THE CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA

THE CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA

This amazing place just blew us away—it was absolutely unbelievable! The curving drive ended at a massive Georgian edifice complete with towering white columns, fountains, and colourful flowering gardens. Inside, the exquisite interior was filled with cheerful students and tour groups. Walls to “classes” were glassed so that everywhere we looked we could see delicious things being prepared by student “chefs” in immaculate kitchens. There was a culinary gift shop, bookstore, and bakeshop where incredible cakes, chocolates, and pastries were on offer. Our explorations eventually took us to the magnificent student dining hall where a buffet of elaborately decorated cakes and decadent desserts were being set out for dinner. When we complimented a few students on the “presentation” of the tortes and asked if it was possible to purchase them they said “Would you like to take some home? We’ll get you some take-away cartons and you can help yourself to whatever you’d like. Anything that’s not eaten here is immediately thrown away and we make these cakes everyday. No charge.” So we did! Then it was off to the “L’Escossier” student-run restaurant where we had dinner reservations for 6:00. Never before have we experienced such attentive service and fantastic food!! After a four-course meal we forced ourselves to leave and, with full tummies and a goody box full of cakes, called a cab for the final trip of the day, back to the boat and in to bed.