Welcome to The Italian Culinary Academy
The Italian Culinary Academy, located at The International Culinary Center in New York City, offers aspiring Italian cooks at all levels the most well-rounded and authentic Italian culinary training available anywhere. With a curriculum designed and overseen by acclaimed chef and Dean of The Italian Culinary Academy, Cesare Casella, our flagship program, the Italian Culinary Experience, offer students the exciting option to live and train in both New York City and Italy
The Italian Culinary Experience
As a student in the Italian Culinary Experience, you'll become adept at preparing classic, authentic Italian cuisine, as you also become immersed in Italian culture and language. In addition to practicing the skills and techniques necessary to hone your repertoire of dishes from each of Italy’s 20 regions, this 29-week course gives you the chance to put your new skills to the test during an internship in the kitchen of one of Italy’s top restaurants.
10 Weeks in New York City
- Learn the fundamentals of cooking and Italian cuisine
- Hands-on study of Italian cheese, antipasti, stocks and sauces, pasta, pizza and bread, fish and meat, contorni, and dessert
- Weekly Italian language classes to prepare you for life in Italy
9 Weeks in Italy
- Hands-on practice continues, with emphasis on techniques that provide you with the capability to prepare, cook, and present regional Italian dishes in a professional way
- Exposure to regional ingredients and cuisines through demos with visiting Michelin-rated chefs from Italy’s 20 regions
- Explore Italy’s culinary history with field trips to production sites, such as olive oil mills in Toscana, a parma ham production plant, and the Piedmont Truffle Museum
- Continued Italian language classes
9 Weeks at Stage in Italy
- Put your training to work in a real-world context, apprenticing the restaurant of a highly rated Italian chef in one of Italy’s 20 regions
1 Final Week at ALMA in Italy
- Complete your final, a practical exam that will be evaluated by a panel of distinguished professional
This program is so much more than just a cooking program—it’s a total immersion in the language, culture, and cuisine of Italy.