SAN ANTONIO – The Culinary Institute of America on Monday announced a new certificate program in Latin cuisines. The program, which is the only one of its kind for the CIA, will allow students to specialize in Latin cuisines.
"They are getting first hand experience and exposure to what makes Latin cuisine unique and special," CIA Managing Director David Kellaway said.
Students who are enrolled in the program will also work in the Institute's new restaurant, which is set to open in May. The restaurant will feature the cuisines being studied and use the techniques taught in the classroom.
"Every week I think we will feature a small menu on what the students are studying because part of the curriculum is that the students, after being in the kitchen lab as we call it, they will go to the restaurant lab and then they will also serve that food to the customers," CIA Instructor Iliana de la Vega said.
While the restaurant will focus on the cuisine, the Institute has planned to take concerns into account.
"The food will exemplify all of the real modern characteristics that food needs to go in: healthfulness, concern for the amount of fats, sugars, etc. yet be true to its Latin roots," Kellaway said.
"What it's going to do to popularize and really cement in the consciousness of Americans all the breath and depth of Latin flavors is tremendous."
The program was several years in the making. Kellaway said researchers went to countries and learned about the ingredients and techniques used. Film crews also went along to tape the methods for students.
"They are getting first hand experience and exposure to what makes Latin cuisine unique and special," Kellaway said.
"It's a very ambitious program and we are very exciting about being part of it and help creating this," de la Vega said.