New York City remains a hotspot for restaurants and culinary education

NEW YORK, NY, April 3, 2008. The spring season has begun at ICE and its career programs in Culinary Arts, Pastry & Baking Arts and Culinary Management are strong. Through the first quarter of '08, enrollments for the year are up 14% versus last year. The school is maintaining the approximate 50/50 male/female ratio and has attracted international students from countries including Russia, Brazil, Japan, Spain and China.

ICE's 2007 Externship Report shows that last year the school placed 543 students in 344 different establishments in 20 states. The school is particularly proud of its most popular externship sites that last year included: Danny Meyer's Gramercy Tavern (18 students), Mario Batali's Del Posto (17 students), Eric Ripert's Le Bernardin (10 students) and Dan Barber's Blue Hill (10 students).

Additionally, here is the latest news on the school, alumni and Chef-Instructors:

• ICE has been nominated as a Finalist for the 2008 IACP Vocational School of the Year Award, which will be announced on April 18th in New Orleans.
• Six ICE alumni have been nominated for James Beard Awards, to be announced June 8th in New York City. Semi-finalists include Chefs Joseph Wrede (Taos), Allison Vines-Rushing (New Orleans), Rachel Yang (Seattle), Kendal Duque (Chicago); and finalists include Chef Gina DePalma (NYC) and author Trish Magwood (Toronto).
• ICE alumnus Colin Alevras (The Tasting Room, New York) has been nominated by Time Out New York for their "Best Chef Who Actually Cooks in Their Restaurant" Award.
• ICE alumnus Kendal Duque ( Sepia, Chicago) was chosen as a Chicago Rising Star Chef by Starchefs.com

• ICE alumnus, Matthew Sigel, is a contestant on Hell's Kitchen, than began on April 1st on FOX.
• ICE alumna Gail Simmons resumes her role as a co-host and judge on BRAVO TV's Top Chef.
• "Techniques of Cake Decorating," the class taught by resident Master Cake Designer, Toba Garrett, was featured on NBC's Today show in March.

• Chef-Instructor Norman Weinstein's latest book, Mastering Knife Skills — The Essential Guide to the Most Important Tools in Your Kitchen hits bookshelves later this month.
• Chef-Instructors Erica Wides, Ted Siegel and Sabrina Sexton cooked at a Culinary Vegetable Institute fundraising dinner at The Chef's Garden in Milan, Ohio in March.
• ICE Culinary Management Program Director Stephen Zagor led a panel at The New York Restaurant Show in March titled "Sex and Restaurants."
• ICE is hosting the Pastry Art and Design magazine "10 Best Awards" on June 9th.