Missing Swiss Courier/Gourmand Skips Out on El Bulli Check, Vanishes

Posted by Baylen on Aug. 5, 2008

Tragedy and mystery are turning this summer into a screenwriter’s delight. First the Brasilian balloon priest, then the disaster on K2, and now this:

[Motorcycle courier] Pascal Henry, 46, began his quest to eat at all 68 three-star Michelin-rated restaurants in 68 days — a 24,850-mile (40,000km) journey that would take him through nine countries — last May.

But in June he disappeared from a table at El Bulli, the celebrated Spanish establishment, without paying and has not been heard of since. Spanish detectives said yesterday that they had begun an investigation into the disappearance after receiving a request from their Swiss counterparts through Interpol.

Detectives in Geneva were alerted by Mr Henry’s relatives when he failed to show up for work on July 15 after what was supposed to be one of the greatest culinary adventures of modern times.

Mr Henry had finished his dessert at El Bulli — restaurant No 40 — when he got chatting to a couple at the next table, according to a Spanish police source.

He offered them his visiting card, but when he looked in his pockets he found he had none on him. So he popped out to his car to get one - and that was the last that was seen of him.

[...]

The mystery surrounding the Genevan gastronome has been fuelled by reports that he is divorced and deeply secretive and went missing for several months as a teenager.

More here. As for the inevitable screenplay, if the French write it, it will be a quirky comedy. The Americans–it will have great food imagery but be terrible because it stars Tom Hanks. So c’mon Brits. Get to writing!

Tagged: el bulli, michelin, pascal henry Share This