"Basque Culinary Center" and the "Culinary Institute of America" Set to Collaborate

On Monday, October 17, Patxi López, the Lehendakari (president) of the Basque Regional Government, will be at The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, NY to sign a partnership agreement with the college.

López and CIA President Tim Ryan will be entering into an agreement to have the CIA partner with the Basque Culinary Center (BCC) in San Sebastian, Spain to foster education, faculty and cultural exchange, and advance a greater understanding of the foods, wines, and culinary heritage of the Basque region.

As part of the agreement, the CIA and BCC will collaborate on designing a faculty exchange program and explore the possibility of jointly publishing an international gastronomic sciences journal. The new partners will also consider expanding the CIA's ProChef® program to the Basque Culinary Center as a location for European culinary professionals to acquire advanced certification.

"The Culinary Institute of America is pleased to join with the BCC in this partnership that will benefit foodservice professionals and culinary students on both sides of the Atlantic," said Dr. Ryan. "This is just the beginning of what we anticipate will be a long-term educational collaboration with our colleagues at the Basque Culinary Center."

Future programs could include culinary arts courses, international conferences and leadership retreats, new media opportunities, visiting guest chefs and winemakers at CIA campuses, educational resource support, and other initiatives.