2014 ICE Alumni Party

Career Services hosts the Institute of Culinary Education's Annual Alumni Party each May.

What do the pastry chef of Riverpark, a sous chef for Union Square Events, the HR director of Breads Bakery, a pastry cook for Jean-Georges, a sales associate at D’Artagnan and a cook for Gracie Mansion have in common? They are all ICE alumni and they were all welcomed back to ICE for our Annual Alumni Party.

By Maureen Drum Fagin — Director of Career Services

May 13, 2014

ICE Alumni Party 2014 - ice.edu — For recent graduates like Lauren Isenhour '14 (Cook, Bouley Restaurant), the chance to mingle with more experienced alumni is an exceptional networking opportunity.

Each spring, ICE throws open its doors to graduates from all four of our career programs – Culinary Arts, Pastry & Baking Arts, Culinary Management and Hospitality Management – for a celebration of all the talented folks who make up our dynamic alumni network. Over beverages and hors d’oeuvres provided by chef-instructor, Sabrina Sexton (herself a Culinary Arts ’94 alum), this year’s 150 or so attendees caught up with staff, faculty, and fellow classmates, while mingling and connecting with graduates from across many years and all 4 programs. (ICE has launched over 10,000 careers, so party attendees represent just a small sliver of our alumni population, which spans the globe!)

ICE Alumni Party 2014 - Maureen Drum Fagin and Eric Perlmutter - ice.edu — The party was a great opportunity for ICE alumni to reunite with their Career Services advisors. Here, Maureen Drum Fagin, Director of Career Services & Administration, welcomes back Eric Perlmutter '04 (Co-Owner, E&E Grillhouse – Hill and Bay)

Among the night's highlights was a presentation by ICE President, Rick Smilow, of ICE’s future new home at Brookfield Place (the redeveloped World Financial Center) and the chance to meet the newest member of ICE’s extended family: the daughter of two ICE grads, Matthew Chin and Jonelle Thompson (Culinary '09 and '07).

ICE Alumni Party 2014 - Rick Smilow - ice.edu — ICE President Rick Smilow shared school updates and news with the alumni community.

ICE Alumni Party 2014 - Matthew Chin and Jonelle Thompson - ice.edu — ICE Alumni: Matthew Chin '09 (Baker, Balthazar) and Jonelle Thompson '07 (Wine Consultant, Lenz Vineyard) and their daughter Blaise.

We were also delighted to give away some of the many ICE alum-authored books to come out in the last year, including those by the recent James Beard and IACP Award winners, such as Edward Behr (Culinary, ’84), "50 Foods: The Essentials of Good Taste;" Amy Thielen (Culinary ’00) "The New Midwestern Table;" and Rick Mast (Management, ’06), "Mast Brothers Chocolate: A Family Cookbook."

ICE Alumni Party 2014 - Maureen Drum Fagin and Michael Eng - ice.edu — Alumni attendees had the opportunity to win various culinary prizes. Here, Maureen Drum Fagin shows off one of them with ICE alum Michael Eng '11 (Chef – Catering, Marcey Brownstein Catering).

ICE Alumni Party 2014 - Cristian Quiroz - ice.edu — Cristian Quiroz '10 (Chef de Cuisine, Txikito - El Quinto Pino - La Vara) shares post-graduation experiences with his ICE peers.

A great time was had by all, and we’re energized about the prospect of following everyone’s successes over the coming year. Read more about recent ICE alumni success here.