Hyde Park, NY 鈥 Television
personality and founder/owner of Milk Bar, Christina Tosi,
delivered the commencement address during associate degree graduation
ceremonies at the New York campus of The Culinary
Institute of America on December 19.
In the decade since she opened the first Milk Bar in New
York City, the company has expanded to Toronto, Ontario; Las Vegas, NV; and
Washington, DC; with a Los Angeles location on the way. She has earned two
James Beard Foundation Awards: Rising Star Chef of the Year in 2012 and Outstanding
Pastry Chef in 2015.
鈥淜now who you are. Know your values. Use that heart as your
guide,鈥 Chef Tosi told 57 recipients of degrees in Culinary Arts and Baking & Pastry Arts.
鈥淣ever play it safe. But don鈥檛 just take risks, mean
it when you take the leap.鈥
While running the dessert program at Momofuku,
Chef Tosi developed innovative ideas to turn dessert
on its head鈥攍ike creating cereal milk. The first Milk Bar opened in 2008 as the
dessert and bakery spin-off of David Chang鈥檚 renowned restaurant. Christina Tosi is the author of Momofuku Milk Bar, Milk Bar Life, and All About Cake. She has been featured on television
programs from Late Night with Jimmy
Fallon to Chef鈥檚 Table and has
been a judge on Masterchef, Masterchef Junior, and Chopped. Chef Tosi was a member of Fortune magazine鈥檚 鈥40 Under 40鈥 for 2018, and has graced the
covers of Adweek and Cherry Bombe.
In a separate ceremony the previous day, the CIA bestowed
diplomas upon recipients of bachelor鈥檚 degrees in Food Business Management, Culinary Science, and Applied Food Studies.
The entire CIA commencement ceremony, including Chef Tosi鈥檚 address, can be .
Photo Caption and Hi-Res Image:
Christina Tosi, celebrity chef and
the founder and owner of Milk Bar, delivers the commencement address to
associate degree graduates at the New York campus of The Culinary Institute of
America on December 19, 2018. (Photo
credit: CIA/Phil Mansfield)
Media Contact:
Jeff Levine
Communications Writer
845-451-1372
Jeff.Levine@culinary.edu
About The Culinary Institute of America:
Founded in 1946, The Culinary Institute of America is the world鈥檚 premier culinary college. Dedicated to developing leaders in foodservice and hospitality, the independent, not-for-profit CIA offers master鈥檚, bachelor鈥檚, and associate degrees with majors in culinary arts, baking & pastry arts, food business management, hospitality management, culinary science, and applied food studies. The college also offers executive education, certificate programs, and courses for professionals and enthusiasts. Its conferences, leadership initiatives, and consulting services have made the CIA the think tank of the food industry and its worldwide network of more than 50,000 alumni includes innovators in every area of the food world. The CIA has locations in New York, California, Texas, and Singapore.
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