NOTE:  The CESSA Summer Culinary Arts Program is temporarily on hold. Interested students should contact Jennifer Glickman, director of international programs, at 713-743-4790.

Spend part of your summer immersed in the colorful culture of Mexico while cooking in some of the world's state-of-the-art test kitchens. Make excursions to the legendary Teotihuacan pyramids and the finest restaurants in Mexico City. Take your culinary skills to the next level. It's all waiting for you in the CESSA Summer Culinary Arts Program.

The two-part program includes a two-week "culinary boot camp" at Hilton College, in which students develop and polish their basic skills, followed by two weeks putting those skills to work on the beautiful campus of Centro de Estudios Superiores de San Ángel (CESSA) in Mexico City. In Houston, you'll undergo intensive training on culinary equipment and techniques, including how to make "mother sauces" such as béchamel, espagnole, tomato, velouté and hollandaise. In Mexico, you'll receive hands-on instruction in English from top chefs from around the world.

Students stay in a picturesque, gated home in a historic neighborhood with kitchen and housekeeping service. In addition to putting in hours in the kitchen, learning everything from how to make tortillas to creatively fusing different types of cuisine, you'll have the chance to tour local markets and visit local restaurants to get a feel for authentic Mexican food. The experience is guaranteed to improve your culinary skills and make you a "top chef" in your own restaurant or kitchen!

Requirements

• Must be a declared HRM major with at least sophomore status
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75
• Must have at least one semester remaining at UH upon return from abroad
• Must have a valid passport (if you do not have a passport, apply immediately from the U.S. Department of State.)

How to Apply

1. Complete and submit an HRM Study Abroad application. The application includes submitting a résumé, essay and naming a faculty reference.
2. Applications will be reviewed by the HRM Study Abroad Selection Committee and students will be informed of their status within two weeks of the application deadline.
3. Selected applicants will meet with Jennifer Glickman regarding their application packages to CESSA.
4. Selected applicants should make an appointment with the UH Office of International Studies and Programs (OISP).

Selected Applicants Agree to

• Submit a $100 non-refundable fee that applies to the Summer 2011 fee bill
• Apply for an International Educational Fee Scholarship (IEFS)—deadline March 1.
• Comply with all requirements, deadlines, and procedures of the UH Office of International Studies & Programs (OISP). Please note that OISP requires an additional application form and a number of documents for outgoing exchange students.
• Spend up to four hours assisting Hilton College with study-abroad exchange activities (i.e. promoting at All Students Organization Fair, giving short presentations to students about the experience, greeting and assisting incoming exchange students, advising outgoing exchange students, etc.) during the semester after returning.

Expected Expenses

• University of Houston tuition and fees
• UH Office of International Studies & Programs (OISP Fee) Administrative Fee ($100)
• CESSA Culinary Arts Program Fee (see below)
• Airfare
• Medical Study Abroad Insurance
• Knife set and kitchen uniform
• Weekend meals
• Personal expenses and incidentals

Personal preferences affect the total cost of your program. Participants should plan for the trip and budget appropriately. 

Program Fee Includes the Following

1. Ground transportation; airport to CESSA house and house to airport.
2. Daily transportation from house to CESSA campus.
3. Accommodation for two weeks on a double- or triple-occupancy basis with kitchen and housekeeping service in a gated home.
4. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and coffee breaks (Monday-Friday).
5. One formal dinner at the famous San Angel Inn restaurant.
6. Weekend excursions, including the famous Teotihuacan pyramids!
7. All ingredients and materials for cooking classes.