San Antonio, TX 鈥 UNESCO鈥攖he United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization鈥攖his
week named San Antonio a Creative City of Gastronomy, and The Culinary Institute of America played a major role in helping San Antonio earn that designation. In announcing
the honor, city officials credited the CIA鈥檚 establishment
of a campus in the Pearl district in 2008 as a milestone in turning San Antonio
into a culinary showcase.
鈥淭he Culinary Institute of America鈥檚 presence has been impactful
in bringing world-class culinary education and research to the heart of San Antonio,鈥
said Casandra Matej, president and CEO of Visit San Antonio.
鈥淪an Antonio鈥檚 rich culinary and cultural heritage was a key draw to the CIA鈥檚 decision
to expand to San Antonio and we are delighted the city鈥檚 heritage continues to be
a part of its program. As one of the highlights of the vibrant Pearl neighborhood,
the school has been a catalyst to help grow our culinary scene.鈥
The CIA San Antonio offers degrees in Culinary Arts and Baking &
Pastry Arts, and juniors and seniors at the New York campus can spend a semester in San Antonio
as part of the college鈥檚 academic concentration in Latin Cuisine Studies. The campus
is also host to an annual that brings food professionals
from throughout the Americas to San Antonio.
鈥淭he CIA is proud to be an integral part of the city鈥檚 burgeoning
culinary scene,鈥 says April Goess, managing
director of the CIA San Antonio. 鈥淥ur campus was an early anchor at Pearl鈥攚hich
has quickly become a destination for food enthusiasts鈥攁nd our graduates provide
much of the city鈥檚 culinary talent.鈥
CIA graduate Johnny Hernandez is a chef and restaurateur whose Grupo La Gloria includes some
of San Antonio鈥檚 most successful restaurants. 鈥淔rom showcasing our culinary heritage
to sharing local innovations and leading the way with San Antonio鈥檚 brand of culinary
diplomacy, the opportunities afforded us as a City of Gastronomy are all reasons
for San Antonio to celebrate,鈥 Hernandez says.
San Antonio is the second U.S. city, after Tucson, AZ, to be
named a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. The city鈥檚 18th century Spanish colonial
missions previously made it a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Photo Captions and Hi-Res Images:
Photo 1 (top): CIA
graduate Johnny Hernandez (center left), San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, and
other San Antonio officials celebrate the Texas city鈥檚 designation at a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. (Photo credit: City of San Antonio)
Photo 2: The
Culinary Institute of America in San Antonio鈥檚 Pearl District has been a major
part of the growth of the city鈥檚 gastronomic scene. San Antonio was named a
UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in November 2017. (Photo credit: CIA/Phil Mansfield)
Media Contact:
Jeff Levine
Communications Writer
845-451-1372
Jeff.Levine@culinary.edu
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 bachelor鈥檚 degrees in management, culinary arts, culinary
science, and applied food studies, and associate degrees in either culinary arts
or baking and pastry arts. The college also offers executive education through its
Food Business School along with 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 nearly 50,000 alumni includes innovators in every area of the food business.
The CIA has locations in New York, California, Texas, and Singapore.
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