Chef John Folse Culinary Institute facts for kids
The Chef John Folse Culinary Institute is a special cooking school at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana. It's named after Chef John Folse, who is famous for sharing Louisiana's unique food with the world. People often call him "Louisiana's Culinary Ambassador."
History of the Culinary Institute
Chef John Folse and Donald Ayo, a former president of Nicholls, had a big idea. They wanted the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute (CJFCI) to help keep Louisiana's amazing food culture alive. Their goal was to teach future chefs, students, and even community members how to master Cajun and Creole cooking. They also wanted to show how different cultures, like Native American, Spanish, French, African, German, English, and Italian, influenced these foods.
The institute started offering college classes in 1995. Its first group of students began in January 1996, working towards a two-year Associate of Science degree. In 1997, the Louisiana Board of Regents allowed Nicholls to offer a four-year bachelor's degree in culinary arts. This made it the first public university in the U.S. to offer such a program. Today, about 200 students attend CJFCI. It's known as one of the university's top programs.
What Students Learn
In classes like Chef John Folse's Cajun and Creole Cuisine, students learn to research and cook many famous Louisiana dishes. Imagine making delicious Duck-Andouille-and-Oyster Gumbo, creamy Crawfish Bisque, sweet Sweet Potato Pecan Pie, or refreshing Louisiana Fig Ice Cream! Famous chefs, like Chef Leah Chase from New Orleans and Certified Master Chef Fritz Sonnenschmidt, have even visited to share their knowledge.
The Chef John Folse Culinary Institute offers two types of degrees. You can get a two-year Associate of Science Degree or a four-year Bachelor of Science Degree. Students learn classic cooking skills while also focusing on the special foods of Louisiana.
Some interesting extra classes students can choose include:
- Culinary History of the South
- Food and Wine Pairing
- International Pastries
- Louisiana Seafood
- Regional French Cuisine
- Italian Cuisine
- Contemporary Cajun and Creole Cuisine
The culinary arts program is located in the Lanny D. Ledet Culinary Arts Building. This building is right on the Nicholls State University campus, with a view of Bayou Lafourche.
