Wine With Wanda

Women in Wine Leadership Symposium

I recently had the honor of moderating the keynote discussion for the tenth annual Women in Wine Leadership Symposium (WWLS). The conversation featured Annette Alvarez-Peters, Jirka Jireh, and Mandy Oser, and covered a wide range of topics, including diversity, mentorship, work-life balance, and working relationships. Several years ago, I received my first invitation to attend WWLS and it has always been one of favorite industry events. Few wine industry gatherings can rival WWLS's combination of camaraderie, education, and networking. Having a seat at the table as a moderator, was truly a career highlight. The keynote discussion also inspired an article in Forbes by Cathrine Todd. 

Click here to watch the symposium or scroll down to the video. 

Three Muy Generoso Scholarships Available for Spanish Culinary Arts Program at ICE

“I’m very excited to announce these scholarships, with my friends and partners at Campofrio and sbe,” said Andrés. “The scholarships will be awarded to three students who are passionate about cooking and more importantly, passionate about learning about Spanish cuisine and culture. Together with The International Culinary Center, we are launching what is undoubtedly the most authentic Spanish culinary program in the country, if not the world. We believe the program will change the way Americans look at Spanish cuisine. These scholarships, in launching the careers of three deserving students, will translate into millions of dollars spent over a lifetime on food products from Spain as well as millions indirectly generated by creating jobs here in America and abroad.”
- Chef José Andrés

In September, I was thrilled to share news about the Spanish Culinary Arts Program at the International Culinary Center in New York City. Many of you shared my enthusiasm for this incredible opportunity to learn the fundamentals, history, and artistry of Spanish cuisine in this new program developed in partnership with Chef José Andrés. The inaugural class will even get to travel to Spain with Chef José Andrés!

Well, I am happy to share more amazing news - three lucky recipients will be awarded scholarships for the 11-week Spanish Culinary Arts program. The scholarships will be awarded to three recipients based on merit and financial need. The first scholarship, in the full tuition amount of $26,500, has been underwritten by Campofrio Food Group, one of the world’s leading cured meats company, based in Madrid. The second scholarship, in the amount of $20,000, has been donated by Sam Nazarian, his hospitality and entertainment company sbe, and the Y&S Nazarian Family Foundation. The third scholarship, also a full scholarship in the amount of $26,500, is being donated by The International Culinary Center’s Dean of Spanish Studies Chef José Andrés and his ThinkFoodGroup, in the name of their Spanish tapas restaurants Jaleo.

Applications are due January 11th and the Spanish Culinary Arts program begins on February 5th. Buena Suerte! Click here for more details.

Travel to Spain with Chef José Andrés: The International Culinary Center Unveils Spanish Culinary Arts Curriculum

I've never seriously pondered  trading in my little black dresses for chef's whites but the new Spanish Culinary Arts Curriculum at the International Culinary Center has me thinking that todo es posible!

The first-of-its-kind Spanish program will launch in February 2013 at the International Culinary Center's New York City campus. It was developed in collaboration with their recently-appointed Dean of Spanish Studies José Andrés - renowned Spanish culinary innovator, James Beard award-winning chef, and the owner of ThinkFoodGroup which operates multiple restaurants across America - including Jaleo, Zaytinya, and The Bazaar by José Andrés at The SLS Hotels in Beverly Hills and South Beach. Colman Andrews, author of Catalan Cuisine, co-founder of Saveur and editorial director of www.thedailymeal.com also assisted in the development of the program.

“My dream of educating future generations of chefs in authentic, traditional and modern Spanish cuisine is finally coming true with the official launch of the Spanish Culinary Arts program at The International Culinary Center. With its intense passion and revolutionary avant-garde spirit, Spain is taking the food industry in America by storm, in a way I could only have imagined. This program will provide aspiring chefs with an incredible opportunity to receive a formal Spanish culinary education and I’m thrilled to take the first class to Spain, where they will be able to personally experience everything that Spanish cuisine and culture has to offer.”
José Andrés

During the 11-week course, students will be trained in culinary techniques, learn about the food of Spain beginning with traditional cuisine and progressing to contemporary and avant-garde. In addition to receiving world-class training in traditional and modern Spanish cuisine, students will learn Spanish culture, history, geography and culinary terminology - making ICC's curriculum the most authentic and comprehensive Spanish culinary program in the country. And, the inaugural class will conclude with a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Spain with José Andrés! How amazing is that?

If you enroll, let me know so that I can live vicariously through you! Classes begin February 5 and end April 12, 2013. Classes meet 5 times a week for 11 weeks. The tuition is $26,500.
For more infomation, visit the International Culinary Center website.

 

Take Me Away: Culinary Institute of America presents Wine Lovers Boot Camps in Napa Valley

I'm a big believer in continuing education, especially if the curriculum is fine wine! If you are passionate about wine and want to broaden your knowledge, the Culinary Institute of America's Wine Lovers Boot Camps could be perfect for you.

Wine Lovers Boot Camp will debut in spring 2012 in the heart of Napa Valley at the CIA at Greystone. Home to great vineyards and wine estates, I can’t imagine a better location in the United States for such a program. The two courses launching this new series are Wine Lovers Boot Camp - Basic Training and Wine Lovers Boot Camp - Tasting Like a Pro.

Wine Lovers Boot Camp—Tasting Like a Pro is a two day program and will teach the casual wine drinker how to adopt professional approaches to tasting wine. Participants will be guided through proper tasting technique and how to recognize important wine attributes that determine the quality and style of still, sparkling, and sweet wines. Through structured tastings, students will discover the influence on flavor of winemaking techniques, from barrel fermentation to fortification. Blind tastings will ultimately test their ability to identify wines like professionals. Initial class dates for 2012 are February 2–3, February 29–March 1, March 26–27, April 13–14, and May 17–18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuition is $895 per person, and the class is open to students 21 years of age and older.

 Wine Lovers Boot Camp—Basic Training is a five-day exploration of the joys wine can bring to one's lifestyle, and is designed to elevate participants' overall understanding of wine. Working with the CIA's renowned faculty, students in this Boot Camp will taste the world's major white and red wine grape varieties as they learn to decipher wine labels from regions near and far. They will discover how a vineyard's location and a winemaker's influence can impact the flavor, style, and price of wine. Through tastings, participants will learn how to evaluate wine "flavor" and place it skillfully in the context of a meal. This newfound understanding will ultimately be put into practice in the kitchen as students prepare a multi-course meal with paired wines. Initial 2012 class dates are February 13–17, April 16–20, and May 21–25 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuition is $2,195 per person, and the class is open to students 21 years of age and older.

On select class days, students in both Wine Lovers Boot Camp programs will enjoy dinner at the on-campus Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant.

Yes, these boot camps are a little pricey but if you are serious about your vino it sounds like a great investment. And, how cool would it be to say you attended the Culinary Institute of America, even if only for a few days!

Click here for more information about the Culinary Institute of America Wine Lovers Boot Camp.

images courtesy CIA/Keith Ferris

Travel & Learn: Take an Educational Vacation

Have you ever fantasized about baking bread in Italy, dancing Flamenco in Spain, making perfume in France, or studying Portuguese in Lisbon? Make your next vacation a learning holiday. Pursuing your passion in your dream destination can add a whole new dimension to your travel experience. Here are a few companies that offer fantastic learning opportunities abroad. If only college had been this much fun!

 - From cooking courses to sports holidays, GoLearnTo offers a wide variety of learning opportunities in 30 countries. Some of their unique classes include perfume making in France, belly dancing in Turkey, and surfing in Ecuador. These are vacations to remember!

- Carbs are not the enemy - poorly made bread is! Made with the finest ingredients and the utmost of care, artisan bread is a thing of delicious beauty. Get to know your dough by enrolling in an Artisan Bread School course in Tuscany, the United Kingdom or the United States. Learn to make fantastic foccacia, crusty ciabatta, and sensational sourdough from school founder Carl Shavitz. Yummy! 

AmeriSpan proclaims to offer "every language, every culture, everywhere." It may be a slight exaggeration (sorry, no Na'vi classes for you Avatar fans) but they do teach Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Spanish and more. You can choose to learn the language of your choice from a diverse selection of countries, including Morroco, Germany, Taiwan, Argentina, and India. You can also explore AmeriSpan's volunteer programs and internship placements.