The El Bulli site was founded in 1961 by Dr Hans Schilling, a German, and his Czech wife Marketta, who wanted a restaurant for a piece of land he had purchased. The name "El Bulli" came from the French bulldogs the Schillings owned. The first restaurant was opened in 1964. The restaurant won its first Michelin star in 1976 while under French chef Jean-Louis Neichel. Ferran Adrià joined the staff in 1984, and was put in sole charge of the kitchen in 1987. In 1990 the restaurant gained its second Michelin star, and in 1997 its third
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The Catalan chef announced a year ago that the three Michelin-starred establishment, crowned best in the world five times, would be closed throughout 2012 and 2013.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/8290290/El-Bulli-chefs-magic-food-academy.html
http://sanfrancisco.grubstreet.com/2011/04/bourdain_and_andrs_enjoy_52_co.html