CIA Recipe: A Healthier Muffin for Your Valentine

Muffin Makeovers Dispel the Low-Fat-is-Healthy Myth

One of the most romantic things you can do for your loved ones on Valentine's Day is to bring them breakfast in bed. But if you're thinking it's not healthy to indulge in any sweets for a Valentine's Day meal this year, think again. The chefs at The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) have teamed up with researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) to dispel the low-fat-is-healthy myth and give you five delicious muffin-makeover recipes to serve to those you love.

HSPH research showed that low-fat diets are no better for health than moderate or high-fat diets—and for many people, may be worse. To support these findings, nutrition experts as HSPH and chefs at the CIA developed five new muffin recipes that incorporate healthy fats and whole grains, and use a lighter hand on the salt and sugar. Their goal? To "make over" the ever-present low-fat muffin, touted as a "better-for-you" choice when in fact it often has reduced amounts of heart-healthy fats, such as liquid plant oils, but boasts plenty of harmful carbohydrates in the form of white flour and sugar.

Take a regular blueberry muffin from a national coffee shop, for example. It has 450 calories on average and most of those calories come from carbohydrates from white flour and sugar. However, now that national chains have eliminated trans fats, a regular muffin does have heart-healthy fat, usually from soybean or canola oil. A low-fat muffin still has about the same amount of calories, but contains more carbohydrates and sugar and about 60% more sodium than a regular muffin.

The new made-over Blueberry Muffin recipe below is less than half the size of a coffee shop muffin and contains just 130 calories. It is made with a mixture of whole wheat and white and almond flour, and uses canola oil, a healthy fat.

"There are so many ingredients available to home bakers who want to offer their families healthful, flavorful baked goods," says CIA Chef Richard Coppedge, Jr. "The five recipes not only include a wide variety of whole grain and nut flours; they also demonstrate how more unusual ingredients like canned chickpeas and extra virgin olive oil can be used in baking."

Show the ones you love how much you care. Bake up a batch of delicious "made-over" muffins, sure to become favorites, and let them indulge in a more healthful way.

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Blueberry Muffins

Makes 18 muffins

• 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup almond flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon orange zest
• 2 cups fresh blueberries
• 2 eggs, large
• 1 1/4 cups low-fat (1%) buttermilk
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 6 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 tablespoon orange juice
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1. Place the rack in the top third of the oven and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line muffin tins with paper liners.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and orange zest. Add the fresh blueberries and toss gently to coat the blueberries in flour. This will help keep the blueberries suspended in the batter instead of falling to the bottom.
3. In a medium mixing bowl, lightly beat the eggs, then whisk in the buttermilk, brown sugar, canola oil, orange juice, and vanilla. Don't be concerned if the mixture looks curdled or lumpy.
4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until most of the flour is incorporated. The mixture can be slightly lumpy; don't over-mix. Divide the batter among the 18 prepared muffin cups.
5. Bake 12 to 14 minutes, until the muffins are golden brown around the edges.

Nutrition analysis per muffin: 130 calories, 3g protein, 16g carbohydrate, 1g saturated fat, 2g polyunsaturated fat, 3g monounsaturated fat, 140mg sodium, 21mg cholesterol, 1.5g fiber.

See also the recipes for Cranberry Orange Muffins, Jalapeño Cheddar Corn Muffins, Lemon Chickpea Breakfast Muffins, and Whole Wheat Banana Nut Muffins.

Photo Captions:

Photo 1: Whole wheat pastry flour and low-fat buttermilk are among the ingredients that make CIA's Blueberry Muffins healthier. (Photo credit: CIA/Keith Ferris)

Photo 2: CIA's Healthier Muffins: Cranberry Orange, Jalapeño Cheddar Corn, Whole Wheat Banana Nut, Lemon Chickpea Breakfast, and Blueberry. (Photo credit: CIA/Keith Ferris)

Media Contact:

Virginia Muré
Communications Manager
845-451-1555
v_mure@culinary.edu

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CIA Survey: Foodservice Companies Creating More Jobs in 2012

Largest CIA Career Fair in Four Years Shows Optimism that Food World is Leading Economic Recovery

Hyde Park, NY, February 2, 2012 – More than 250 job recruiters and human resources professionals from all facets of the foodservice and hospitality industry will be at The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, NY on February 7, looking to hire recent and soon-to-be CIA graduates. In a sign that the food industry is leading the economic recovery, this is the largest career fair at the college in four years and one of the largest ever.

Recruiters were surveyed prior to attending, and the results showed:

• 75% of those responding will be adding even more jobs this year than in 2011.
• Companies are hiring for a wide range of positions in kitchen operations, dining room operations, management, and beverage operations.
• What they are looking for most when interviewing potential employees is previous work experience, communications skills, and problem-solving skills.

"The diversity and sheer number of job opportunities available to our students and graduates shows that a CIA education opens doors," said CIA Director of Career Services Wendy Higgins. "The organizations at this career fair represent every facet of the food world. And with another 1.3 million jobs being added this decade to an industry that's already 13 million strong, this is a great time to go into a career in foodservice and hospitality."

The CIA holds four career fairs a year on its Hyde Park campus, where recruiters actively seek CIA students for externship field experience and graduates for a wide range of jobs in kitchens and dining rooms and on management tracks. In another sign that the economy is on the upswing, each of the last eight fairs have seen a growth in companies and job interviews from the same season the year before. At the most recent fair, in November, almost 600 students and alumni were interviewed for job openings. This month's fair is expected to far surpass that figure.

Media are invited to attend the career fair at the Hyde Park campus to speak with recruiters, students, and the college's Career Services Office. To arrange a visit or conduct interviews by telephone, please contact Jeff Levine at j_levine@culinary.edu or 845-451-1372.

Photo Caption:

A career fair at The Culinary Institute of America's Hyde Park campus in 2007. The February 2012 fair will be one of the largest ever at the college, with more than 250 job recruiters. (Photo credit: CIA/Keith Ferris)

Media Contact:

Jeff Levine
Communications Manager
845-451-1372
j_levine@culinary.edu

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The Culinary Institute of America Launches Cutting-Edge Series of Culinary Science Courses for Professional Chefs

Four Exciting New Continuing Education Classes are Now Offered at CIA Campuses in Hyde Park, NY and St. Helena, CA

Hyde Park, NY, January 26, 2012 – As part of the college's mission to provide cutting-edge education and to advance new understanding of food and flavor, The Culinary Institute of America has launched a series of four new courses. These additions to the CIA Continuing Education curriculum, designed for the professional chef, will explore the science underlying new techniques, culinary traditions, and food safety.

Through a combination of lectures, discussions, and extensive hands-on kitchen—and guided by award-winning members of the CIA faculty and guest faculty from industry and academia—professional chefs will gain a better understanding of culinary science principles that can foster efficiency and innovation in the modern food service industry. These classes are now offered at the CIA's main campus in Hyde Park, NY, and at the Greystone campus in St. Helena, CA. All programs are designed for professional chefs with advanced culinary skills.

"A sound foundation in the principles of science underlying our techniques and traditions is 'Mise En Place 2.0' for the modern chef," said Dr. Chris Loss, PhD, director of the Department of Menu R&D. "The culinary industry is becoming increasingly technical and cross-disciplinary. Chefs eager to keep pace in the competitive food industry should be familiar with the fundamentals of culinary science that have already captured the attention of the culinary world."

The CIA Culinary Science courses have been designed by chefs, a microbiologist, a sensory scientist, and a food chemist, as well as consulting experts from the recent book by Nathan Myhrvold, Modernist Cuisine. This cross-disciplinary faculty team reflects the fascinating integration of the art and science of cooking that drives major food industry trends.

To find out more about the faculty designing and teaching this course, please visit us online.

The four Continuing Education classes that open this new series include: Culinary Science: Principles and Applications in Modern Cuisine; Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) Writing; Introduction to Precision Temperature Cooking Techniques and Processes; and Menu Development—Commissary/Contract Feeders.

Culinary Science: Principles and Applications in Modern Cuisine allows students to review the principles of culinary science and their applications in modern foodservice industry careers through lectures, discussions, and extensive hands-on kitchen work. By comparing traditional and "modernist" techniques, this course introduces chefs to the mechanisms underlying the physical and chemical changes that occur during food preparation and cooking—and how to control them. The five-day class will be offered August 13–17 at Hyde Park. Tuition is $1,795 per person.

HACCP Writing offers an overview of how the education, health care, military, contract foodservice, commissary, and restaurant segments of the industry must be brought into compliance with current Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) regulations, according to state codes. In this non-cooking class, students apply the process of creating a HACCP program specific to their foodservice establishments, and study the science, microbiology, and safety elements of precision temperature cooking. The four-day class will be taught at St. Helena, February 21–24, 2012. Tuition is $1,300 per person.

Introduction to Precision Temperature Cooking Techniques and Processes offers a foundation for foodservice managers, chefs, decision makers, and researchers seeking to understand the techniques and benefits of precision temperature cooking processes. The course is designed to demonstrate the interconnectivity, techniques, and benefits of complete end-to-end systems centered on precision temperature cooking systems. The four-day class will be taught at St. Helena, April 9–12, 2012. Tuition is $1,300 per person.

Menu Development—Commissary/Contract Feeders allows food production facilities to improve menu items and products for receiver kitchens, in segments such as health care, education, military, institutions, and business and industry properties. Students analyze their site facilities and create operational changes that promote economic savings, through efficient food production techniques, green initiatives, and carbon savings and operational cost reductions. The four-day class will be taught at St. Helena, March 19–22 and May 14–17, 2012. Tuition is $1,300 per person.

To enroll in any of the classes in the CIA's new 2012 Culinary Science curriculum, visit www.ciaprochef.com or contact the CIA's customer service department at 1-800-888-7850.

Photo Captions:

Photo 1: The future of the culinary arts has arrived. The Culinary Institute of America, the world's premier culinary college, has launched a culinary science curriculum in 2012, featuring four exciting courses, designed for the professional chef. (Photo credit: CIA/Keith Ferris)

Photo 2: "A sound foundation in the principles of science underlying our techniques and traditions is 'Mise En Place 2.0' for the modern chef" said Dr. Chris Loss, '94, who helped design the CIA Culinary Science: Principles and Applications course. (Photo credit: CIA/Keith Ferris)

Media Contact:

Jay Blotcher
Media Relations Specialist
845-905-4419
j_blotch@culinary.edu

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Rising Star New York Chef George Mendes is Commencement Speaker at his Alma Mater

Hyde Park, NY, January 24, 2012 – George Mendes, chef/owner of the acclaimed Aldea restaurant in New York City and one of Food & Wine magazine's Best New Chefs for 2011, returned to his alma mater on Friday, January 20, 2012 with words of inspiration for the newest class of fellow graduates of The Culinary Institute of America (CIA).

"Take a moment on a daily basis to appreciate your craft, your métier. Respect it. Love it," Mendes advised 52 recipients of associate degrees in culinary arts and baking and pastry arts. "Take the time to wake up early in the morning and breathe in the fresh vegetables at the farmers' markets. That should be inspiration enough."

After graduating from the CIA in 1992, Chef Mendes continued to hone his craft, doing stages with European Michelin-star chefs Roger Vergé, Alain Ducasse, Alain Passard, Martin Berasategui, and finally with Ferran Adrià at elBulli in Spain. At Aldea, a restaurant celebrating his Portuguese heritage, he has earned his own stars in the New York Michelin Guide for the past two years.

"Sometimes opportunities don't present themselves to you. You have to go out and discover them," said Mendes, who didn't even consider a career in the food world until a high school field trip brought him to the CIA's Hyde Park, NY campus in 1990. "Be the first one in your kitchen and the last one out. You'll be surprised at how many more opportunities will arise from it."

Chef Mendes returns to Hyde Park on January 28 and 29 as a judge for the Bocuse d'Or USA competition at the CIA.

Photo Caption:

CIA graduate George Mendes '92 delivers the commencement address at his alma mater on January 20, 2012. (Photo credit: CIA/Keith Ferris)

Media Contact:

Jeff Levine
Communications Manager
845-451-1372
j_levine@culinary.edu

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HMSHost Awards Scholarships to Culinary Institute of America Students

HMSHost to Feature Winning Contestants' Recipes at its Airport Restaurants Across North America

Hyde Park, NY, January 16, 2012 – As part of its five-year strategic partnership, HMSHost, a world leader in travel shopping and dining, today announces the winners of a recipe contest featuring students from The Culinary Institute of America (CIA), the world's premier culinary college. The winning recipes will be featured over the next year in more than 100 of HMSHost's proprietary restaurants at airports around the country.

"Our students are thrilled to have the opportunity to show off their creativity and earn scholarships at the same time," said David Kamen, project manager, CIA Consulting. "The college is grateful to HMSHost for its support in helping CIA students pursue dreams of successful careers in the diverse and vibrant foodservice and hospitality industry."

Jessica Hargrove, from Lake Jackson, TX, won the first place honor in the appetizer category with a Macaroni & Cheese Flatbread topped with Candied Bacon and Shredded Brussels sprouts. Lauren Fury, who is from Brooksville, FL, took first place in the entrée category with her recipe of Fried Chicken and Waffles with Country Gravy and Grade A maple syrup.

The month-long submission period in November generated more than 35 recipe submissions from students of all levels at the CIA. The theme of the recipe contest was "All-American Comfort Food," and students could enter a recipe in both categories of appetizer and entrée.

Once the finalists were selected, four judges chose three finalists in each of the two categories. In the kitchen preparation and in the meal's presentation, finalists were evaluated on several points:

• Food preparation
• Safety
• Adherence to the exact recipe
• Cleanliness
• Dish plating
• Taste

"HMSHost's commitment to the CIA, its students and the culinary arts overall is why we're excited to continue this partnership with one of the world's best culinary colleges," said Bill Casey, vice president of HMSHost's Restaurant Portfolio.

Winners Jessica Hargrove and Lauren Fury each received $5,000 in scholarship funds, provided by HMSHost. In addition, HMSHost also donated $15,000 to the CIA's general scholarship fund, as part of its five-year strategic partnership with the culinary college.

Photo Captions:

Photo 1: Robert Bratton (right) of HMSHost and a CIA alumnus presents scholarship awards to top winners Jessica Hargrove (left) and Lauren Fury (center). Hargrove placed first in the Appetizer category and Fury was the winner in the Entrée category. (Photo credit: Lee Ferris)

Photo 2: Lauren Fury's Fried Chicken & Waffles with Country Gravy and Grade A Maple Syrup. (Photo credit: Lee Ferris)

Photo 3: Jessica Hargrove's Macaroni & Cheese Flatbread. (Photo credit: Lee Ferris)

Media Contact:

Anne Duffy
240-694-4330
anne.duffy@hmshost.com

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About HMSHost
HMSHost is a world leader in creating dining and shopping for travel venues. HMSHost operates in more than 100 airports around the globe, including the 20 busiest airports in North America. The Company has annual sales in excess of $2.5 billion and employs more than 34,000 sales associates worldwide. HMSHost is a part of Autogrill Group, the world's leading provider of food & beverage and retail services for people on the move. With sales of over €5.7 billion in 2010, the Group operates in 37 countries and employs some 62,000 people. It manages over 5,300 stores in more than 1,200 locations worldwide.

Visit www.HMSHost.com for more information and find us on Facebook at HMSHost Making the Traveler's Day Better.

The Culinary Institute of America Leads Culinary Education on "Hot" Food Trends for 2012: Sustainability and Improved Kids' Nutrition

Hyde Park, NY, January 9, 2012 – The National Restaurant Association recently surveyed almost 1,800 members of the American Culinary Federation, asking them what the "hot trends" will be for the coming year. Nine of the top 10 trends are in two categories: sustainability/local sourcing and healthy kids/children's nutrition. The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) commends the survey results, as the college is providing thought leadership through education to the foodservice industry on these critical needs.

The CIA teaches its 2,900 undergraduates about the inextricable link between chefs and the environment through its innovative local buying program that supports more than 300,000 campus meals yearly. Hailed by Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the Hyde Park campus spends $750,000 a year on fruit, vegetables, dairy, eggs, and meat from more than two dozen Hudson Valley farms.

In CIA classes such as Meat Identification & Fabrication, much of the focus is on training future chefs to utilize all the edible portions of foodstuffs in an effort to be more sustainable. The Food, Wine, and (Agri)culture course takes CIA juniors to one of the world's renowned culinary regions to see sustainable agriculture in action. Elective courses like Food Ecology connect students with the food supply by studying sustainability as well as food production and its effect on the environment, health, nutrition, politics, and society.

Building on its classes, the CIA converted one of its public restaurants—St. Andrew's Café—into one that is almost completely locally sourced. Its new curriculum teaches students about canning and other preservation methods and helped earn the restaurant a two-star certification from the Green Restaurant Association.

When it comes to healthy initiatives for the younger generation, the college has developed its own educational initiative and website dedicated to help in the battle against childhood obesity. The CIA's Menu for Healthy Kids provides recipes, facts, tips, and an online forum for school administrators, foodservice directors, chefs and restaurateurs, teachers, parents, and kids.

In addition, the CIA serves as an innovator regarding children's health and nutrition through the creation of its annual "Healthy Flavors, Healthy Kids" conference at its San Antonio campus—just one of several healthy cooking confabs held by the college throughout the year, along with the Harvard School of Public Health co-sponsored "Worlds of Healthy Flavors" and "Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Lives" conferences. Among the presenters at the 2011 Healthy Flavors, Healthy Kids conference was Sam Kass, assistant White House chef and senior policy advisor for healthy food initiatives in the Obama Administration.

The CIA's expert faculty is available to speak with the media about these trends, and about the ways in which the world's premier culinary college is taking the lead to educate people about these and many other issues. To schedule an interview with a CIA expert, please contact Jeff Levine at j_levine@culinary.edu.

Photo Captions:

Photo 1: During a 2010 visit to The Culinary Institute of America, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack (left), CIA President Dr. Tim Ryan (right), and Hudson Valley farmer Paul Wigsten view some of the local produce used by the college. (Photo credit: CIA/Keith Ferris)

Photo 2: Students in the CIA's Seafood Identification & Fabrication course learn about the responsibilities of chefs regarding sustainable seafood, and the differences between farm-raised and wild fish. (Photo credit: CIA/Keith Ferris)

Media Contact:

Jeff Levine
Communications Manager
845-451-1372
j_levine@culinary.edu

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CIA Recipe: A Super Bowl Feast Fit for a Chef

Sauerkraut with Smoked Pork, Sausage, Frankfurters, and Potatoes

While chili, ribs, and seven-layer dips are Super Bowl standbys, why not consider impressing your fellow fans with something different this year: Choucroute Garni. It might sound complicated, but don't let the fancy French name scare you away from trying something deliciously different on Super Bowl Sunday. Pronounced shoo-KROUT gahr-NEE, this dish is a combination of smoked pork, sausage, frankfurters, sauerkraut, and potatoes. Easy to prepare, the recipe can be made ahead of time, then either packed up for tailgating or put out in a crock pot to keep warm on a buffet table.

Choucroute translates into 'cabbage crust,' and this German-inspired dish was born along the country's border with France. Garni refers to the variety of garnishes that are served alongside the dish. Consisting of any combination of pickled cabbage and meat, the feast typically features a variety of sausages, including Frankfurt sausage which served as the predecessor to the modern day frankfurter. Boiled potatoes are the starch of choice, and the dish is seasoned with black pepper, cloves, and juniper berries, along with onions and white wine to sweeten the deal and brighten the flavors.

"Any combination of your favorite sausages from either your local butcher or your favorite supermarket will work perfectly in this dish," explains CIA Chef-Instructor Cynthia Keller. "I try to find a nice assortment that includes well-spiced knockwursts and bratwursts. If you'd like to lighten up the dish, you can also select a variety of sausages made with leaner meats like chicken."

The chefs of The Culinary Institute of America have enthusiastically embraced this dish for game day, and thanks to their recipe, you too can enjoy this 'stick-to-your-ribs' combination. Serve all the components of this dish on a big platter with slices of French bread, spicy mustard, and your favorite ice-cold beer—and let the game begin!

The following recipe has been adapted from The Culinary Institute of America's The Professional Chef, 9th Edition (Wiley, 2011) available at bookstores nationwide or at www.ciaprochef.com/fbi/books.html. The Professional Chef, iPad Edition, a revolutionary iPad app that PC Magazine calls "a new frontier for books," is also available at (Wiley, Inkling; $49.99).

Watch the video on YouTube

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Choucroute Garni

Serves 10

• 5 pounds sauerkraut
• 1 clove garlic
• 8 juniper berries
• 2 cloves
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 sprig thyme
• 8 to 12 black peppercorns
• 1 carrot
• 1 leek
• 2 branches of celery
• 1 parsnip
• 4 ounces vegetable oil
• 2 medium sliced onions (approximately 2 cups)
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 3 cups chicken stock
• 1 smoked ham hock
• 2 pounds smoked pork loin
• 1-pound, 4-ounce- slab of bacon, cut into thick slices
• 4 pounds waxy potatoes, peeled
• 1-pound, 4-ounce garlic sausage
• 10 beef frankfurters
• 10 weisswurst (veal and pork sausage)

1. Drain the sauerkraut and rinse well in several changes of cold water. Drain and squeeze out water.
2. Place the garlic clove and spices in a small square of cheesecloth and tie with butcher's twine to create a spice "sachet" bag. Tie the carrot, leek, celery, and parsnip with butcher's twine to create a "bouquet garni."
3. Heat half the vegetable oil in a large "Dutch oven" over medium heat. Add the onions and sweat until tender without browning. Add the garlic and sweat briefly to release aroma. Add the sauerkraut to the onion mixture.
4. Add the wine and chicken stock. Bury the spice sachet, vegetable bouquet, and ham hock under the sauerkraut. Bring the liquid to a simmer.
5. Place the pork and the bacon on top of the sauerkraut. Cover tightly and braise in a 325-degree F oven for approximately 45 minutes. Add the potatoes, garlic sausage, and frankfurters to the pan, return the cover, and continue to cook approximately 15 to 20 minutes until the potatoes are tender and the frankfurters are heated through. Add more liquid if needed.
6. While the potatoes and frankfurters are cooking, place a sauté pan on medium heat. Add the remaining oil. Place the weisswurst in the pan and gently brown on all sides while heating the sausage through.
7. Remove the meats from the sauerkraut and keep warm. Slice the pork loin and garlic sausage.
8. Spoon the sauerkraut onto a warm platter, and garnish with sliced pork loin, garlic sausage, sliced bacon, frankfurters, weisswurst, and potatoes.
9. Serve with mustard and a loaf of crusty French bread. Accompany with a dry Riesling wine from Alsace or your favorite artisan-brewed beer.

Nutrition analysis per 6-ounce ounce: 270 calories, 12g protein, 5g carbohydrate, 21g fat, 1,050mg sodium, 50mg cholesterol, 2g fiber.

Photo Captions:

Photo 1: CIA Chefs Joe DiPerri, Cynthia Keller, and Dave Barry enjoy Choucroute Garni on Super Bowl Sunday. (Photo credit: CIA/Keith Ferris)

Photo 2: Choucroute Garni, Sauerkraut with Smoked Pork, Sausage, Frankfurters, and Potatoes. (Photo credit: CIA/Keith Ferris)

Media Contact:

Virginia Muré
Communications Manager
845-451-1555
v_mure@culinary.edu

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CIA Graduate of Legendary Lineage Delivers Commencement Address at his Alma Mater

Hyde Park, NY, December 27, 2011 – Jerome Bocuse, a 1992 graduate of The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) and son of legendary French chef Paul Bocuse, returned to his alma mater on Wednesday, December 21, 2011 to deliver the commencement address to recipients of associate degrees in culinary arts and baking and pastry arts.

Bocuse is president of JBI, LLC, a company that operates three restaurants and two specialty food carts at Walt Disney World's EPCOT® in Orlando, FL. He is also vice president of the Bocuse d'Or USA Foundation, which selects and supports the American candidate who competes in the international Bocuse d'Or competition—founded by his father and held every two years in Lyon, France.

Bocuse shared memories of his studies at the CIA with 49 newly minted fellow graduates. Recalling his time in Seafood class, still taught by the same chef, evoked knowing chuckles from those with the shared experience. "It was like the military: precise, efficient, and professional. But sometimes the toughest classes are the ones that give you the best memories," he said.

As the world's best known chef at the time, Paul Bocuse could have sent his son to study at a school anywhere in the world or apprentice under a European master chef. But a 1989 visit to the CIA showed him the college was the place for Jerome to learn what he needed to be successful. "I had seen many culinary schools in the United States. I knew right away this was in a whole different league," Paul Bocuse said earlier this year when he was honored by the CIA as the Chef of the Century. At the same event, Jerome was named Alumnus of the Year.

In late January, the Bocuse d'Or USA finals will be held at the CIA's Hyde Park, NY campus. And, promised Jerome Bocuse, "You will see an American chef on the podium (as the winner) in Lyon very soon."

Photo Caption:

Jerome Bocuse '92 delivers the commencement address at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY on December 21, 2011. (Photo credit: CIA/Keith Ferris)

Media Contact:

Jeff Levine
Communications Manager
845-451-1372
j_levine@culinary.edu

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The Culinary Institute of America Announces Winter's Hottest Deal, 2012 Special Price-Fixed Lunches and Dinners

Back by Popular Demand: World-Class Cuisine at Great Prices

Hyde Park, NY, December 21, 2011 – The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) has announced Winter's Hottest Deal at the CIA. The annual fixed-price lunches and dinners at the college's award-winning, student-staffed restaurants offer three-course lunches for $21.95 and three-course dinners for $29.95. (Prices do not include tax or service and cannot be combined with other offers or discounts.) This special promotion is an extraordinary value for Hudson Valley residents and visitors alike.

Join us Monday through Thursday, January–March 2012 to enjoy Winter's Hottest Deal at the CIA that are both warming and delicious.

Offered in three fine-dining restaurants—American Bounty Restaurant, Ristorante Caterina de' Medici, Escoffier Restaurant—Winter's Hottest Deal at the CIA gives diners the opportunity to taste the cuisine of tomorrow's great chefs, today.

Also available January 19 through March 29 is the CIA's popular 2012 Dining Series, a festival of themed luncheon and dinner events. And stay tuned, on February 28, 2012 when the CIA kicks-off the celebration of Hudson Valley Restaurant Week.

Dinner at the CIA's restaurants begin at 6 p.m., and lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tables are available, although reservations are suggested. To make your reservation today, call 845-471-6608, Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., or visit www.ciachef.edu/restaurants. Your table is waiting.

Photo Caption:

Winter's Hottest Deal is at the CIA. (Photo credit: Bill Denison)

Media Contact:

Virginia Muré
Communications Manager
845-451-1555
v_mure@culinary.edu

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L.A. Chef of the Year Tells CIA Graduates to Challenge Themselves Daily

Michael Cimarusti Delivers Commencement Address at His Alma Mater

Hyde Park, NY, December 7, 2011 – Michael Cimarusti, named Chef of the Year by Angeleno magazine in 2010, returned to his alma mater as commencement speaker at The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) on Friday, December 2, 2011. The executive chef and co-owner of the Michelin Guide two-star Providence in Los Angeles told graduates about both the hard work and rewarding careers that await them.

"To achieve your goals, there is no substitute for hard work," Cimarusti told 46 recipients of associate degrees in culinary arts and baking and pastry arts, reminding them that cooking is a craft that is never totally mastered. "Having the ability to learn and the humility to be taught are important traits in a chef."

Before opening his own restaurant, the 1991 CIA graduate worked with some of the world's top chefs, including Wolfgang Puck, Alain Ducasse, Paul Bocuse, Gerard Boyer, Roger Vergé, and fellow alumnus Larry Forgione '74.

Providence is known for its modern American seafood which earned it plaudits as one of the "World's Top New Restaurants" by Travel + Leisure and inclusion among the "Top 20 New Restaurants" by Esquire magazine. Chef Cimarusti is a two-time James Beard Foundation Award nominee for Best Chef: Pacific Region. He is also an Iron Chef America champion and was a contestant on Top Chef Masters.

Photo Caption:

Michael Cimarusti '91 speaking to graduates of The Culinary Institute of America at the college's Hyde Park, NY campus on December 2, 2011. (Photo credit: CIA/Keith Ferris)

Media Contact:

Jeff Levine
Communications Manager
845-451-1372
j_levine@culinary.edu

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