New Bakery Café by illy Opens at The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone

The sweet smell of success wafts through the air at The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) at Greystone. It is the smell of fresh baked breads, cookies, pastries and gourmet coffees being made by baking and pastry arts degree students and faculty in the college's new Bakery Café by illy. The new cafe just opened to the public, offering morning pastries and a lunch menu of soups, salads, sandwiches, and a variety of beverages including illy specialty coffee drinks. The Bakery Café by illy will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The full menu is available for takeout for a wine country picnic or a working lunch. Guests may also enjoy their meal in the café's casual dining area with complimentary Wi-Fi.

The Bakery Café by illy is an integral part of the CIA at Greystone's baking and pastry degree program, and has been made possible thanks to the generous support of illycaffè, a global leader in premium specialty coffee.

"As the world's premier not-for-profit culinary college, we are grateful for the support of leading companies like illy who embrace our mission to provide the best culinary education to CIA students," explains Dr. Tim Ryan, president of The Culinary Institute of America. "The new Bakery Café by illy enables our students to apply their professional skills in a fully operational setting while they continue to learn about subjects like service, management, and—of course—coffee Everyone is welcome to come see our students and taste their talents right here at the CIA's Greystone campus."

While working in the Bakery Café by illy, students will also learn about coffee, from the history and cultivation, to current economics and preparation techniques. In addition, illy and the CIA will develop educational programs for professionals and consumers based on the education illy has provided for the last 25 years to its coffee-growing partners and to hotels, restaurants and cafes around the world. Future coffee education classes tailored to the consummate professional include a two-day "Coffee Expert" course and a series of Barista Certification courses. CIA's weekend food enthusiasts courses will offer "Coffee Aficionado" and "Master Barista Series" classes led by illy's Master Barista, Giorgio Milos. This new partnership with the CIA allows chefs, students, and consumers the chance to get a world-class coffee education from two leaders in food and beverage education.

"Partnering with the CIA allows illy the opportunity to reach the most dedicated and engaged students in the world, and further expand our education platform which is at the core of our brand. Together, illy and CIA will offer a premier training experience for culinary professionals and coffee lovers alike," stated Andrea Illy, chairman and CEO of illycaffè.