Ferran Adrià, who is considered the best chef worldwide, gave a speech in the Gran Saló Catalonia at the Alimara Hotel to students belonging to the middle and higher grades of vocational training of the CETT Hospitality College.

During his speech before the CETT students, Ferran Adrià described thinking and reasoning as vital tools in the kitchen, for both, consumers and especially professionals.  There should be an ever- awakening and concerning attitude to go beyond the sensory interpretation of products, the analysis of techniques or the knowledge of other cooking methods.  He defended honesty and normality-rather than humbleness- as necessary virtues to devote oneself to the kitchen, as well as natural leadership and  the lack of ego as essential qualities to lead a group of professionals. He affirmed that cooking is a job which can only be carried out with passion, regardless to the fact of working at a tapas bar or at an haute cuisine restaurant.  As a model example of this attitude we, for instance, have the team of el Bulli –Ferran himself, Albert Adrià, Oriol Castro, among others- who passionately work as a team without individualism and who  have promoted a revolution in the kitchen world and have motivated thousands of young people taking the decision to study cookery.

After a short introduction, Ferran Adrià gave way to a dialogue with the students, answering all the questions they wanted to ask him about his beginnings in the kitchen world, his culinary preferences, both personal and professional, his views on different issues in the current gastronomy and the future of el Bulli. 

Regarding the latter question, Ferran Adrià confirmed that el Bulli will be reborn as a foundation devoted to the study and reflection on the cooking world by a scholarship system, which will allow young professionals to expand their knowledge. This will undoubtedly be a centre for the thinking where the gastronomic tasting will continue having its space.