Kendall College Takes Students on Culture and Culinary Odyssey to Mexico
Laureate International Universities Network Affiliation Affords Students Unique Study Opportunities
Chicago—October 20, 2011—Eight students from Kendall College School of Culinary Arts returned from a nine-day culture and culinary adventure in Mexico led by Kendall Chef Instructor Thomas Meyer. The excursion is an example of the unique educational opportunities afforded by the school’s affiliation with Laureate International Universities, a global network of more than 55 accredited campus-based and online universities, including nine culinary schools in seven countries.
On this trip, students were hosted by Laureate network institution Universidad del Valle de Mexico (UVM). Students visited two of UVM’s campuses: Lomas Verdes in Mexico City and Tlaplan in Puebla. The trip is part of a program designed to give students an in-depth understanding of traditional cultures and cuisines from around the world. In some cases, students travel abroad and in others, Kendall brings the study-abroad concept to the Chicago campus, hosting teams of esteemed chefs and educators from other countries for ten-day master classes. In each case, educators and chefs draw upon their intimate knowledge of their home region to create an unparalleled learning experience and cultural exchange.
A day-by-day travelogue of the trip is included in the Kendall Exchange blog, written by the students who made the trip. Their experience is perhaps summed up best by student Rick Hantke who wrote, “Evident in our last meal together on the UVM campus, the Kendall students are not only taking home knowledge of great Mexican food and culture, but they are taking home a new family: the wonderful, knowledgeable and gracious staff and students of UVM.”
“The objective of the program is to provide a total-immersion experience,” stated the program’s developer, Christopher Koetke, vice president, Laureate International Universities Center of Culinary Excellence and executive director of the Kendall College School of Culinary Arts. “Our philosophy is that in order to understand and appreciate the cuisine of a region, one must also understand the history, culture and traditions from which it emanated.”
During this cultural and culinary odyssey, students visited ancient archaeological sites, museums, marketplaces and, of course, many restaurants. Of special note, students visited one of Mexico’s most revered restaurants, Hacienda los Morales, where they had the opportunity to cook alongside a culinary master, Executive Chef Alejandro Heredia, who has been recognized as the “Chef of the Twentieth Century Mexican,” by the first International Congress of Chefs. The entire experience was guided by chef instructors from the two UVM campuses, who also hosted the group at their respective campuses, providing hands-on culinary instruction and a cultural exchange between the American and Mexican culinary students.
About the Kendall College School of Culinary Arts:
Kendall College, founded in 1934, is located in Chicago, Illinois. Kendall offers undergraduate degrees in business, culinary arts, early childhood education, foodservice management and hospitality management to a diverse and passionate community of more than 2500 students. The curriculum combines strong academics with practical experience and international educational opportunities that help give students in business, hospitality and culinary arts programs the skills and expertise to be leaders in their professions. Kendall College was ranked the number one program in Chicago for preparing students for careers in hospitality management and culinary arts in a survey of management at Chicago’s leading hotels and Michelin Guide restaurants (ORC International – 2011 Survey). The American Culinary Federation Education Foundation Accrediting Commission has accredited the Culinary Arts associate program since 1988 and the Baking and Pastry associate program since 2008. Kendall College, a member of the Laureate International Universities network, is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), www.ncahlc.org.
Media Contacts:
Amber Cerda, 312-752-2472, amber.cerda@kendall.edu
Maria Alexandra Velez, 312-752-2088, maria.velez@kendall.edu
