This innovative course is designed for the individual who wants to manage, grow, open or own a culinary business. A culinary business is broadly defined to include restaurants, catering operations, specialty food stores and similar operations. Compared to longer, more traditional university based programs, the ICE® CMD program has a strong entrepreneurial and practical focus. The skills and knowledge covered in the CMD program are transferable and applicable to many businesses, even outside the culinary field. In fact, The New York State Department of Education has licensed the program as a "business diploma".

The program attracts a wide mix of students. For some, the goal is general management in an established restaurant or hospitality operation. For others, the CMD program is a first step on an entrepreneurial path that will lead to opening a business of their own. The students are as varied as their goals. A typical class may include recent school graduates, and career changers from worlds as diverse as Wall Street, Information Technology, Law, Retailing, Professional Athletics, or Nursing. There may be working chefs who want to learn about the business side of the restaurant world and those in family food businesses who want to bring new ideas to their operations.

Each management class is taught by one or more of ICE®'s seasoned instructor team. All teachers come to ICE® after previous senior level restaurant management experience, operating their own businesses, developing restaurants for themselves or others, operating or starting catering operations or consulting for well-known chefs or restaurant owners. (See faculty credentials.)

• Concept
• Menu
• Marketing
• Purchasing
• Supervision
• Finance
• Beverage
• Facilities
• Law
• Case Studies
• Communication
• Sanitation
• Business Plan
• Food, Beverage and Cost Control

The Culinary Management program takes full advantage of ICE®'s location in the heart of New York City. Our reputation and connections the way for access to the finest restaurants, top chefs, the most influential designers, the most demanding wholesalers, and the most charismatic marketing/PR agencies, ICE® offers a unique real life view into what makes food businesses successful (See sample listing of guests and class field trips.)

The 316-hour, 72 Class curriculum is comprised of four modules that are divided into 13 courses. Classes meet three times a week for 26 to 35 weeks, depending on the schedule. The CMD program starts at least 14 times per year with staggered start dates offered mornings, afternoons and evenings. This arrangement complements the Culinary Arts and Pastry & Baking Arts programs, and is timed so that students may earn two diplomas at ICE® concurrently.

After completion of the course ICE®'s Placement Department provides on-going employment assistance. In addition, the network of ICE® graduates who own and/or operate businesses provides another valuable source of contacts and connections.

The program culminates with each student preparing and presenting a fully developed business plan that defines the culinary business of his or her choosing. To achieve this goal, each course in the CMD program is designed as a building block for the plan.