Touring the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York.

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I just returned from a wonderful weekend in Hyde Park, New York, home of former US President Franklin D. Roosevelt. I have been to the area before with my family (we published a whole City Guide to Dutchess County with tons of family friendly activities), but this trip was focused on catching up with old college friends and eating lots of good meals at the Culinary Institute of America. We arrived early on Friday afternoon to take a public tour of the campus and learn about the Institute’s impressive history.

The Culinary Institute of America offers Associate Degrees in Culinary Arts or Bakery and Pastry Arts and Bachelor’s Degrees in areas such as Applied Food Studies, Business and Hospitality Management, and Culinary Science. The original Institute started in New Haven, Connecticut in 1946 after World War II, offering culinary arts programs to returning soldiers. The school moved to Hyde Park in 1972 to a 170 acre property that was formerly a Jesuit residence. The now 2,000 student body takes a variety of classes in 41 kitchens and labs, many of which are held in Roth Hall. The CIA has also expanded over the past 40 years, with campuses in California, Texas, and Singapore.

Anton Plaza and Roth Hall at Anton Plaza and Roth Hall of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York

Dining at the CIA:

There are three restaurants and one cafe, run by students in both the “front of the house” and “back of the house” and supervised by instructors, which are open to the public:

  • American Bounty Restaurant: Open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday with a seasonal menu of meats, seafood, and vegetarian options. Roth Hall
  • Bocuse: Open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday with a French focused, pre fix three course menu and modern decor dining room. Roth Hall
  • Ristorante Caterina De’ Medici: Open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday from 6pm-10pm with an Italian focused menu and rustic Italian decor. 
  • Apple Pie Bakery Cafe: Open Monday through Friday from 8am-4pm for modified table for breakfast, lunch, and sweet treat options; see the full menu here. Roth Hall
American Bounty restaurant in Anton Plaza and Roth Hall of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York

plate display inside Apple Pie Cafe at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park New York

Travel Tips:

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  • CIA Experience Tours are offered twice a day Tuesday through Saturday – find up to date information on tour hours and fees, and make a reservation for a tour, here.
  • Parking is available underneath Roth Hall, in the two story parking deck in Anton Plaza or in the Layer Cake parking lot. 
  • Check in for tours inside Roth Hall (main entrance and first room on the right across from the Craig Claiborne Bookstore)
  • I highly recommend making a reservation for a meal at one of the restaurants before or after a tour. Reservations fill weeks in advance, so plan early!
  • The tour is handicap accessible via elevators and ramps.
  • Plan on 75 minutes for the full tour experience. Part of the tour does include briefly walking outside. See a full campus map here. 

Highlights of the Public Tour:

  1. Start in the Wine Spectator Classroom with a “Taste Like a Chef” interactive demonstration. The tour begins with an overview of the history of the CIA and its famous graduates, an explanation of the differences between “taste” (what happens on your tongue when you experience salt, sweet, sour, bitter, and umami) and “flavor” (when you add the other four senses- sight, sound, smell, and touch- to eating something). Then CIA students take guests through the experience of learning about senses, their impact on flavor, and how various additions impact the taste of something as simple as a grape.
  2. Peek inside the viewing windows of a wide variety of instructional kitchens– everything from confectionery styling to chocolates to production.
  3. Walk through the beautiful faculty and student Dining Hall in Farquharson Hall, formerly the Jesuit sanctuary.
  4. Stick your hand in the mouth of either life size stone lion statue for good luck (there are two statues- one in front of American Bounty and one in front of Ristorante Caterina De’ Medici).
  5. Learn about the uniforms, including skull caps and toques, students must wear unless they are in the library or their residence hall.
  6. Try and count the forks, knives, and spoons used to create the massive Hudson Valley Sturgeon sculpture outside the Marriott Center.
  7. Stop by the Craig Claiborne Bookstore for a CIA souvenir, cookbook, or apparel. 
taste Like a Chef experience at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park New York
statue made from forks, knives, and spoons at the CIA in Hyde Park, NY

Dining Hall at Anton Plaza and Roth Hall of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York
bookstore at Roth Hall of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York

Looking for a hotel near the CIA? We had a great experience at the newly (2024) opened Inn at Bellefield, a Marriott property, located directly across the street from the CIA. The hotel has a beautiful lobby, full daily breakfast included in each stay, and spacious rooms. 

New England based, part high school English teacher, part non profit founder, part road tripper who LOVES hopping in the family SUV to explore America. Our bucket list includes National Parks, MLB stadiums, presidential libraries, and eating wherever the locals eat!

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