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Iowa Culinary Institute

Our building was updated in Spring 2016 thanks to a one million dollar donation from DMACC alumnus Dennis Albaugh and his wife Susan.

This gift allowed our culinary institute to become one of the most attractive and functional culinary facilities in the nation. [Learn more]

About the ici™

The Iowa Culinary Institute™ (ici™) at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) is where education and excellence go hand in hand. The Iowa Culinary Institute blends the DMACC Culinary Arts program with the community to create unforgettable culinary experiences for you.

Our institute is Iowa's premier culinary program and offers opportunities for the public to experience the culinary world at DMACC and participate in activities involving our Culinary Arts students and staff.

These opportunities include:

Gourmet Dinners - Join us for any of our five-course, themed meals that will offer you a world-class dining experience. These gourmet dinners, prepared by DMACC Culinary Arts students and Culinary Arts faculty, are a hallmark of the Iowa Culinary Institute (ici). These exquisite dinners are offered from September through May.

Bistro - If you're looking for a great lunchtime experience, come to the Iowa Culinary Institute to enjoy a gourmet lunch dining experience weekdays from September through May. Meals are prepared by Culinary Arts students at DMACC.

French Chef's Exchange Gourmet Dinner Experience - This is one of the crown jewels of DMACC's Culinary Arts program. Our special French Chef's gourmet dinners, prepared by chefs from St. Eitenne, France, are part of our international culinary exchange program for students. It's an exquisite dining experience.

Travel to France with Culinary Arts students - Here is your chance to enjoy some of the finest French gourmet dining while touring France with other friends of DMACC and Culinary Arts students who are on an 11-day culinary arts internship in France.

Mid-American Wine Competition - This highly acclaimed competition brings to the DMACC Ankeny Campus some of the finest wine makers in the Midwest for competition. Dates for the 2015 competition were July 10-12. Take a look at results from the 2015 competition.

The institute's name was inspired by our French connection. "ici" is the French word for "here." The abbreviated name of the Iowa Culinary Institute, ici, reminds students to come ici (come here) for a world-class culinary education. We hope you will visit "ici" at our facilities on the Ankeny campus of DMACC.

Special Events

Experience our

Gourmet Dinners

[Gourmet Dinner Details]

Dine at the Bistro

[Bistro Information]

Learn More About the Expansion

Construction Progress - January 2016

Exterior Lighted seat wall partially completely. Exterior paving 99%. Pavers to be installed at a later date.

GenwWall Insulation Panel installation complete.

Aluminum curtain wall framing and glazing systems have started.

Interior framing for the ceiling suspension systems (“cloud”) has started for the high ceiling.

Interior framing systems stated for conference room area.

You can already start to see the view to the lake. Just imagine that the red safety fence isn't there so you can see the water!

The mechanical / storage room went through a final punch list this morning to be turned over fully to DMACC shortly. Its complete other than some cosmetic things to wrap up.