Based in the Department of Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism Management, the Culinary Institute prepares students for dynamic jobs in the food industry through partnerships and real-world practice.
A concentration in culinary arts was created for Pellissippi State Community College students in the Associate of Applied Science degree program, allowing them to be taught by UT’s culinary faculty and chef instructors. Students in the Culinary Institute plan, prepare, and serve unique upscale food to UT groups and visitors to the university using, in part, herbs and vegetables that they grow in a garden behind the UT Visitors Center. They also work with university sustainability programs to compost any waste made during the cooking process.
A senior-level class, Ready for the World Café, exposes Hospitality and Tourism students to planning and executing all facets of a dining experience with a focus on international cuisine. The meal is served to eighty paying guests each week. Community members also can take a culinary class at UT through university noncredit programs. Classes include canning and freezing, baking, and educational beer and wine classes. Since January, 425 people in the Knoxville area have taken advantage of these classes.
For more information about the Culinary Institute, visit tiny.utk.edu/culinary.