by Maria Driscoll

Seventeen Culinary Arts students experienced the graduation trip of a lifetime when they travelled to Switzerland last month.

"We left on October 18th and returned on October 25th," said Dick MacDonald, the Executive Director of the Culinary Institute of Canada.

Students in the two-year Culinary Arts program are required to participate in an educational study experience. They usually tour factories, restaurants, and wineries in the Toronto area, but not this time.

"These students decided that they wanted to go someplace different," MacDonald said.

The Culinary Arts students paid $1,000 each towards travel expenses along with their tuition, but they needed much more money before they could afford the European trip.

"$1,000 will not take you to Switzerland," MacDonald said.

The students organized several fund-raisers throughout the year to raise extra money. They cooked meals for the Harley-Davidson convention in Summerside, prepared and served food for the "Biggest Backyard Barbecue", washed cars, and sold raffle tickets.

"They just did whatever they could to raise money," MacDonald said. "It was a dream for them." The students eventually raised over $30,000 for the trip.

Chef and Culinary Arts instructor Joerg Soltermann organized the trip and set up the itinerary. Soltermann is originally from Switzerland and planned to return to his native country for a class reunion.

"We had the perfect tour guide," MacDonald said. "The students didn't really need me."

The students prepared a five-course meal in an open-concept restaurant owned by Soltermann's brother, a famous Swiss Chef. They also participated in traditional cheese making when they toured a cheese factory, toured a pastry chocolate factory, and enjoyed the wine boats docked in Bern, the Swiss capital. Wine boats arrive on the lake every year stocked with bottles from over 60 different winemakers around the world.

"For $7, you can taste all the wine you'd like for the evening," MacDonald said. He said it's important for chefs to learn how to sample and identify good wine so that they can effectively match it with food.

But there was also plenty of time for sightseeing. The students experienced a walking tour of Bern and travelled to one of Europe's highest mountains aboard the Jungfrau Express. The students were also honoured guests at the DCT International Hotel and Business Management School. Representatives from the Swiss school visited the Culinary Institute of Canada and the Atlantic Tourism and Hospitality Institute earlier this year and MacDonald hopes to build a relationship between the two schools.

"My business with them is to look at joint programming initiatives," MacDonald said. He hopes to arrange Swiss internships and credit transfers for future students.

DCT Chief Executive Officer Walter Spaltenstein held a reception with wine and hors d'oeuvres in honour of the visiting culinary students, who toured the facility during their visit. Spaltenstein's wife Sharon is originally from New Brunswick.

The students graduated on October 27th, just two days after returning to Canada, but MacDonald said they enjoyed the trip.

"They described it as the trip of a lifetime."