The Culinary Institute of America

Six from CIA on Bravo Show's New Season; 3 of 4 Winners Have Been Graduates

Contact:

Jeff Levine
Media Relations
845-451-1372
j_levine@culinary.edu

Hyde Park, NY, November 6, 2008 – When Top Chef: New York debuts on Bravo network on November 12, five graduates of The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) and a current senior at the Hyde Park, NY college will be competing for the title of "Top Chef."

Of the 17 challengers, the fifth season of the popular cooking competition program includes:

• Leah Cohen '03 of Scarsdale, NY, sous chef at Centro Vinoteca in New York City


• Ariane Duarte '88 of Verona, NJ, chef/owner of CulinAriane in Montclair, NJ


• Patrick Dunlea '09 of Quincy, MA, a senior at the CIA pursuing his bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts Management


• Danny Gagnon '02 of New Hyde Park, NY, executive chef at the Babylon Carriage House on Long Island


• Lauren Hope '06 of Cincinnati, OH, tournant at Jag's Steak and Seafood in her hometown


• Jamie Lauren '00 of New York City, executive chef at Absinthe in San Francisco

The winner of the show will earn $100,000 in seed money to help open a restaurant. CIA alumni won each of the first three seasons of Top Chef. Harold Dieterle '97, earned the first "Top Chef" title. Ilan Hall '02 followed by wining the second season. Hung Huynh '02 outlasted all challengers on the show's third season.

CIA students and graduates have been successful on other reality cooking shows as well. Christina Machamer '08 won the most recent season of Hell's Kitchen on Fox network during her sophomore year in Hyde Park and Heather West '03 was the winner of that program's second season. Four of the eight finalists on Next Iron Chef on the Food Network last year were alumni, including winner Michael Symon '90 and runner-up John Besh '92.

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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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