You can´t have your cake and eat it...unless you are Ferrán Adriá

The acclaimed Spanish chef Ferrán Adriá attained worldwide notoriety by using in his restaurant

El Bulli, what is known as molecular gastronomy or - for the rest of us - the application of scientific principles to cooking. In 2011, Adriá, decided to close the 3-star Michelin El Bulli., which since 2002 had been voted Best Restaurant in the World on five occasions and open El Bulli Foundation, to carry out investigations into the creative process in gastronomy.  

If you are familiar with hot gelatin, spherical ravioli and deconstructed Spanish omelett you know what I mean. If you are not, help is at hand from the master himself, by visiting his roving exhibition, Auditing Creative Processes, that first showed last year in Madrid, and has just left Lima (Peru). The exhibit is a documented journey through the history of El Bulli and its evolution from restaurant to think tank. Adriá closed his restaurant and is still considered by some to be the best chef in the world, thus the title of this post.
Just in case the exhibition does not come to your city, I leave you with a few pics and videos.

Tools of the trade

Micha welcomes at Maido

Maido means welcome in Japanese and Mitsuharu Tsumura (Micha) welcomes you to his Lima based restaurant Maido, where he serves what is considered the best Nikkei (fusion of Japanese and Peruvian) cuisine in Peru. Maido was voted 7th in the Latin America´s 50 Best Restaurants Awards and the award is well deserved. A must in your next visit to Lima.
More on how Special Baggage met up with Micha in southern Peru soon...

Maido

Dessert Maido

Cebiche in the Panamericana Sur

For anyone travelling south of Lima, a stop at El Piloto is a must. This roadside restaurant offering traditional Peruvian food in big portions is an institution in Peru and with good reason. In a recent visit, two of us shared a very good tiradito (cebiche) and causa, which you can see below. The bill, including two beers and mineral water came to around 30 euros. Not cheap for local standards but reasonable considering quality and quantity.
Since the construction of the new motorway a couple of years ago, the restaurant is in the "old" Panamericana and you have to make a short detour in order to get to it, but it is worth it.
Panamericana Sur Km 138, San Vicente de Cañete (Tel. 91052552).
They also have a branch in Boulevard Asia and have recently opened in Pisco.

Tiradito

Causa

Restaurant La Menorah, Estepona, Málaga (Spain)

If you happen to stay in or near Estepona or just driving through, I recommend you visit La Menorah. When you arrive, you will probably be welcomed by Jose Luís, the co-owner together with the chef Paco. Jose Luis will immediately make you feel as if you have gone to a friend´s house for lunch. Although there is a menu - or so I am told, since I have never seen it - it is best to have whatever fresh fish of the day is on offer. The last time I was there, we had octopus on a bed of boiled potatoes and covered with a delicious sauce, followed by my favourite: sea bass baked in salt. For dessert, we had the house special, called the "madness of Estepona". Prices will vary depending on the price of fish in the market. In August 2011, the bill for two, including wine and coffee came to 95 euro.
(Urb. Arena Beach. A7 Road - km. 151,2 -the old N-340 Road- Estepona, Málaga.
Telephone: +34952792734. Closed Mondays)