Fancy visiting Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Los Angeles, a branch of the world’s most famous culinary institute from Paris. That’s exactly what I did during a recent trip to Pasadena earlier this month.
Previously the California School of Culinary Arts, the Le Cordon Bleu of Culinary Arts in Los Angeles was founded in 1994. The Culinary programmes at the college prepare students for professional opportunities in the international culinary, patisserie and baking and hospitality industries. Anyone from all walks of life can enrol for classes here or even sign up for one of the eight six-week blocks of culinary education every year.
The campus sits within a few blocks within walking distance but I didn’t have much time to wander of beyond the old four-storey Star News building. The historical Star News building was built in 1914 and is home to Le Cordon Bleu in the heart of the Pasadena Financial and Playhouse district and is walking distance from Paseo Colorado.
Besides having campuses in Pasadena, Sacramento, San Francisco in California, other campuses are in Atlanta in Georgia, Austin and Dallas in Texas, Cambridge in Massachusettes, Chicago in Illinois, Las Vegas in Nevada, Miramar in Florida, Mendota Heights in Minneapolis, Orlando in Florida, Portland in Oregon, Scottsdale in Arizona and Tukwila in Washington.
Located in what used to be the Star News building, I had lunch at Technique at Le Cordon Bleu, a full service restaurant, where students of the culinary institute prepared the food from a straightforward menu inspired by classic techniques and served guests. Technique is where you come for unpretentious Californian dining. The high ceiling and grey and white colour theme in the restaurant provides a spacious and pleasant environment for dining.
As the students work behind the scenes to prepare the food for you just like in any full service restaurant, you can expect fabulous service and delicious food as they try their best at pleasing patrons. Technique restaurant offers students hands on training in real life situations.
As part of the tour, our highlight was lunch at Technique restaurant where I had a tasty and well cooked salmon. Have to remember that servings in US are always huge.
And I ended lunch with a cake which I had to share.
Lunch and Dinner is available at Technique which is located at 525 East Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, California. A lighter menu of soups, salads, sandwiches and desserts for dine in or take away is available daily at the Technique Café which is located within the restaurant.
Technique Café operates Mondays to Fridays from 7am to 8pm while the restaurant serves lunch from 11.30am to 3pm on Monday to Fridays and from 5pm to 8pm for dinner. Reservations can be made online via Opentable. It is less than 20 minutes away from downtown Los Angeles.
Getting to Los Angeles: Cathay Pacific flies non stop between Hong Kong and Los Angeles Tom Bradley International Airport 28 times a week.
