Culinary cooking in the Hudson Valley

Set at St. Andrew-on-Hudson, in historic Hyde Park, the 150-acre site of a former Jesuit seminary is just as much a tourist attraction as it is a serious cooking college.

The Culinary Institute of America (CIA or Culinary) offers associate and bachelor college programs plus continuing education classes for culinary, restaurant and service professionals. CIA is the only residential college in the world devoted entirely to culinary education.

Classes are taught by more than 100 chef instructors in all fields including international cuisines, seafood cookery, baking and pastry arts, service and hospitality management. Students also attend lectures by world reknowned chefs including Julia Child and Graham Kerr.

And student train professionally by serving meals to the public in the four restaurants CIA houses. St. Andrew's Cafe offers a contemporary menu including wood-fired pizzas and a full vegetarian menu. The Caterina de Medici Dining Room presents classic Italian cuisine, wine, beer and aperitifs. The American Bounty Restaurant celebrates America's diverse cultural heritage with seasonal menus which emphasize regional ingredients. And The Escoffier Restaurant presents modern interpretations of classic French cuisine combined with a classic dining experience.

The newest addition to the CIA is the Colavita Center for Italian Food and Wine. A Tuscan villa surprises diners strolling through this chef's school looking for one of its restaurants, where students offer one of the region's most famed feeds. The Colavita Center opened in May 2001.