Italian Culinary Program

The NEW Italian Culinary Program, organized in two educational units, is the perfect course if you are looking for a real full immersion in Italian food and a complete study experience to become a professional chef of Italian Cuisine.

The Italian Culinary Program is a long-term/one-year course: starting from the basics, it moves up to the advanced level and offers a full and professional Italian food&cuisine study experience.

Designed to offer a «love-at-first-sight» experience of Italian Cuisine, students will be able to attend training and demonstration lessons as well as travel across Italy accompanied by ALMA teachers and visit the most important Italian food excellences, food&wine producers, and food markets.

This is a master course in Italian Cuisine designed for international students: an opportunity to live Italian cuisine from a privileged point of view, learn the best-advanced techniques with ALMA chef trainers, work with excellent raw material during training lessons, and meet the greatest Italian Chefs, discovering and tasting the typical regional products during the field trips and visiting producers around the Italian Food Valley.

The Italian Culinary Program (Unit I and Unit II) is accredited by Region Emilia Romagna and issues certificates that are recognized all over Europe.

• Fine-dining and starred restaurants
• Hotel and restaurant chains
• Catering companies
• Food Industry

Program Structure

Unit I - Foundation Level

• 2 months residential phase at ALMA premises + 1.5 month traineeship in Italian restaurants

The program starts with the basics, combining lessons at ALMA premises and field trips all around Italy, for a first approach to Italian food and culinary techniques. No previous experience in the catering world is required. Unit I ends with a final assessment of each student's path to verify the acquired skills.

At the end of Unit I, you will be issued the Certificate of Attendance "Fundamentals of Italian Cuisine -products & techniques" and the Certificate of Skills.

Unit II - Advanced Level

• 4 months residential phase at ALMA premises + up to 4 months traineeship in Italian restaurants.

The course is designed to give international students not just theoretical and practical training in advanced Italian Cuisine but a comprehensive Italian Experience. The combination of Italian culinary culture, language, history, wine, and field trips together with professional training in one of the top Italian Restaurants is a perfect way to learn how to become a real professional in Italian Cuisine.

ALMA reserves the right to admit students directly into Unit II depending on previous experience: a cv and motivational letter is required.

Final Degree

• Professional Diploma “Professional of the Italian Cuisine – Advanced Level”
• Certificate of Professional Qualification of “ Operatore alla Produzione Pasti – Level EQF 4”

At the end of UNIT 1, students will be issued the Certificate of Attendance “Fundamentals of Italian Cuisine -products & techniques” and the Certificate of Skills.

At the end of UNIT 2, students will be issued the Professional Diploma “Cook of Italian Cuisine – Advanced Level” and the Certificate of Professional Qualification of “Operatore alla Produzione Pasti (Operator at the production of meals) – Level EQF 4.

usually students attend classes 3/4 days each week, 6-8 hours per day – however, frequency may slightly vary depending on bank holidays and school closing days.