Virginia College in Baton Rouge Announces Grand Opening of Culinard

BATON ROUGE, La., April 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Virginia College in Baton Rouge announced today the grand opening of Culinard, the Culinary Institute of Virginia College, on Thursday, April 24, 2014. The event will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the campus located at 9501 Cortana Place with a ribbon cutting taking place at 5:45 p.m. The event will feature special guests including Commander's Palace Executive Chef Tory McPhail, named 2013's Best Chef: South by the James Beard Foundation, and Sous Chef Thomas Robey. Guests will enjoy culinary creations from Culinard, libations and tours of the facility.

"We are thrilled about the opening of Culinard in Baton Rouge and the opportunities it will bring to students," says Campus President Carlo Romano. "Culinard students will gain skills that enable them to pursue a career in the culinary arts and the chance to turn their passion into a profession. We could not be more thankful for esteemed industry professionals like Chef Tory and Chef Robey who allow our students to serve as externs at their restaurant, and we are honored to have them as our special guests during our grand opening."

Culinard students can choose to pursue a diploma in culinary arts or pastry arts, both of which can be completed in 36 weeks. These intensive programs put students in the kitchen on the first day of class and prepare them for careers in restaurants, hotels, resorts, casinos, cruise ships, catering companies, hospitals and more. Culinard also offers an online associate degree.

"World-class chef instructors, professional teaching kitchens, small class sizes and day-and-night scheduling are what separate Culinard from other institutions," says Antony Osborne, Academic Dean of Culinard at Education Corporation of America, the parent company of Virginia College. "Culinard offers high-caliber training to our students and upholds its reputation as one of the South's premier culinary schools."

Since opening, Culinard has trained more than 1,000 chefs and now offers programs in Birmingham and Mobile, Ala.; Baton Rouge, La., Jacksonville, Fla.; Savannah, Ga.; Richmond, Va.; Greenville, S.C.; Greensboro, N.C., and Chattanooga, Tenn.

About Virginia College and Education Corporation of America

Birmingham, Ala.-based Education Corporation of America (ECA) is a leader in the post-secondary career school market with current enrollment of over 19,000 students. Holdings include Virginia College, founded in 1983, a private institution of higher education that offers non-degree and associate's, bachelor's and master's degree programs nationwide. ECA also offers classes online via www.vconline.edu and operates Culinard, the Culinary Institute of Virginia College, the Golf Academy of America schools, New England College of Business and Ecotech Institute. These schools are accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) which is listed as a nationally recognized accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education and is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Contact:
Audrey Pannell
205.503.5955 (office)
205.837.3140 (cell)|
[email protected]

SOURCE Virginia College