The Culinary Institute of America
The Culinary Institute of America
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...]
Going Home is a Breeze The soft island breezes and fragrant smells of the island of Nevis were never far from Michael Henville’s mind when he was up north attending The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. “I never really acclimated to the northern climate, but the CIA made such an impact in my life I would do all four years over again in a heartbeat,” says Michael. Now back … [Read more...]
Amy Racine ’11 always knew she would return to the San Francisco Bay area. The vibrant culinary and enological culture of the city draws aspiring chefs and sommeliers from around the world. Inspiration comes from the lush hills, valleys, and mountains that surround the city and provide lush ingredients destined for serving plates and wine glasses. Amy’s time spent at The Culinary Institute … [Read more...]
Imagine having to describe and identify six wines, including grape type, country, region of origin, vintage, and quality level, within 25 minutes. This is only one part of the challenge facing those who wish to sit for the Master Sommelier diploma examination. The practical and theory portions are equally difficult. In the service practical, seasoned Master Sommeliers role-play guests in a … [Read more...]
When Stephen Robertson '72, owner of Hells Canyon Winery in Idaho, told his daughter Bijou "making wine is all about being able to taste, and to really taste you have to learn to cook," she took his words to heart. She arrived at the CIA armed with a desire to learn all she could about food and wine. She attended Michael Weiss's and Steven Kolpan's wine classes simultaneously so as to not miss any … [Read more...]
Like many CIA freshmen, Eddie Ledesma arrived on campus with aspirations of becoming an executive chef. But after returning from externship, he discovered his true passion. "The restaurant classes, the wines course, the bachelor's courses...they all really helped foster a love for the front of the house." So after graduating from the BPS program, Eddie joined The Ritz-Carlton in Naples, FL as … [Read more...]
Darcy Sala is contagious. Sit down with her and talk for a few minutes about food and you can't help but catch her unbridled enthusiasm and passion for the culinary profession, and especially for her alma mater. "Wow, being at the CIA was a great experience," she gushes. "Every day I'd get up three hours early to be ready for classes. I can cry thinking about how wonderful it was to be around … [Read more...]
After wearing many hats during her tenure at the CIA, Chef Felder is presently managing director of the college's newest campus in Singapore. Chef Felder is building the first bachelor's degree program in culinary arts in Singapore. An avid supporter for the advancement of women in the hospitality industry, Chef Felder has played an integral role in growing the presence of organizations such as … [Read more...]
When Lilia Temple was a student at the CIA and was thinking of merging her love of sculpture with her love of food, she asked one of the chefs if he knew of anyone she could talk to about food styling. He replied, "Oh, there's some woman in the Midwest who does a lot of it." Well, what was once limited to a "lone" woman has now turned into thousands of people. With the explosion of cooking … [Read more...]
Freelance food stylist Carol Gallant says she has the best job in the world—and she's racking up the professional accolades to show she's one of the best at doing it. Carol, who had done "a little catering but never had a 'career'," entered the CIA at age 45 after being urged by chefs at the restaurant where she worked to attend the CIA. "It was the best two years of my life and the best thing … [Read more...]
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