Another cooking school bites the dust

It’s been a rough few years for cooking schools in the U.S. Despite the glamorization of chefs, including many television shows and even a few movies, mainstream cooking schools have struggled to find students and several have shut down. In 2015, Le Cordon Bleu succumbed, and now we have learned that another school is closing.

The latest casualty is L’Academie de Cuisine, based in Maryland. Although not as large or famous as Le Cordon Bleu, L’Academie launched the careers of many of the region’s best chefs including Aaron Silverman, Aggie Chin, and Katsuya Fukushima. Former Top Chef contestant and co-host of The Chew,  Carla Hall, is also an alumnus.

The school has not provided any formal announcement of the closing or any explanation of why the institution, which recently celebrated its 40th anniversary, is shutting its doors.  Founder Francois Dionot allegedly informed staff late Friday that the professional facility was closing immediately. A secondary location that offers recreational classes will be closing at the end of the year. 

Photo from L’Academie de Cuisine’s Facebook page