The official groundbreaking for the new culinary arts center was only minutes away, but that didn’t stop Moira Tidball, executive director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ontario County, from inviting everyone back next year for a toast to its opening.
That’s how much excitement there is now that years of planning are in the rear-view mirror, and work can begin on this $24 million future home of the Finger Lakes Community College culinary arts program, New York Kitchen and auxiliary program office for the Cooperative Extension.
The 19,287-square-foot facility will be located on property across Lakeshore Drive from Kershaw Park in Canandaigua. The city of Canandaigua also is planning a park on a portion of the property, which was donated by the Canandaigua Area Development Corp.
Speakers at a groundbreaking ceremony on Aug. 10 touted the public-private partnerships and collaboration to get the project to this point. But they also looked to the future and how the center will benefit the region, from students developing skills to food and beverage producers sharing products and stories to residents and visitors gathering to inspire and be inspired, said Alyssa Belasco, executive director of New York Kitchen.
Phelps Supervisor Bill Wellman, who is chairman of the Ontario County Board of Supervisors, said the project has been several years in the making and reflects the “very best” of what the county and its partners can do when working together.
Canandaigua Mayor Thomas Lyon said the project will appeal to visitors and residents as well as culinary students.
“This is really an opportunity for the whole community,” Lyon said.
What will the new culinary arts center in Canandaigua offer?
Here’s what the new facility will have when it’s completed toward the end of next year.
Two hands-on kitchens, a prep and teaching kitchen, and demonstration kitchen with commercial-grade equipment will be used by students and participants in New York Kitchen classes and events. A retail tasting room will feature New York food and beverage products.
The facility, which will have an outdoor patio, will also house administrative offices, conference areas and event spaces.
Finger Lakes Community College President Robert Nye said this is an exciting venture, and not just for the college, which stands to see increased student enrollment and improvements in its culinary arts and viticulture programs.
“We are so excited to be able to create a synergy and create something bigger and better for the community,” Nye said.
Robert Duffy, who is president and chief executive officer of the Great Rochester Chamber of Commerce and trustee on the State University of New York board, said the facility may wind up becoming known by reputation as the new Culinary Institute of America, referring to the famed downstate culinary school, attracting students and talent to Canandaigua, Ontario County and Finger Lakes region as a whole.
“It’s a winner all the way around,” Duffy said.
Who is paying for the new culinary arts center in Canandaigua?
Here’s where the money comes from for this ambitious project.
SUNY is providing $11.1 million, with up to $9.38 million coming from the Sands Family Foundation and up to $1.76 million from Ontario County. The value of the land donated by the CADC is approximately $1.76 million.
Richard Sands, vice president of the Sands Family Foundation and former Constellation Brands chief executve officer and chairman of the beverage company’s board, said this project will help the community greatly, from training culinary and hospitality specialists to building on tourism and economic development, particularly in this area of Canandaigua Lake.
“As this whole north end expands, we should have a fantastic, fantastic destination for people to come to and see,” Sands said.
Mike Murphy covers Canandaigua and other communities in Ontario County and writes the Eat, Drink and Be Murphy food and drink column. He can be reached at mmurphy@messengerpostmedia.com. Follow him on X at @MPN_MikeMurphy.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Canandaigua starts work on new culinary arts hub
Reporting by Mike Murphy, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Mike Murphy, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | USA TODAY Network
