The Culinary Institute of America

An Exclusive Series of Eight Classes at the CIA at Astor Center

Contact

Jay Blotcher
The Culinary Institute of America
845-905-4419
j_blotch@culinary.edu

Tory Brody
Bravo
212-664-5276
victoria.brody@nbcuni.com

New York, NY, June 12, 2008 – Fans of Bravo's Emmy-nominated television series, Top Chef, will have a unique opportunity to learn the culinary arts from their favorite contestants this summer. Through a special partnership between The Culinary Institute of America (CIA), the world's premier culinary college, and Bravo comes Top Chef: The Class @ the CIA. This new series of courses will give Top Chef fans and food enthusiasts the opportunity to watch their favorite Top Chef contestants in action as they create personal recipes at the CIA at Astor Center in downtown Manhattan.

Top Chef: The Class @ the CIA will feature eight separate demonstration classes led by a chef from the Top Chef series. Classes run from 6:30–9:30 p.m. and will be held July 7, 14, and 21; August 4, 18, and 25; and September 8 and 15. Top Chef personalities leading the classes include CIA alumni Marcel Vigneron '02, Dale Talde '98 and Jennifer Biesty '92 plus Casey Thompson, Dale Levitski, Sam Talbot and Tre Wilcox. Also teaching a very special class will be the winner of Top Chef Season 4.

"For Top Chef fanatics, this new CIA series is a dream come true," said Laura Pickover '95, director of food enthusiast programs at The Culinary Institute of America. "No other culinary school will be offering this one-of-a-kind exclusive series with Top Chef contestants. Dedicated foodies will have a front-row seat as these superstars of the kitchen create the type of magic that originally made them Top Chef fan favorites.

"Since the winners of the first three Top Chef seasons were CIA alumni," Ms. Pickover added, "it made sense that CIA was the organization selected to create these Top Chef culinary classes."

"'Top Chef' fans are true foodies who will be able to embrace the show as well as the skills they tune-in for every week through this terrific collaboration," said Ellen Stone, Vice President, Consumer Marketing, Bravo. "We are very excited to work with such a well-known and distinguished organization."

Enrollment for Top Chef: The Class @ the CIA is limited to 36 attendees per class. Tuition is $195 per person.

Each chef will prepare a signature dish which appears in the Top Chef cookbook, plus two complementary dishes. Attendees will savor tastings of all meals prepared, plus a specialty cocktail paired with the dishes. All attendees of Top Chef: The Class @ the CIA will receive a copy of the newly released Top Chef: The Cookbook which they can have their favorite chef sign. The fun and informative program will feature a question-and-answer period that will allow attendees to quiz the Top Chefs.

Top Chef is the #1 rated food show on cable television.

The Culinary Institute of America at Astor Center is located at 399 Lafayette St. in the heart of Manhattan's East Village. To register for Top Chef: The Class @ the CIA, call 1-800-888-7850 or visit the Web site at www.ciachef.edu/enthusiasts/programs.

Attention media: A limited number of scholarships are available for reporters on assignment who wish to attend Top Chef: The Class @ the CIA. Please contact Jay Blotcher at 845-905-4419 for more information.

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Founded in 1946, The Culinary Institute of America is an independent, not-for-profit college offering bachelor's and associate degrees, as well as certificate programs, in either culinary arts or baking and pastry arts. As the world's premier culinary college, the CIA has a network of more than 37,000 alumni that includes industry leaders such as Grant Achatz, Anthony Bourdain, Cat Cora, Harold Dieterle, Steve Ells, Todd English, Duff Goldman, Sara Moulton, Charlie Palmer, and Roy Yamaguchi. The college has campuses in New York (Hyde Park), California (The CIA at Greystone, St. Helena), and Texas (San Antonio), as well as an additional location in New York City (Astor Center, Manhattan). In addition to its degree programs, the CIA also offers courses for professionals and food enthusiasts, as well as wine education. For more information, and a complete listing of program offerings at each site, visit the CIA online at www.ciachef.edu.

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