If you've ever eaten in a restaurant, you've probably had food prepared by a graduate of the Iowa Culinary Institute in Ankeny. The institute is part of DMACC. Students come from all over the world to attend, although lots of student are from right in our own neighborhoods. The institute produces top notch culinary experts who have gone on to work in and open their own world-famous restaurants in Iowa and all over the world.
Part of the students training includes a French chef exchange, running a bistro that you can eat at certain days of the week for lunch or dinner and intense experience running all aspects of dinners such as the one we attended the other night. These dinners are called "Iowa Culinary Institute Gourmet Dinners"and are offered periodically each year. You can see the spring 2013 calendar here. They release two rounds of dinners per year and there is still time to get in on one this season!
Most dinners are $90 per person, but $25 is tax deductible. The dinners are so worth it and the money goes to the great cause of helping the students learn. This would be a fantastic anniversary or birthday dinner. They can accommodate special diets as well.
At a gourmet dinner you are greeted by an hors d'ouevres and champagne reception. Mingle with other patrons and friends before you are seated and treated to a wonderful multi-course meal. Each dinner has a theme and our dinner this night was South American. They have all sorts of themes from bacon to French to chocolate.
Give it a shot for a special occasion dinner, date-night or just to do something different. The food is always fantastic. You are supporting a good cause and getting a bit of a tax deduction. And it's also fun to meet the students, find out where they're from and be a part of the learning process. Very cool!
