I went to CIA for lunch last summer and was very impressed by the whole operation and atmosphere. As stated, Johnson and Wales is a pretty well-respected culinary school. My cousin went to Connecticut Culinary Institute. Not sure how he picked it, but I've been impressed with what he's learned. And because he chose the Italian track, he got to finish his training in Italy, which is a good deal in my book. Except that the restaurant he got placed in used him for slave labor. Minus that, it was a great opportunity