Advanced Italian Restaurant Cooking II Experiential Learning 

This course represents the definitive experience for students approaching the world of professional cooking and professionals that want to perfect their skills in contemporary cuisine. The course will provide a deeper insight into the preparation of contemporary dishes and will allow students to put their skills into practice in Italian restaurant settings. Along with learning advanced contemporary cooking techniques, students will manage the kitchen acting as sous chefs on a rotating basis, reporting directly to the Chef instructor and collaborating with the operational organization of the kitchen brigade. Students are asked to organize inventories and food cost control operations, guarantee the regular compilation of HACCP documents and provide an equipment maintenance schedule. The topics covered will include cold smoking application, the use of whipping syphon and contemporary style sauces.
Emphasis will be placed on new culinary trends and the developing branch of food pairing in order to broaden students knowledge of flavor combinations thanks to a scientific approach to tastes and flavors.

The course includes four workshops, held during the semester intersessions, to offer a full-immersion in specialty fresh pasta production, traditional Italian seafood cuisine, gourmet vegetables cuisine and management of a daily market menu, plus a traditional Italian pastry experience.

This course consists of experiential learning hours with our Community Engagement Member Institutions (CEMI). CEMI are dynamic learning environments created to foster learning through a structured interaction with the community. In addition to regular lecture hours, students will be involved in learning by doing through real projects and integration with the local population and territory in order to remove cultural and learning barriers as well as to develop a strong likelihood for success in life.

The experiential learning hours are fully supervised by instructors who track students step by step during their learning experience, monitor and advise according to student needs, and support student initiative. This unique learning model allows students to benefit from an all-encompassing educational experience based on theory and practice in real enterprises, learning of comprehensive operational processes, problem-solving, leadership, and management. Prerequisites: Advanced Italian Restaurant Cooking I or equivalent. Special notes: This course includes mandatory team projects throughout the academic session.