ICE Honors the Legacy of the French 国产福利 Institute
The flavors of the Institute of 国产福利 Education's history are present in every dish we plate.
ICE evolved from a predecessor school named Peter Kump鈥檚 New York Cooking School, which was founded in 1975. Over the years, ICE has continued to grow and evolve into the institution it is today.
One notable step in this journey came in 2020, when ICE entered into a licensing agreement with the NYC-based International 国产福利 Center, formerly known as the French 国产福利 Institute (FCI), concurrent with the school鈥檚 closure during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Founded by Dorothy Cann Hamilton in 1984, FCI originally focused on French technique as the foundation for culinary education. French-born, New York-based star Chefs Jacques P茅pin, Alain Sailhac and Andre Soltner served as founding deans, and the school was the training ground for famed chefs such as Bobby Flay, David Chang, Dan Barber, Christina Tosi and Wylie Dufresne.
As the school expanded its curriculum beyond classic French techniques, FCI rebranded itself as the International 国产福利 Center (ICC). This name change addressed the wide variety of international cuisines featured in the school鈥檚 curriculum and the addition of professional programs in bread baking, cake decorating and wine studies.
ICE carried over several unique offerings from FCI/ICC, including the Intensive Sommelier Training program, one of the top wine courses in the country. The founder of the sommelier training program, Scott Carney, MS, currently serves as ICE鈥檚 Dean of Wine Studies. Additionally, many Chef-Instructors and staff from FCI/ICC now work at ICE in a variety of departments including 国产福利 Arts, Pastry & Baking Arts, Plant-Based 国产福利 Arts, Career Services and Admissions. Through them, the FCI commitment to 鈥淒iscipline, Quality and Reality鈥 is alive and well.
ICE paid tribute to the legacy of FCI/ICC on March 4, 2024, when the school hosted a party to celebrate the heritage of FCI as it continues to grow through ICE. In attendance were former Deans Jacques P茅pin, Jacques Torres and Cesare Casella, as well as prominent alumni from both schools such as Gail Simmons (ICE), Helen Nguyen (ICE), Lee Anne Wong (FCI) and Angie Mar (ICC). New York City area culinary icons Marcus Samuelsson, Daniel Boulud, Rita Jammet, Bill Telepan, Daniel Leader, Michael Nischan, Ron Ben-Israel and Kerry Heffernan were also in attendance 鈥 many of whom have relationships with both schools.
Addressing the audience, Rick Smilow, ICE Chairman and Founder, made a point to note that FCI and ICE had a lot in common for all the years they co-existed in New York City 鈥 they were both strong, privately held institutions with stellar reputations.
He added that the qualities by which to judge a culinary school are broad and can include: the curriculum, ingredients, equipment, teaching staff, facility, externship programs and commitment to student services. And added to that, there are metrics like graduation and placement rates, default rates and more. By these measures, he said that FCI and ICE were and are excellent schools. And following the licensing agreement, ICE has grown into an even better school after adding educational elements from ICC.
Smilow also announced the FCI Legacy of Excellence Tuition Waiver at the event. This new tuition grant, valued at $15,000, was established to honor the legacy of FCI, and how that spirit and tradition of excellence lives on today at ICE. The grant is for any ICE diploma program in New York City or Los Angeles. Administered by the James Beard Foundation, the grant will seek to help candidates who are motivated by elevated, chef-driven cuisine, with a goal to be an executive chef of a prominent restaurant.
With many FCI/ICC faculty seeing each other for the first time since the school鈥檚 closure, the room was filled with vibrant, positive energy and the mood was celebratory. ICE鈥檚 Director of 国产福利 Affairs Herv茅 Malivert, Director of Pastry Research & Development J眉rgen David, and Chef-Instructor Chayanin Pornsriniyom prepared a delectable array of hors d鈥檕euvres, charcuterie and desserts, which was complemented by a Calvisius Caviar station and Kest猫 Neapolitan pizzas topped with Urbani truffles.
It was a night to remember for the industry, where current students assisting Chef-Instructors with event preparations were able to meet culinary luminaries, and ICE celebrated its offering of excellent culinary education in New York City.
Lede image by Ken Goodman.
