The CIA— a secret organization that is made up of a mixture of green, dewy-eyed teenagers, former criminals, and hardened, experienced experts. Made up of the best of the best, from every corner of the country, the CIA has trained the best of the best, namely famous author and restauranter Anthony Bourdain. That’s right, I’m talking about the Culinary Institute of America, or, the CIA.
The CIA is a vocational school focused on and around culinary arts, from just cooking and baking, to food business and a masters in Wine Business. The main campus, located in Hyde Park, New York, originally opened in 1946, in New Haven, Connecticut as a place for veterans returning from WWII to learn a trade. As the student body and interest in the school grew, they eventually expanded to the Hyde Park campus. In 1995, the CIA opened a branch in St. Helena, one in San Antonio in 2008, another in Singapore in 2010, and a final one in Napa in 2016.
With the nearest campus a measly hour and a half away in Napa, the CIA is an amazing option for one trying to get into the culinary field. With classes taught by industry professionals, covering everything from basic sanitation to advanced French pastries, the CIA truly covers everything. And, as stated earlier, it’s made up of teenagers fresh out of high school who want to work in the restaurant industry, as well as experienced professionals who are attempting to improve their craft, the CIA is an alternative to the standard 4 year university that opens countless doors and can turn at home cooks into master chefs.