Those who now consider legendary chef Ferran Adrià to be out of the picture, only because he's closed his El Bulli restaurant (many times ranked number 1 on The World's 50 Best Restaurants list), should reconsider.
While he may be spending a lot of time travelling the world these days, and attending to his obligations as spokesman for Telefonica, he's also been keeping close watch on the two restaurants he co-owns with his brother Albert and other partners, both in Barcelona.
And he's also plotting to open yet a third place in that city, this time specializing in.... Mexican food!
The online magazine 7 Canibales ran a story a few days ago saying Albert had revealed a few details of the upcoming venture to Spanish newspaper ABC last summer. According to them, the brothers have been negotiating with Mexican Carmen "Titita" Ramírez, who heads one of the best-known restaurants in the Mexican capital, El Bacío.
The ever-so-modest Ferran was mum on whether or not Ramírez will have any involvement with the new Barcelona restaurant, but declared to 7 Canibales that the new restaurant will convert he and Albert into "ambassadors of Mexico not only in Spain but throughout the world". My guess? The new place will be to Mexican food as Tickets is to tapas: a very "Adriàesque" interpretation, decidedly contemporary and creative, using the more traditional dishes they've tasted as a mere source of inspiration. Opening a "Mexican restaurant", if one can call it that, was reportedly Albert's idea: he's a big fan of the traditional cuisine served up by Ramírez.
Her specialties include the Carnitas, the barbacoa (barbecue), gorditas and tamales. Under her supervision, the original El Bacío grew into a mini-empire with nine outposts in Mexico (see the list of addresses clicking on this link).
Published by Alexandra Forbes, a Brazilian food and travel writer, food editor at GQ Brazil and columnist at Prazeres da Mesa and Folha de São Paulo newspaper.
