Dom Pérignon announces that it is joining forces with The Culinary Institute of America (CIA), the world’s premier culinary college, to support the first-ever Master’s in Culinary Arts degree program. The Dom Pérignon Scholarship Fund will fully support tuition for 20 students in the unique program, which integrates two years of unprecedented experiential learning at world-class restaurants and features residencies at the CIA’s New York campus and the Champagne House in France.
The program is designed to prepare the next generation of leading restauranteurs for ownership and success. In addition to its scholarship support, a grant from Dom Pérignon helped underwrite the development of the program by the CIA.
The Champagne House recognizes its role and responsibility in supporting the future of gastronomy. As Cellar Master Vincent Chaperon notes:
“Dom Pérignon’s creative ambition is a perpetual quest for harmony as a source of emotion – a quest that is shared by great chefs in our mutual ambition to create memorable meals and pairings. Because of that connection, the culinary arts and fine wine have always been intimately linked, and at Dom Pérignon we recognize a responsibility to the future of gastronomy. Our vision is to nurture a profound appreciation for the art of living in the next generation. The Dom Pérignon Scholarship Fund, made possible through the Culinary Institute of America, is the first step in bringing that vision to life.”
This first-of-its-kind program will feature content in areas including professional excellence in cooking, culinary history, agriculture, responsible product sourcing, and sustainability; the relationship between wine and food. And entrepreneurship and business leadership.
“Since our founding in 1946, The Culinary Institute of America has played an integral part in elevating the chef profession, educating more than 50,000 students who have gone on to lead every facet of food, beverage and hospitality,” says CIA President Dr. Tim Ryan. “We are excited now to announce the launch of the first of its kind graduate-level program to further underscore the mastery, craftsmanship, and business acumen of the culinary arts. It is truly a special time for the CIA and the profession. And we are grateful to Dom Pérignon for their support of this groundbreaking program.”
To kick off the program and further support its mission, world-renowned chefs, including Thomas Keller, Kyle Connaughton, Niki Nakayama, Val Cantú, and CIA alumna Daisy Ryan participated in an exclusive fireside conversation alongside Cellar Master Vincent Chaperon and CIA President and Certified Master Chef, Dr. Tim Ryan, discussing their personal career experiences, trials and triumphs, and the importance—and future—of culinary education.
As Chef Kyle Connaughton notes, “It’s been incredibly rewarding to work with this group to create a program for young chefs to become the next generation of thoughtful leaders for our profession. Looking back, the challenges in going from chef to chef-owner can be incredibly difficult, and we’ve set out to better prepare our future chefs with the knowledge and experience to move forward in their careers successfully.”
Chef Thomas Keller shares, “I am incredibly proud to have worked with this group to realize the goal of launching a Master’s of Culinary Arts at The Culinary Institute of America (CIA). This effort and the work to bring this forward lie in the hard work and dedication of CIA President Dr. Tim Ryan, a community of chefs, and Dom Pérignon.
I am equally excited to host the first CIA Master of Culinary Arts cohort at The French Laundry. Our restaurant has always been a place for training, education, and mentoring and, over the past two decades, has helped launch many chef, restaurateur, and hospitality careers. The opportunity to finally add the CIA curriculum to ours will bring forth a quantum leap in education and better prepare the next generation to continue to elevate the standards of our profession and secure the future of restaurants. I am grateful to Dom Pérignon for their support of this incredible program, which has helped make it a reality.
I want to recognize the chef community for their continuous efforts and dedication to their craft and for nurturing those who walk through our doors every day. Restaurants have always been the heart of our communities, and we thank the CIA and those who helped teach generations of chefs. The next generation of chefs have the opportunity to receive a higher level of education to advance our profession even further.”
Candidates will be able to apply online at CIA Master’s in Culinary Arts starting May 2, 2023.
Photo: Joe Schildhorn/BFA.com
