Our Culture

More Than a Culinary School

As a CSCA student, your education and experiences will take you far beyond just learning the basics. And because of the school’s prime Cambridge location, you’ll have the opportunity to explore exciting culinary trends while participating in events taking place in the bustling greater Boston area. We strive to create a life-changing experience, and expect your confidence to soar as we illuminate your culinary path and ultimately showcase what makes you, you.

Our Neighborhood

Located steps from the Porter Square subway station on the red line of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation System (Boston’s transit system known as “the T”), CSCA is easily accessible from almost any part of the city. A fantastic walking and biking city, Cambridge hosts restaurants of all types, from those highlighting the latest trends in modern cuisine to more approachable farm-to-table concepts. The Schlesinger Library, one of the most renowned culinary libraries in the world, is about one mile away from the school. As a CSCA student, we encourage you to make the most of our proximity to industry leaders and notable institutions such as Formaggio Kitchen, Alden & Harlow, Oleana, and Flour Bakery. Our graduates have enjoyed accessibility to jobs on Cape Cod, ski resorts in Vermont and New Hampshire, and inns in Western Massachusetts.

CSCA students join us from across the United States and from nations around the world, forming an incredible melting pot of cultural backgrounds and experiences. Many students set up residence in Cambridge and neighboring cities, while others take advantage of flexible scheduling to commute to and from their home base. Many students maintain employment during non-school hours, helping to offset the cost of education.

Giving Back

Philanthropy

Food is more than our jobs. Food is our responsibility to the community. Philanthropic and charitable activity is central to our concept of hospitality. The CSCA community is generous with time, energy, money, and the use of school resources to support causes important to us.

Each year, we encourage students to participate in events including:

  • Taste of Ginger, benefitting Joslin Diabetes Center
  • Pie in the Sky, benefitting Community Servings
  • Taste of Cambridge, benefitting many charities

Students and staff are also involved with Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters, Future Chefs, Community Cooks, and Women’s Lunch Place.

Request a Donation

CSCA makes monetary and goods contributions to causes important to us and our community. We will consider charitable donation solicitations from area not-for-profit organizations, schools, hospitals, and hunger associations.

Please fill out the form below to request a donation. Your request will be given careful consideration and should CSCA choose to participate, we will contact you accordingly.

Sustainability

CSCA is committed to reducing the impact we and others have on the environment through its operational practices. After all, we only have one earth and it is the source of our ingredients, livelihood, and passion.

We are proud to work with Save that Stuff to compost our food scraps into renewable energy and fertilizer. Every group of students, Professional or Recreational, collects leftover food scraps including egg shells, bones, vegetable scraps, and cooking blunders for compost.

CSCA sources our produce, meat, and seafood locally from trusted vendors. Used cooking oil is picked up and converted into energy, and many of our students and staff reduce their carbon footprint by biking, walking, or taking public transit to school.