The Culinary Institute of America
The Culinary Institute of America
Lifetime membership in an exclusive club—that’s what awaits you as a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America. Our 45,000-strong network of alumni can testify to the exceptional value of a CIA education. With your CIA degree in hand, you don’t just have a foot in the door—you have thousands of feet in the door. The list of celebrated CIA alumni is as diverse as it is extensive. John Besh, Cat Cora, Duff Goldman, Susan Feniger, Johnny Iuzzini, Roy Yamaguchi, Sherry Yard—these are just a small sampling of our many alumni leaders. They’ve found success doing what they love. They fully embraced the idea that Food is Life. Now it’s your turn.
It’s hard to believe that a Food Network Chopped judge and runner up on The Next Iron Chef could fail her first practical exam at the CIA, but it’s true. Standing in front of the chicken she was supposed to butcher and bone, Amanda froze. She couldn’t remember a thing! Right after the exam, she went and got 20 chickens and practiced butchering them in the dormitory kitchen until she could do … [Read more...]
Major: Culinary Arts Degree: AOS Hometown: Hopewell Junction, NY Taking Student Dining to the Next Level Residential dining has traditionally had a bad reputation. Lately, however, there has been a burgeoning nationwide movement to improve cafeteria fare. For an example of a vibrant, fresh, and delicious menu, one need only look to The College of William and Mary and the culinary team led … [Read more...]
Major: Baking and Pastry Arts Degree: AOS Hometown: Bremen, GA On the Road to Discovery Culinary arts, nutrition, and food science are coming together in ways that help innovative chefs create more flavorful, healthful, and delicious foods. Today, these chefs are found not only in the kitchens of the most cutting-edge restaurants, but also in the research kitchens of leading food … [Read more...]
Certificate: Accelerated Wine and Beverage Campus: St. Helena, CA Hometown: San Francisco, CA All Roads Lead Back to San Francisco Lulu McAllister’s journey to becoming wine director for the critically acclaimed San Francisco restaurant Nopa took her from northern California to Texas Hill Country and back again. Lulu grew up in a family where food was very important. “My mom went to … [Read more...]
From Foreign to Familiar When Prateek Sadhu ’11 traveled halfway across the globe to study at the CIA’s Hyde Park campus, his family was concerned. If a family member moves to another town, let alone another continent, there is always a fear that they will never come home again. That was not Prateek’s intention, however. “I knew I would return to India because I had a long-term dream … [Read more...]
Certificate: ACAP Hometown: Miami, FL The Best-Laid Plans... Victoria Nodarse knew from a very young age that she wanted to own a restaurant. So, with her family’s encouragement, she pursued a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Barry University in Miami Shores, FL and a master’s in hospitality management from Florida International University with that goal in mind. What specifically … [Read more...]
Certificate: ACAP Campus: St. Helena, CA Hometown: San Diego For the Love of Science How did a pre-med student with an interest in science and the inner workings of the human body come to study culinary arts at the CIA? For Meg Santoni ’12, cooking was a way to help defuse the stress of difficult classes in her chosen field of study at San Diego State University. “I found reading … [Read more...]
Certificate: ACAP Hometown: Bethesda, MD From Sandwiches to Soirees While most kids were lounging on the beach or playing in the surf on their vacations, nine-year-old Elizabeth Grandchamp was a little more industrious. Liz was drawn to the Three Sisters Sandwich Shop, a breakfast and lunch business on Block Island, RI. “I asked if I could help out and they let me bag the sandwiches,” … [Read more...]
Certificate: Accelerated Culinary Arts Program (ACAP) Hometown: Ontario, CA Building the Skills to Help the Family Business Thrive Jaime Lepe, Jr. ’08 grew up in the restaurant business. His father is president and treasurer of JML Mexican Restaurant, Inc. in Pomona, CA, which owns Mexico Lindo and Tropical Mexico restaurants. “Every day after school, I would be at the restaurant until … [Read more...]
Degree: Certificate Major: Accelerated Culinary Arts Program Hometown: Winter Park, FL Education is the Key Epsilon Sellas’ desire for a culinary career was sparked by the requisite cooking class component of her hospitality major at the University of Central Florida. “I really liked working in the kitchen but knew I needed additional education,” she says. “When I did my research, … [Read more...]
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