Nuthin’ but Love for the CIA

Published on Thursday, January 25, 2007, by Christy Harrison / Edit Post

Epicurious’s new video and blog series promises to “infiltrate the Culinary Institute of America.” Apparently by “infiltrate” they mean “run an infomercial for,” judging from an early look.

The feature will include blogs from four chefs-in-training (for now those sections say “coming soon”) and regular video installments (at the moment the only ones up are those four students’ audition reels). The current clips are basically bland introductions to four nice people who seem to love cooking and love their school—kind of like those chipper guys and gals who walk around backward leading tour groups of prospective college students. Case in point from Jared, the nutrition-conscious Canadian, as he introduces some friends to the camera:

These are two of my best guys in my class. We get along well, very well. We’re in the same writing class, too, and we share a passion for our teacher. He is so good!

Not that this rah-rah tone is so surprising, since the CIA logos and links “for more information” on every page of the feature make it clear that this is advertorial, not an investigative report. And this format does have its benefits—perhaps it will focus more on the food than some shows we know, without getting bogged down in personal drama.

ALLFood Media
POST A COMMENT |3 Comments

COMMENT

  • If anyone wants a real insiders look at what it's like to be a culinary student, you need to read from the following links below. In case you haven't heard yet, the CIA is embroiled in a mess of a battle between faculty and president, Tim Ryan. Not only have the faculty voted "no-confidence" in Tim Ryan, but they also have taken him to task for creating an oppressive environment for students,...+READ

    If anyone wants a real insiders look at what it's like to be a culinary student, you need to read from the following links below. In case you haven't heard yet, the CIA is embroiled in a mess of a battle between faculty and president, Tim Ryan. Not only have the faculty voted "no-confidence" in Tim Ryan, but they also have taken him to task for creating an oppressive environment for students, staff and faculty. As both a former alumni of CIA and also former chef instructor, I can tell you first-hand that the things stated in these articles are completely true. This may be something that even the CIA marketing machine cannot counteract effectively. Definitely worth reading... http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080430/NEWS02/804300333&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL
    and http://www.dailyfreeman.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19654450&BRD=1769&PAG=461&dept_id=74958&rfi=6-COLLAPSE

  • In response to your comments about the new series on Epicurious.com, Inside the CIA – I want to say I appreciate and am impressed that despite the soft launch you folks have already found your way to our series. As the producer for this project, I feel it is important to clarify a few things.

    While it is true that we do have the cooperation of the CIA to bring this project to life, the school is...+READ

    In response to your comments about the new series on Epicurious.com, Inside the CIA – I want to say I appreciate and am impressed that despite the soft launch you folks have already found your way to our series. As the producer for this project, I feel it is important to clarify a few things.

    While it is true that we do have the cooperation of the CIA to bring this project to life, the school is not involved in any of the creative aspects of our project. Nor did the school choose our cast. We chose the students because they are passionate about food and cooking and have interesting personal stories. The fact that they may or may not be crazy about their school was never part of the criteria used in the casting process.

    Our series is truly an insiders look at what it’s like to be a culinary student at the nations top cooking school. We’ve given the 4 students each their own video cameras and asked them to report back to us on a weekly basis, while at school. The school does not edit what they shoot or write for the project.

    P.S. Our students are not all attending the Bachelors Program: Claire Crenshaw is graduating with her AOS in Baking & Pastry this May. AR- I can’t wait to have dinner with you at Per Se!-COLLAPSE

  • I went to the CIA. I worked as a part-timer in the media relations office. This is definitely set up by the school, and they would never, *never* have any students do this that were nothing less than rah-rah this-is-the-best-place-on-earth!! students. I am willing to put money (or dinner at Per Se) that they are all going to the bachelor's program too because that is what the school is trying so...+READ

    I went to the CIA. I worked as a part-timer in the media relations office. This is definitely set up by the school, and they would never, *never* have any students do this that were nothing less than rah-rah this-is-the-best-place-on-earth!! students. I am willing to put money (or dinner at Per Se) that they are all going to the bachelor's program too because that is what the school is trying so hard to promote right now (they have dreams of expanding it to a Masters and eventually - wipe your bleary eyes - a PhD program).

    Put your ladles down kids, these students were hand-picked by President Tim Ryan himself, no diggity.
    AR-COLLAPSE