The Boomer's Guide to the Culinary Institute of America

Before we leave the Hyde Park area, I wanted to share with you our experiences with the Culinary Institute of America ("CIA"). Located just a few miles down Route 9 from the Roosevelt homes and the Vanderbilt mansion, the CIA is well worth a visit. Founded it in 1946 originally in New Haven, Connecticut, it bills itself as the "World's Premier Culinary College."  www.ciachef.edu, The school was moved to a campus along the Hudson in 1972.

 

 The school offers two and four year programs in all aspects of the food service business for buddingchefs, maitre'ds and restaurant managers.  Every few months a new class enters and is given intensivehands on training.  All of the students work in the five restaurants on site as servers as well as kitchen  personnel.  They are then graded on their performance by their professors .

 

We were able to dine in two of the restaurants, Ristoranate Caterina de'Medici and American Bounty Restaurant. Caterina is an Italian restaurant of the highest order.  Although we had no reservation, we were seated immediately.  The highlight of our dinner was the raviolini.  It was superb, with a melt in the mouth consistency.  We had a reservation at the American Bounty and were very impressed with the mussels and frites appetizer among other fine dishes.  The service in both restaurants was impeccable and of the sort you would find in the best New York restaurants.

 

If you are in the vicinity, by all means stop in at the CIA for dinner.  You will not be disappointed.

 

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