Did you know that the French Culinary Institute in New York City has a sister? Her name is The Italian Culinary Academy and she’s beckoning you to join her in Italy. Come on! Does that not sound exciting to you? Even a person not interested in becoming a chef would want to register as a student for this opportunity!
Students of this program spend 10 weeks learning the basics in New York City, and then hone their skills during an 18 week trip to Italy. Nine of those weeks are spent apprenticing in Italian restaurants. The curriculum includes the essence of cooking pasta, pizza, polenta, Italian Meat, Italian Poultry, pastries, gelato, knife skills, deboning and filleting.
It’s hard to wrap your head around the idea of spending that much time in Italy, at the heart of the culinary experience. The best way to learn is to totally immerse yourself in the culture, which is exactly what students are encouraged to do. In order to really bring some culture to the kitchen, you actually have to step out of the kitchen once in a while.
Learning the language and the culture are important aspects of the learning experience. Students should be able to bring a certain flair and flavor to their dishes that don’t entirely rely on garlic, onions, and spices. When you understand the culture you’re representing in your cuisine, you bring a special nuance to the dish. For this reason, students of the French Culinary Institute’s sister college are given the opportunity to make Italy their temporary stomping ground.
