The Culinary Institute of America

Jasmine E. Diaz, Norristown, PA

AOS in Culinary Arts, May 2, 2008
BPS in Culinary Arts Management, February 11, 2010 (Anticipated)
Scholarship: Joseph and Anne McCann Scholarship

"I first became interested in cooking when I was in fifth grade."

Jasmine Elizabeth Diaz grew up in Norristown, PA and attended Kennedy-Kenrick Catholic H.S. During childhood, necessity lead this culinarian to discover her passion for cooking. "I first became interested in cooking when I was in fifth grade. My mother was a single parent and the sole provider for my sister and me. She often was at work both days and nights. Therefore, I was often left to my own discretion to entertain myself. This is how I found the magic and joy of cooking."

This passion was fueled by early childhood memories of her nuclear family. "My mother and father were my inspiration for cooking. The only times that I would see or be able to speak to my family was while dinner was being prepared and when we sat down to eat. I will savor these memories for the rest of my life because it represents a happy time when I truly felt what it was to be together as a family."

Holding down three campus jobs hasn't been easy for Jasmine, but she's risen to the challenge and found her niche. "The CIA has given me numerous opportunities to truly delve into my passion while providing me with an education that is more than acquiring skill proficiency within a kitchen. I have learned through my Gastronomy class to smell, taste, and understand the origins and capabilities that food can possess. I have a greater respect for food. I also realize that being a great chef is much more than food; it is also knowing and understanding all aspects of the kitchen. The various clubs, presentations, special guests, and extracurricular activities, have nurtured my passion for food and helped me effectively communicate that to the world."

"My professional goals are to travel the world, visiting and working within various countries, absorbing and learning from different cultures, and to bring back those experiences and incorporate them into my food. The study of cultures through food has always fascinated me, and I wish to share that passion with others. I'll gain as much exposure to as many different culinary situations as I can to become a better educated chef. I would like to start by joining a highly ranked hotel chain and accept better positions in different locations as my skills increased."