Perhaps the oldest modern-day culinary school is the Culinary Institute of America, a private school that opened its doors in 1946. It is located in Hyde Park, New York. The college also has branch campuses in several other U.S. cities including St. Helena, California and San Antonio, Texas, as well as a campus abroad in Singapore. The college can boast the fact that its staff has the largest concentration of Certified Master Chefs, so students know that they are learning the tools of their trade from true experts. While the Culinary Institute of America is the oldest culinary school in its most modern form, there are other older cooking schools from which this institution got its roots. For instance, the Boston Cooking School was established in 1879, and a graduate of that school opened Miss Farmer's School of Cookery in Boston in 1902.
One of the top-rated culinary schools is the Institute of Culinary Education, which is located in New York City. This is apropos, considering the fact that New York City is home to some of the most unique and indulgent restaurant experiences in the world. This culinary school was founded in 1975, and requires students to complete at least two years of general college courses before they can enroll in the institution. Once they begin their studies at the Institute of Culinary Education, students find themselves on the fast track to life as a professional chef. Students will choose from four different specialties: culinary management, culinary arts, hospitality management and pastry & baking arts. In addition to providing students with professional degrees, the Institute of Culinary Education also provides a wide variety of recreational classes for the lifelong learner. Every year, more than 26,000 lovers of food and wine take courses at the institution each year to learn a little bit more about what they are passionate about.
