| If the state of New York is the Mecca of the | | | | and food journalism, making it among the most |
| country's food culture, New York is probably its | | | | rounded culinary schools in the city. Dan Barber (Time |
| Masjid al-Haram. Visit the top five enclaves of the | | | | Most Influential People list in 2009) and Bobby Flay |
| city and you can easily identify the different cuisines | | | | are among its esteemed alumni. |
| they specialize in. Manhattan, for instance, is known | | | | Meanwhile, Institute of Culinary Education is one of |
| for world cuisine, while Queens is famed for its Asian | | | | the few top culinary schools in New York that offer |
| specialties. Another testament to the brilliance of the | | | | programs for recreation students (or students who |
| city as a food culture center is the number of top | | | | simply want to learn how to cook). It has over 1,000 |
| cooking schools in New York. | | | | recreation courses on Asian cuisine, wine education, |
| The three top can be found in the city. At its | | | | and pastry techniques, among many others. Besides |
| forefront is the French Culinary Institute (or the FCI) | | | | the usual culinary arts and pastry and baking arts |
| in the SoHo neighborhood of the city. The school, | | | | diploma, the school also offers a diploma in culinary |
| founded in 1984, offers courses in culinary arts and | | | | management, making it one of few culinary schools |
| pastry arts, as well as various programs on | | | | that focus a program that concentrates on |
| restaurant management. Unlike other culinary schools, | | | | management. |
| the FCI has courses in food technology, wine studies, | | | | |