Culinary Institute of America (Food and Wine Enthusiast Classes)

The Culinary Institute of America trains professional chefs, and it also runs Food and Wine Enthusiast classes for home cooks. At its main campus in Hyde Park, NY, you can sign up for multi-day Boot Camps, single-day classes and beverage classes. The campus covers 170 acres along the Hudson River.

The Boot Camps are the main draw. Coming up are Bistro Boot Camp on December 1 and Asian Cuisine Boot Camp on December 8. Classes are hands-on. The CIA has run courses for enthusiasts here since 1984, when it opened a continuing education center, later named the J. Willard Marriott Education Center.

This is a working college, not a storefront studio. Roth Hall holds teaching kitchens, bakeshops and three of the student-staffed restaurants. It suits cooks who want several focused days of instruction in a professional setting. You can book a meal at one of the campus restaurants during your visit.