Step back into the Escoffier experience with a three-day alumni immersion trip designed to reignite your passion, deepen your purpose, and reconnect you with a thriving culinary community. Set against the inspiring backdrop of Boulder, Colorado, this curated journey blends hands-on learning, meaningful dialogue, and immersive farm-to-table exploration. From a warm welcome reception and chef-led demos to collaborative culinary classes and a behind-the-scenes farm experience, every moment is crafted to ground you in the values that first brought you to Escoffier—community, sustainability, and purpose. Whether you're tasting your way through seasonal ingredients, reconnecting with faculty and fellow grads, or reflecting on how far you’ve come, this trip is more than a return—it’s a celebration of where you’re headed next.

*Alumni will receive a certificate of participation.

Travel Details: Alumni are responsible for their own transportation and lodging.

Agenda: Sunday, September 21 to Tuesday, September 23

Sunday, September 21: Arrival & Welcome

Theme: Welcome to Boulder – Grounding in Community and Purpose

All Day: Alumni arrivals

5:30 PM – 7:30 PM: Welcome Reception at Escoffier Boulder Campus

Welcome Remarks by Campus President | Provost
“Savoring the Journey”: Kickoff Presentation by faculty farm to table ambassador
Light farm-to-table hors d'oeuvres and local beverages served
Mixer & Meet-and-Greet with faculty and fellow grads

Monday, September 22: Exploration & Engagement

Theme: Inspiration Through Experience

8:30 AM – 10:00 AM: On-Campus Guest Chef Demonstration – “Cooking the Seasons: From Soil to Plate”

Featuring Local Farm to Table Chef
Live cooking demo focused on hyper-local seasonal ingredients
Tasting session with Q&A on sourcing, sustainability, and menu design

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Brunch on Campus

Buffet featuring recipes from the morning demo

11:30 – 1:00 PM: Building the Pipeline

Alumni networking with current students to begin building a pipeline of future cooks for your establishment.

1:00 – 3:00 PM: Career Services Engagement

Presentation on the State of the Industry from an employment and hiring perspective

3:30 PM – 5:30 PM: Free Time or Optional Boulder Foodie Walk on Pearl Street (self-guided)

6:30 PM – 8:30 PM: Chef’s Table Dinner at Local Farm-to-Table Restaurant

TBD: Blackbelly Market or Bramble & Hare
Multi-course seasonal tasting menu with wine pairings
Chef Talk: “Crafting Culinary Identity Through Local Ingredients”

Tuesday, September 23: Deep Dive into the Land

Theme: Connection to the Source

9:00 AM – 10:15 AM: Morning Lecture – “Soil to Service: The Culinary Role in Sustainable Agriculture”

Led by a sustainability specialist or an agricultural Chef educator
Interactive discussion with local growers invited

10:30 AM – 1:30 PM: Farm Visit & Immersive Experience

Partner Farm: Cure Organic Farm
Activities Include:
Seasonal harvesting and planting
Composting and regenerative farming practices
Communal Farm Lunch
Prepared collaboratively with alumni and Farm Chef

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM: Farewell Engagement – “Harvesting the Experience: From Passion to Practice”

Participant reflections and discussion circle on culinary takeaways
Guided journaling or vision-boarding session
Certificate of Completion recognition

Free Evening/Option to Depart

Wednesday, September 24

Check-out and Departures

Who Can Attend: Escoffier Alumni

Travel Details:

Alumni are responsible for their own transportation and lodging.

Refund Policy:

Refunds up to 14 days before the event
Qualified Refunds include Event Ticket Fee only
Personal Travel, Lodging, and related costs are not refundable
Eventbrite's fee is nonrefundable.

For questions about this event, please reach out to Kirk Bachmann at kbachmann@escoffier.edu

This event does not lead to academic credit is not associated with Boulder program offerings. Alumni participating in on-campus and off-campus school sponsored events are reminded to follow the Code of Conduct Policy, as located in the school catalog.

Beyond the Plate: Alumni Immersion In Boulder, Colorado