Italian Experience: The Blue Aprons Abroad

By Lauren Fuschillo, ICC Italian Culinary Arts student

My name is Lauren Fuschillo and I wear a blue apron … meaning I’m a current student in the Italian Culinary Program. Prior to attending the International Culinary Center, I was a publicist and marketing consultant that has thought about arriving at this moment ever since walking into the LVMH Tower, on the first day at my first job – over eight years ago. Although a long road to get here, the wait was well worth it. The Italian program is beyond what I ever imagined it to be.

In the last two and a half months I’ve had the pleasure of meeting nine amazing individuals, each a major success story in their own right. Every one of them unique and courageous. They’ve put their lives on hold to follow their passion; a passion we share. Never for a moment do I dare to discredit the other programs at the esteemed ICC. However, passion is what I believe is centered at the heart of Italian Cuisine and our very program. Passion is what brought us here, it is what motivates us when we put our knives out on boards each morning and what guides us through each and every recipe and lesson we’ve completed thus far.

We’ve been so fortunate to study under and learn from two incredible masters of their crafts. Stefania Calabrese for Italian Language and Culture and Chef Guido Magnaguagno for Italian Culinary Arts. It is without doubt that I say they are the two most influential teachers I’ve ever had, two of the most influential people in my life. Their knowledge of culture and language; and cuisine and technique has greatly expanded all of our education. Their equally consistent passion has driven our minds and souls to the place we are now and prepared us for the journey we’re about to embark on.

Gratitude fills my heart as I pack my knives, my passport and those travel converters. Excitement engulfs my thoughts as my mind races – thinking and daydreaming about all the adventures I’ll experience while spending the next six and a half months in Italy with the nine members of my new chosen family. We’re Chef Guido’s “soldiers” and here we go, we’re getting on the plane to cook our hearts out and own every second that this world can give.

Stay tuned to the ICC blog and instagram account to follow our adventures in Italy. You can also visit my personal travel blog to read about all my crazy adventures, travel mishaps and what travel has done for me.

This blog post was originally published by the International Culinary Center (ICC), founded as The French Culinary Institute (FCI). In 2020, ICE and ICC came together on one strong and dynamic national platform at ICE's campuses in New York City and Los Angeles. Explore your culinary education where the legacy lives on.