CIA Essay
As requested, here is the essay I submitted to the Culinary Institute of America for admission. The original question was something along the line of:
Who in your life has most influenced your interest in the food and hospitality industry and describe your career goals.
Emily Remby
Admissions Essay
The Culinary Institute of America
The person who has most influenced my interest in the culinary field is my mother. I was raised in L’Arche, an ecumenical intentional community that does life-sharing with developmentally disabled adults. One of the most important lessons I learned in my childhood is that the gathering for a meal brings people together and is a place that evokes a sacred moment.
My mother is also the person who introduced me to the movie Babette’s Feast, based on a novella written by Isak Dinesen, when I was 16. This story opened a whole new world for me. It captured the essence of the sacredness I find in the preparation and enjoyment of a meal. By using all of her winnings from the lottery to create the anniversary meal, Babette offers Martine and Filippa the greatest gift she can bestow. Babette uses her unparalleled talents to craft a banquet worthy of kings for the humble sisters and their followers. Through this meal, she brings together people who had been split apart by the past, and reconciliation is offered and accepted. Additionally, it is a metaphor of the Last Supper. By using all of her winnings to prepare the anniversary supper, Babette is making the ultimate sacrifice. She is giving up the opportunity to return to France and to use her incredible gifts; instead, she chooses to stay within the village and continue to prepare the sparse meals the sisters can afford. The emotions which the feast invokes in the guests and Babette’s sacrifice are what truly captured my imagination.
In the movie, Babette quotes Achille Papin, “Throughout the world sounds one long cry from the heart of the artist: Give me the chance to do my very best.” [1] I have been cooking since I was five years old. What I now want to learn is the art and science of food preparation. I want to explore the different facets of the culinary world and to find a way to channel my artistic impulses. While at the Culinary Institute of America, I hope to investigate several career paths, including personal chef and food stylist. The career of personal chef appeals to me because the satisfaction I obtain from cooking is the enjoyment others receive, and I believe that it would be easier to gain such fulfillment in a more intimate setting. The appeal of a food stylist is the picture perfect creations that he or she crafts. On many occasions I have been inspired by such representations. I believe that I would enjoy the artistry, the creativity and the detail of this profession.
Acceptance into the Culinary Institute of America is a pathway for the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and to develop outlets for my passion and creativity.
[1] Schimpf, David. “Key Lines from Babette’s Feast,” Marian College, http://cw.mariancollege.edu/dschimpf/keylinesfrombabettesfeast.htm (accessed September 29, 2008).
Let me know what you think!