Oriol, Mateu and Eduard met in the famed kitchen of Ferran Adrià’S elBulli more than 16 years ago. All 3 chefs trained here professionally, rising up the ranks until they all held top positions in the kitchen. Between 1998 and 2011 – the year in which elBulli closed – the three chefs were part of the creative team in the restaurant’s kitchen, alongside Albert and Ferran Adrià. When elBulli closed its doors in July of 2011 to become the elBulliFoundation, the three chefs stayed on the team until November 2014, actively working by Ferran Adrià’s side on the conceptualization of the Bullipedia.
It was in 2012 that they decided to become business partners and bring a long-standing thought of their’s to life: opening their own restaurant. And so, in April of 2012, Compartir was born in the idyllic setting of Cadaqués – place filled with magic and charm in the heart of the Mediterranean. The restaurant bases its gastronomic offers on dishes intended for sharing, which showcases modern cuisine blended with traditional cooking.
With Compartir Cadaqués becoming a quick success, the trio opened their second establishment, Disfrutar, together in Barcelona in December 2014. Disfrutar’s gastronomic offerings are avant-garde, and take on the form of a tasting menu. Disfrutar, which means “enjoy” in English, was conceptualised to provide guests with the ultimate level of enjoyment of creative cuisine. The tasting menus are designed to allow guests to feel relaxed, happy and to enjoy the innovative, Mediterranean-rooted cuisine. In short, Disfrutar is a restaurant with daring, fun and modern cuisine searching for taste as the main proposition.
Disfrutar’s premises, with its contemporary design, are as surprising as the cuisine . Located in the Eixample, just in front of the Ninot Market, Disfrutar’s interior is inspired by respect for the Mediterranean’s history and legacy, with ceramic being the common theme marking the interior. The entrance area is an ode to Barcelona, showing off the wrought iron of the Ninot Market and the colours of Mironian ceramics. The central corridor, made from ceramic with the colours and textures of clay, goes through the kitchen which is completely visible to clients and leads to the main dining room. This is inspired by small fishing villages and stands out as a bright, white space that transports one outside the city and connects with the terrace; a nod to Compartir.
It is the creative, high-quality cuisine paired with the intimate and welcoming manner of Disfrutar that has gained it 2 Michelin stars in The Michelin Guide.
Mateu Casañas
Born and raised in Roses, Girona, into a food-orientated family, Mateu’s first experience in the restaurant world was in the family business – a restaurant in Si Us Plau in Roses. He then went on to apprentice at elBulli, gaining experience in all sections of the kitchen. While working as part of the creative team for the elBulliFoundation part, Mateu was able to train in a variety of other kitchens, such as Restaurante Mas Pau under the direction of Toni Gerez and Xavier Sagristà; Restaurante Túria with Rafael Clarassó and Hotel Four Seasons at High Park Corner, London.
Oriol Castro
Born in Barcelona, Oriol started his culinary career training at Joviat School in Manresa and at the Gremi de Pastisseria de Barcelona school. Thereafter, Oriol worked in the kitchens of La Torre del Remei in Puigcerdà; Via Venetto in Barcelona; Jean Luc Figueras in Barcelona; Pastelería Totel de Paco Torreblanca and Martín Berasategui’s Lasarte. Thereafter, at the end of the 1990s, Oriol started as a pastry chef apprentice at elBulli learning and growing as a chef until 1998, when he took charge, together with Ferran and Albert Adrià, of the creative team of elBulli, dedicating a large part of his work to the research and development of new dishes for the gastronomic offer of the restaurant.While working as part of the creative team for the elBulliFoundation, Mateu was able to train in a variety of other kitchens, such as Charlie Trotter in Chicago and Michel Bras in Laguiole.
Eduard Xatruch
Born in Vila-seca, Tarragona, Eduard started off in the culinary industry training at Escola d’Hosteleria de Cambrils, followed by Restaurant Quim Font in Salou; 2 Michelin-starred Ousteau de Baumanière at Aix-en Provence in France and 3 Michelin-starred Arzak in San Sebastián. Eduard then started as a chef de partie in the kitchen of elBulli and during his years working as part of the elBulli team, he gained additional training with periods of work experience in different restaurants such as Pastelería Escribà in Barcelona; 3 Michelin-starred The Fat Duck in Bray, United Kingdom and 3 Michelin-starred Le Calandre in Padova, Italy. From 1999, Eduard had the chance to work in all the areas of elBulli, eventually taking on positions of maximum responsibility. From 2005, Eduard also took charge, together with Ferran and Albert Adrià, of the creative team of elBulli, dedicating a large part of his work to the research of products.
- B de Bulthaup 2013 Gastronomy Award 2013
- A Sun in the 2013 Repsol Guide
- Two Suns in the Repsol Guide | 2014-2018
- A mention in the Michelin Guide | 2016-2019
- Number 11 on the Top 100+ European Gourmet Casual Restaurants 2017 by Opinionated About Dining (OAD)
- Number 7 on the Top 100+ European Gourmet Casual Restaurants 2018 by OAD
- Best Restaurant of the Year 2015 by the Gastronomy and Nutrition Catalan Academy
- Culinary Innovation Award by Confraria Gastronòmica Costa Daurada 2015
- First prize in the category Surface Interiors of Restaurant & Bar Design Awards 2015
- Special Mention in the 2015 ASCER Awards
- A Michelin Star in the Michelin Guide 2016
- Two Suns in the Repsol Guide 2016
- Jury Award for Best Creative Restaurant in ABC Salsa de Chiles’ Gastronomic Awards
- 2016 Best New European Restaurant Award and restaurant number 38 at OAD’s (Opinionated About Dining) list
- Barcelona Best Restaurant in Macarfi Guide | 2017 – 2019
- A Michelin Star in the Michelin Guide 2017
- Two Suns in the Repsol Guide 2017
- INSIGNA distinction by Gremi de Restauració de Barcelona
- The Miele One To Watch Award 2017 by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants
- Best new entry on the list 51-100 of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2017, reaching number 55
- Number 29 on the Top 100+ European Restaurants 2017 list of Europe’s best restaurants by OAD
- Best Foreign Chef of the year award assigned by Guida di Identità Golose 2018 (Italy)
- “Entendedor” of the year award for the promotion and the divulgation of the olive oil by CRDOP Siurana 2018
- Two Michelin Stars | The Michelin Guide 2018-2019
- Three Suns in the Repsol Guide 2018
- Number 12 on the Top 100+ European Restaurants 2018 list of Europe’s best restaurants by OAD
- Best Restaurant Business Project 2018 award by Escola d’Hoteleria Joviat
- Highest New Entry on the list of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2018 reaching number 18
Describe your culinary philosophy in FOUR words:
Creativity, mediterranean, tasty and honest.
What is your greatest inspiration?
The every day work and keeping in touch with the kitchen.
What would you take to a desert island?
We would take a knife and a matchbox.
If you could take a plane ride to any restaurant in the world, just for one meal, where would you go?
We would like to go to elBulli if the restaurant was still open… We worked there for many years but we never ate in it as guests.