Ferran Adria Acosta great up outside of Barcelona, Spain where his first love was soccer. In 1977, he entered the Polytechnic Institute of Merced to study Administration in Business Studies, but unmotivated by his studies, left school in 1980. In search of spending money for vacation, he started his culinary career as a hotel dishwasher. After completing military service, Ferran began as a line cook at elBulli, and by 1984, was named head chef and continued there until 2011 when the restaurant closed its doors. Today, he has the elBulliLAB where the central idea is to understand food and the innovation around food.AWARDS: 2010 - Best Chef of the Decade by The Restaurant Magazine 2008 - Best Restaurant in the World by The Restaurant Magazine 2007 - Best Restaurant in the World by The Restaurant Magazine 2006 - Best Restaurant in the World by The Restaurant Magazine 2003 - City of Barcelona Award by the Barcelona City Council 2002 - Best Restaurant in the World by The Restaurant Magazine 2001 - Gold Heart Award by Spanish Heart Foundation 1999 - Chef of the Year Award by Gourmetour 1997 - Catalonia Tourism Medal by Generalitat de Catalunya 1996 - Restaurant of the Year Award by Club de Gourmets 1992 - National Gastronomy Prize for the best Chef de Cuisine by National Academy of Gastronomy