People of The Institute       Alumni Profiles         Prudence Sloane, Culinary Arts '92   As an art history student in Florence in the early 80's, Prudence Sloane says she soon realized what she was really studying was food. After graduating from the University of Connecticut, she took a job in New York as an account executive for Art & Antiques magazine, where, with an unlimited expense account to wine and dine the city's top antiques dealers, her study continued. "I knew I loved food, and loved to cook," admits Sloane, "but I didn't consider it a career at the time. I didn't know that was an option." After her mother contracted cancer, Sloane took two years off to nurse her; her death in (1992?) pushed Sloane to enroll in ICE®'s professional program. "I had put my life on hold, and I needed something to be passionate about. I thought I already knew how to cook; what I really wanted to do was open my own school, and that's what I went to learn." Beyond her expectations, Sloane found herself "bowled over" by the science of cooking she learned from her instructors, and it became the basis of her cooking and teaching. After graduation, Sloane took a seminar with ICE® founder Peter Kump on how to run a cooking school, and she credits much of her success to his advice. "Peter told me to set aside at least three hours a week and think about nothing but promoting my business. I did that, and it worked. It's great advice for any business." The success of Prudence Sloane's Cooking School in Hampton, Connecticut, and her growing reputation as both a culinary educator and excellent entertainer, led to the University of Connecticut radio show "Radio Cookbook," and later to the round-table format "Food Schmooze" on Connecticut Public Radio. In 2000, Sloane created the television series Let's Eat with Prudence Sloane for AT&T Broadband. In addition to hosting the show, Sloane acts as writer, director, and co-producer. "It's about food as a lifestyle," she says, "It's fast-paced, magazine format." Now in its second year, the show airs throughout Connecticut five times weekly and plans are in the works for New England-wide broadcasts. Sloane put her school on hiatus while she focuses on TV, but she continues to write two weekly newspaper columns and does extensive speaking engagements."