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Culinary Arts

The Culinary Arts program teaches aspiring hospitality and culinary students the “farm-to-table” concept driving menus in some of the finest restaurants worldwide. Utilizing products from the College’s own organic farm as part of the College’s innovative Farm to Bistro concept, students will be immersed in the practices of “gastronomy” as they learn about local agriculture and culinary practices. They will also benefit from hands-on professional training in the College’s downtown Ithaca culinary center Coltivare, complete with teaching kitchens, fully functional professional restaurant, and large-group serving capability.

Culinary Arts

“From my perspective, Coltivare and Tompkins Cortland Community College both embody the culinarian’s dream of utilizing as many as local ingredients as possible. Being surrounded by dozens of local farms supported by a committed community is one of the best feelings one can have.”

– Patrick Blackman, Culinary Program Liaison

Degree Requirements

Careers on Career Coach

Restaurant and culinary-related jobs are expected to grow at an average rate of 10% per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In the Finger Lakes Region, hospitality and food-related employment is among the strongest sectors of the regional economy, with a large need for professional, highly trained workers. Also, as interest in healthy eating increases, so do the number of jobs in natural food preparation. 

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 Program Chairs

faculty-suestafford

Susan Stafford

Professor, Hotel and Restaurant Management

Sue Stafford brings 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry to her position in the classroom as chair of the Hotel and Restaurant Management, Culinary Arts, and Wine Marketing Degree Programs. She was also instrumental in the development of the farm to bistro concept, which features an organic farm on campus that provides fresh produce to the College's downtown Ithaca restaurant and culinary center, Coltivare.

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Chef Amanda Bisson

Amanda Bisson

Assistant Professor, Culinary Arts

Chef Amanda Bisson joined TC3 in 2017 as an educator in both culinary arts and sustainable farming. With over 10 years’ experience in both industries, she offers a wealth of knowledge to students in the Farm to Bistro learning community. Chef Bisson strongly believes in partnerships between chefs and farmers and their capacity to impact community food systems. “Culinary Arts is not just a career; it is a language, a science, an art, and comes with social responsibility to our community” she says. 

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Transfer Options

Graduates may continue their education via transfer to a four-year college or university. Transfer institutions include:

  • Paul Smith's College
  • Johnson & Wales
  • SUNY College at Plattsburgh
  • SUNY Delhi
  • The Culinary Institute of America

 

 

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