The French Culinary Institute (The FCI) today proudly announced the official launch of its West Coast campus. Formerly known as the Professional Culinary Institute, the California campus will now be known as The French Culinary Institute at The International Culinary Center of California, and will operate under the same principles, leadership and guidance as The French Culinary Institute’s New York City campus.

Leveraging The French Culinary Institute’s respected time-tested curriculum, Total Immersion(SM) hands-on training method, and pulse on evolving culinary trends, the California campus will offer programs in culinary arts, pastry arts, and wine, with the focus on firmly establishing a foundation and respected reputation in the California market.

The launch of the California campus marks the first-time that The FCI’s renowned and accredited Classic Culinary Arts and Classic Pastry Arts programs will be offered on the West Coast. The accredited culinary class, starting April 4, 2011, has been christened the Jacques Pepin Inaugural Classic Culinary Arts Class in honor of The FCI’s Dean of Special Programs, Master Chef and one of the visionaries behind the development of the culinary program curriculum. Students enrolled in this class will have the added bonus of an exclusive session with Master Chef Pepin.

The first pastry class, starting April 19, 2011, will receive similar recognition. The accredited course will be named the Jacques Torres Inaugural Class in celebration of The FCI’s Dean of Pastry Arts, Master Chef and creator of its incomparable pastry programs. Students in this inaugural class will also receive the added benefit of a session with Master Chef Torres.

An additional element of celebration at The FCI California campus is the establishment of two $20,000 scholarships for these inaugural programs—one named in honor of Chef Pepin to be awarded to a student in the April 4, 2011 culinary class and the second in honor of Chef Torres, to be awarded to a student in the April 19, 2011 pastry class.

For students interested in the serious study of wine, The FCI will continue to offer the successful and respected sommelier certification course, Wine Appreciation. The course, now accredited, is the first sommelier training program in the world to be approved by the renowned Court of Master Sommeliers and has the added bonus of also being the first school to include the Certified Sommelier Examination as part of the program.

In addition to the culinary, pastry and wine programs, the school expects to implement an expanded roster of programs, including classes in cake design and Italian cuisine in the coming months.

The French Culinary Institute at The International Culinary Center of California is located at 700 West Hamilton Avenue, Suite 300, Campbell, California, 95008. For more information, please visit www.FrenchCulinary.com or call 866.318.2433.

About The International Culinary Center of California

The International Culinary Center of California is home to the legendary French Culinary Institute located in Campbell, CA. The school offers a wide variety of intensive courses designed for cooks and food enthusiasts of all skill levels: from those already in the business and those aspiring to be, to the serious amateur. Its state-of-the-art kitchens and classrooms house courses of all lengths in classic culinary arts, classic pastry arts, and wine studies.

For more information about The French Culinary Institute at The International Culinary Center of California, please visit www.FrenchCulinary.com.