New England Culinary Institute, The

(No Starving Students Here)

Back in the late 70’s, when Francis Voight and John Darrow were colleagues at Plainfield, Vermont’s Goddard College, they identified a growing need for trained graduates in the culinary arts. This realization, along with their educational expertise and entrepreneurial drive led to the founding of the New England Culinary Institute in 1980.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the number of chef positions in the United States will increase over 40% by the year 2005. The New England Culinary Institute is at the forefront of meeting this demand. Since its founding in 1980, the school has grown from 6 to nearly 600 students, added a second campus, and taken over the operations of 12 food service outlets. The NECI’s restaurants and other facilities include Chef’s Table, La Brioche Bakery & Cafe and Main Street Grill & Bar (Montpelier, VT), Butler’s Restaurant and The Tavern at The Inn at Essex, and the Birch Tree Cafe (Essex Junction, VT), along with cafeterias at the Department of Employment & Training and Vermont College in Montpelier.

Programs include a One-Year Basic Cooking Preparation Certificate, the two-year Associate’s Degree, the Three-Year Bachelor’s Degree in Service and Management, as well as Whisk Away Weekends for non-professional cooking students. One of the New England Culinary Institute’s most significant attributes is the student/teacher ratio of 7:1, ensuring that every student gets the attention and training they need. Most other schools have ratios anywhere from 15:1 to 30:1. In addition, the Institute feels that it's not enough to understand the theory of a culinary education but to be well prepared to practice in the real world. There is a minimum requirement of 700 hours per year in paid internships, which translates to approximately 75% of every student’s time being spent in preparing food to be served to the public.

In keeping with new trends in health and nutrition, and recognizing the physical demands of the food service industry, the NECI has added a physical fitness requirement to its curriculum. Participation in this Health & Wellness program is mandatory, and will help give the students the stamina they will need to become professional chefs. The school also requires the study of liberal arts topics, which the school leaders feel will better prepare the students to interact with their future customers.

New England Culinary Institute graduates are currently working in such top quality restaurants as Zoe (New York), Le Bec Fin (Philadelphia), L’Espalier (Boston) and the French Laundry (Napa Valley, California). The school places 100% of its graduates in the culinary field, one of the top fifteen growing careers of the 90’s.

Here is what culinary legend, chef and author Julia Child said about the New England Culinary Institute: "We have worked professionally with three different students from the New England Culinary Institute and have been delighted with their work and especially with their attitudes and motivation."

If you are visiting Vermont, be sure to experience the sights, tastes and aromas of the New England Culinary Institute by visiting one of their dining locations. You will see the chef-instructors and students from all over the world (all 50 states and 10 foreign countries) preparing wonderful meals for you to enjoy. Spend the night at the Inn at Essex and take a class. Savor the delicious food, friendly service and moderate prices. Pick up the latest NECI Continuing Education Schedule.

Eat, Drink, and Learn in the Green Mountains of Vermont at the New England Culinary Institute. To visit the NECI web site, please click here.

For additional information:

In Montpelier:
New England Culinary Institute, 802/223-6324
Main Street Grill & Bar, 802/223-3188 (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Sunday Brunch)
Chef’s Table, 802/229-9202 (Mon.-Fri. Lunch; Sat. Only for Dinner)
La Brioche Bakery & Cafe, 802/229-0443 (Daily)

In Essex:
Butler’s Restaurant, 802/878-1100 (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Sunday Brunch)
The Tavern, 802/878-1100 (Daily from 11 am)
The Inn at Essex, 802/878-1100 (97 spacious rooms)

In Burlington:
NECI Commons, 802/862-NECI (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)