French Culinary Institute

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The French Culinary Institute is a cooking school in the SoHo neighborhood of New York City. Founded in 1984 by Dorothy Cann Hamilton, the FCI has been thought to be one of the top programs in the world. Students have a very high rate of employment upon graduation and often go on to cook in some of the world's best restaurants.

The school’s faculty is headed by an all-star line-up of distinguished Deans—all of whom have received top honors in their respective fields―including Alain Sailhac, Executive Vice President, Senior Dean of Studies; Jacques Pépin, Dean of Special Programs; André Soltner, Dean of Classic Studies; Cesare Casella, Dean of Italian Studies; Jacques Torres, Dean of Pastry Arts; Alan Richman, Dean of Food Journalism; and Andrea Robinson, Dean of Wine Studies. Star alumni including pop-icon Bobby Flay, as well as top chefs from around the world, stop by regularly to give insightful and entertaining demonstrations in the school’s International Culinary Theater, which was featured in the 2007 television series Chef's Story.

The FCI offers an intense, Total Immersion(SM) approach that ensures students get the maximum real world learning in the shortest appropriate time. In 6 months by day, or 9 at night, students learn in small classes taught by top chefs what other schools take years to teach. Career Programs include: Classic Culinary Arts, Classic Pastry Arts, and International Bread Baking. Classic Culinary Arts students learn real-world skills working in The FCI’s award-winning restaurant, L’Ecole. The FCI offers superior job placement for career students and many alumni are employed at some of the world’s best restaurants, bakeries, and top publications.

The FCI has expanded to now be part of the new International Culinary Center, with course offerings to include Italian courses. The most comprehensive, The Italian Culinary Experience, will immerse the student in Italian cuisine, culture, and language as they spend up to 29 weeks studying in New York City and Parma, Italy at ALMA, the International School of Italian Cuisine.

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia chose the FCI as a Blue Ribbon Expert. In April 2006, The French Culinary Institute received “The Award of Excellence for Vocational Cooking School from the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP).”