Culinary Exploration

DAY ONE

• Arrive in NYC!
• Set off on a program-long scavenger hunt through the city
• Spend your afternoon exploring The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Natural History Museum, and a visit to world-famous Zabar’s
• “New York is Zabar’s. Zabar’s is New York.” So proclaims the slogan of one of New York’s most lasting culinary institutions: Zabar’s. Founded in 1934 by Louis and Lillian Zabar, the grocery store is now into its eighth decade of curated epicurean delights. Zabar’s has always been known for offering only high quality ingredients, and some credit Zabar’s as the introduction of delicious treats such as brie cheese, caviar, and gnocchi into American food culture.
• Enjoy dinner at a nearby restaurant before taking in the best view of the city at the top of the Rock

DAY TWO

• Set off on an expansive walking tour of the Big Apple with your Course Leader!
• Your walk with begin and end with Central Park, a park that is bigger than the entire country of Monaco and still isn’t the biggest park in New York City. Along your way you’ll stop at iconic landmarks like Grand Central Station, home to a clock worth $20 million, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the largest Gothic cathedral in the United States.
• Enjoy lunch at the Grand Central Market and Food Hall
• Take an afternoon walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, one of three that connect Manhattan to Brooklyn and Queens
• Stroll along the South Street Seaport and visit Wall Street, Trinity Church, and the 9/11 Memorial before setting off on a cruise around Liberty and Ellis islands
• The Statue of Liberty is celebrating her 137th birthday this year. Twilight is the one of the best times to appreciate Lady Liberty as she holds court over the Upper New York Bay.
• Enjoy exploring the food hall at Eataly, a raucous ode to Italian cuisine, in Manhattan’s Flatiron District before heading uptown to Times Square for dinner and fun

DAY THREE

• Spend your morning experiencing the green oasis that is the Chelsea High Line before heading to lunch at the Chelsea Market
• Another iconic food stop in NYC, the Chelsea Market is the heart of the Meatpacking District in midtown Manhattan. From fishmongers and butchers to boulangeries and artisanal cheese shops, the merchants at Chelsea Market remain dedicated to the art of good cooking.
• Enjoy an afternoon tasting tour of the best of Greenwich Village, one of the most vibrant neighborhoods in Manhattan before heading uptown for a tour of Radio City Music Hall
• Walk through Bryant Park, a popular gathering place in the middle of downtown
• Head to dinner at a local restaurant before taking in one of the hottest Broadway shows

DAY FOUR

• Set out towards upstate New York after breakfast to begin your immersive adventure at the Culinary Institute of America
• The Culinary Institute of America (aka the CIA) is one of the world’s most influential culinary academies. Founded in the back of a New Haven restaurant in 1946, the CIA has since produced over 50,000 accomplished graduates, including chef Anne Burrell, baker Duff Goldman, and chef and restauranteur Roy Choi.
• Meet with the Admissions Directors at the CIA before experiencing a culinary school lecture about the psychology of taste
• The rest of the afternoon and evening is for you and your fellow chefs to whip up a group dinner in the CIA kitchen
• After dinner, experience life at CIA with a walking tour through the campus

DAY FIVE

• Spend your morning in the CIA kitchen with faculty experts leading you through a tasty baking & pastry workshop
• Celebrate your culinary achievements with a signed CIA certificate before you head back to the airport in NYC to depart for home