Last Saturday, February 18, 2012 the newest and most innovative culinary institution, Istituto Culinario officially opened its door by celebrating its inauguration night filled with fun, good food, and excitement.
Held at its affiliated restaurant Brasserie CiCou of Celebrity Chef Cyrille Soenen, the party started after guests were given a tour of the campus. I will dish out some scenes during the party on my next blog post, but for now allow me to share with you my passport and have a glimpse of the training ground of our future culinary maestros.
Formerly known as the OB Montessori Culinary College, established by Ambassador Preciosa Soliven in 1995 as the first specialized school for culinary arts in the country, Istituto Culinario boast of its strong foundation and educational system developed by Maria Montessori.
Our first stop for the tour was at the academic office where bright ideas and culinary courses are developed. The band of reputable chef instructors includes the program head Chef Chris Bautista, Chef Jerome Valencia, Chef JA Ventura, Chef Ching Yingco, and Chef JP Anglo. Chef James Antolin serves as the institution's International Consultant, while Chef Cyrille Soenen of Brasserie CiCou is hteir Primary Industry Partner.
Next, our group was led to the library where books, latest periodicals, and computers among many other library holdings are available for the students. The fact that they are affiliated with Fully Booked and subscribed to various magazines and periodicals guarantees that the students are given updated educational resources for their disposal.
Istituto Culinario has 4 soundproofed lecture rooms with complete Audio/Visual facilities. To ensure a conducive learning environment, the institution follows a strict 15 students to 1 instructor ratio.
There are only few culinary schools in the country which offers a ladderized 2 year Diploma Program leading to a full 4 Year Bachelor's Degree, Istituto Culinario is one of them.
- 2-Year Diploma Program (TESDA) Culinary arts and Food Service Management
- 4-Year bachelor's Degree Program (CHED) Bachelor of Science in Food Management, Major in Food Service
While their library got me salivating over number of books and magazines, it's their demo laboratory that I found myself wanting to enroll even for just a short course. It features state-of-the-art Rational Cooking Center and broadcast quality cameras.
The OB Montessori Farm Resort and Botanical Garden in Alfonso Cavite, near Tagaytay City made Istituto Culinario as the only Culinary College with a complete fully operational farm as campus annex. The farm serves not just as a venue for the student's organic farming exposure, but it is also where the supply of sustainable produced used for the school are coming from.
After the demo lab, we also get to visit one of the 4 kitchen laboratory where world class equipment greeted us, along side some students making fresh raviolis. Istituto Culinario believes in familiarizing their students in using high standard equipments in preparation for the real work once they finished their course.
Before the tour ends, we were given a sample of the freshly cooked raviolis made by the students. All the while I thought they were just trying to showcase what they have learned, but little did I know, it serves as a starter to whet our appetite because there are more good things to come once we set foot at Brasserie CiCou, where the real party happens.
Next Post: The Party at Brasserie CiCou
Istituto Culinario is located at #57 Annapolis Street, Greenhills, San Juan City. You may contact them at +632-7239064, +632-7229720 to 27 local 234. Visit their website at www.institutoculinario.ph.
