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New York, NY (June 19, 2012) – The Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ (ICE) in New York City announces a co-venture with Russian-based Dve Palochki restaurant group to open a series of culinary schools under the name SWISSAM Hospitality Business School. The first school is scheduled to open in St. Petersburg in September 2012 and a second location in Moscow during 2013. The third partner in the SWISSAM venture is IMI, a hospitality college based based in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Dve Palochki which operates over 35 pan-Asian eateries in Russia believes that the culinary and hospitality education market is underdeveloped in their country. The SWISSAM schools are designed to address that need through training students using curriculum from ICE for careers anywhere in the world, from hotels and resorts, to high-end restaurants, caterers and cruise ships.

ICE CEO, Rick Smilow and Richard Simpson, director of education at ICE traveled to St. Petersburg in May for a press conference to announce SWISSAM's formation. After the trip Smilow commented, "ICE's curriculum provides a solid foundation and a global approach to cuisine. It is a fascinating new example of globalization that Russian entrepreneurs have sought out a culinary school in New York City for direction, inspiration and affiliation."

SWISSAM will offer a range of program lengths equivalent to U.S. diploma and degree programs. Three of ICE's diploma programs, Culinary Arts, Pastry & Baking Arts and Culinary Management will be incorporated in to SWISSAM'S curriculum. In each program, the student will secure a broad base of knowledge and kitchen skills so they will be immediately employable in a wide range of culinary operations around the world.

According to Walter Paltenstein, president of SWISSAM, "We are thrilled to collaborate with ICE as the premier culinary education partner to provide Russian students the best culinary skills and job placement opportunities in the competitive, global market."

To learn more about the curriculum at ICE, please visit www.iceculinary.com. To see what's cooking around the school read our blog, DICED, at blog.iceculinary.com, like us on Facebook (iceculinary) or follow us on Twitter (@ICE Culinary).

Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ ICE

The Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ (ICE) is New York City’s award-winning center for culinary education. Founded in 1975, the school offers highly regarded 8- to 13-month career training programs in Culinary Arts, Pastry & Baking Arts, Culinary Management and Hospitality Management. ICE also runs one of the largest programs of recreational cooking classes in the country. In 2008, ICE was named the International Association of Culinary Professionals' Culinary School of the Year and a School of Distinction by the ACCSCT in 2006. More information can be found at www.iceculinary.com. The school is located at 50 W. 23rd St. in Manhattan.