'Greatest chef' spills his secrets

The head chef of award-winning Spanish restaurant elBulli is to share his secrets with London.

Ferran Adrià will give a talk on his methods and recipes at Queen Elizabeth Hall on the South Bank on 24 November. It will coincide with the publication of a 600-page book, A Day At elBulli, exploring the life of the Costa Brava restaurant.

It is being produced by art books publisher Phaidon because the chef considers himself an artist. This is the first time Adrià has embarked on an international tour.

Other chefs including Heston Blumenthal are expected to join him on stage at the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

Richard Schlagman, of Phaidon Press, said: "Adrià is without question the greatest chef on the planet. His artistry and inventiveness are unmatched." Adrià said he was thrilled to be collaborating on the project, which will include 1,000 photographs, menus and recipes. "The extraordinary photography and unique structure of the book capture the essence of elBulli perfectly," he added.

Last month elBulli was named best restaurant in the world for the third year in a row at the San Pellegrino awards.