San Antonio, TX – UNESCO—the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization—this
week named San Antonio a Creative City of Gastronomy, and Ѹ played a major role in helping San Antonio earn that designation. In announcing
the honor, city officials credited the Ѹ’s establishment
of a campus in the Pearl district in 2008 as a milestone in turning San Antonio
into a culinary showcase.
“Ѹ’s presence has been impactful
in bringing world-class culinary education and research to the heart of San Antonio,”
said Casandra Matej, president and CEO of Visit San Antonio.
“San Antonio’s rich culinary and cultural heritage was a key draw to the Ѹ’s decision
to expand to San Antonio and we are delighted the city’s heritage continues to be
a part of its program. As one of the highlights of the vibrant Pearl neighborhood,
the school has been a catalyst to help grow our culinary scene.”
The Ѹ San Antonio offers degrees in Culinary Arts and Baking &
Pastry Arts, and juniors and seniors at the New York campus can spend a semester in San Antonio
as part of the college’s academic concentration in Latin Cuisine Studies. The campus
is also host to an annual that brings food professionals
from throughout the Americas to San Antonio.
“The Ѹ is proud to be an integral part of the city’s burgeoning
culinary scene,” says April Goess, managing
director of the Ѹ San Antonio. “Our campus was an early anchor at Pearl—which
has quickly become a destination for food enthusiasts—and our graduates provide
much of the city’s culinary talent.”
Ѹ graduate Johnny Hernandez is a chef and restaurateur whose Grupo La Gloria includes some
of San Antonio’s most successful restaurants. “From showcasing our culinary heritage
to sharing local innovations and leading the way with San Antonio’s brand of culinary
diplomacy, the opportunities afforded us as a City of Gastronomy are all reasons
for San Antonio to celebrate,” Hernandez says.
San Antonio is the second U.S. city, after Tucson, AZ, to be
named a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. The city’s 18th century Spanish colonial
missions previously made it a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Photo Captions and Hi-Res Images:
Photo 1 (top): Ѹ
graduate Johnny Hernandez (center left), San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, and
other San Antonio officials celebrate the Texas city’s designation at a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. (Photo credit: City of San Antonio)
Photo 2: The
Culinary Institute of America in San Antonio’s Pearl District has been a major
part of the growth of the city’s gastronomic scene. San Antonio was named a
UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in November 2017. (Photo credit: Ѹ/Phil Mansfield)
Media Contact:
Jeff Levine
Communications Writer
845-451-1372
Jeff.Levine@culinary.edu
Founded in 1946, Ѹ is the world’s premier culinary
college. Dedicated to developing leaders in foodservice and hospitality, the independent,
not-for-profit Ѹ offers bachelor’s degrees in management, culinary arts, culinary
science, and applied food studies, and associate degrees in either culinary arts
or baking and pastry arts. The college also offers executive education through its
Food Business School along with certificate programs and courses for professionals
and enthusiasts. Its conferences, leadership initiatives, and consulting services
have made the Ѹ the think tank of the food industry and its worldwide network
of nearly 50,000 alumni includes innovators in every area of the food business.
The Ѹ has locations in New York, California, Texas, and Singapore.
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