A Culinary Journey from Canada to Alba

From October 21st to 25th, Alba Accademia Alberghiera – the branch dedicated to tourism and hospitality - will host 11 culinary students and 2 leads from the Culinary Arts Program at Niagara College (NC) for the international course Ancient Grains.

October is the prime season for Piedmont, especially in Alba, which has been a UNESCO Creative City for Gastronomy since 2017. The hills come alive during the fall due to the wine harvest, truffle season, and fresh produce from farmers. The Langhe, Roero, and Monferrato regions were designated as UNESCO-protected territories in 2014. Alba Accademia Alberghiera is an official technical partner for the 94th International White Truffle Fair of Alba, and like in past years, enrolled students get the opportunity to work alongside renowned chefs during the cooking shows.

The students will be arriving from Niagara College's Culinary, Tourism, and Beverage Studies division, located at the College's Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake. This unique campus houses learning enterprises such as Canada's first Teaching Winery, Teaching Brewery, Teaching Distillery, and Teaching Greenhouse.

The Ancient Grains course was accepted as an international study abroad experience by Niagara College’s Be World Ready (BWR) program, designed to facilitate real-life learning through education and international exchange.

Courtesy of Niagara College (NC)

The program will focus on the biodiversity of Italian grains, traditional products, and the local approach to popular Italian foods such as pizza, focaccia, and fresh pasta, as well as Piedmontese staples. The course will consist of hands-on laboratories and didactic visits, incorporating the academy's network of chefs, food producers, restaurants, and local experts. Chef instructor Paolo Taricco will lead the kitchen, and notable collaborators will include 3rd generation organic flour mill Mulino Marino, Enrico Giacosa - the cultivator and President of the Association Pane di Langa, the Truffle Museum of Alba – MUDET, and family-run hazelnut farm Az. Agricola Cascina Barroero.

In June, Ancient Grains was launched in collaboration with Austin Community College of Pastry Arts. Following this, Niagara College (NC) will be the second North American college to participate in the course.

Apro Formazione President Paolo Zoccola and General Manager Antonio Bosio highlighted how these higher education projects are part of Alba Accademia Alberghiera's internationalization vision and strategy. “Alba Accademia Alberghiera has a network of excellent partners such as Slow Food, ONAF, Renaia, FIC, Bocuse d'Or Italy Academy, WSET international as well as training institutions, colleges and universities in 22 countries. Thanks to its synergy with this network and know-how in recent years, it has devised very high-profile formats, which have been received positively by North American and European countries.”