Why travel to Italy when you can taste the same delicious Italian meals right here at ACC? Sicilian relatives and Carrabbas Restaurant Founders Damian Mandola and Johnny Carrabba, along with West 175 Productions, are coming to ACC’s Culinary Arts Department to film “Cucina Toscana,” a Southern Italian cooking show televised on PBS. Filming for the highly entertaining, “Click and Clack” of Italian cooking will run Sunday, April 25 through Thursday, April 29, at ACC’s Culinary Arts Department at the Eastview Campus, located at 3401 Webberville Road.

“When I visited ACC’s Culinary Arts facilities, I was very impressed,” said Carrabbas Co-Creator Damian Mandola. “I couldn’t believe all the equipment they had in there. It’s a first-class facility.”

ACC Culinary Arts students will see firsthand how Damian and nephew Johnny, who coincidentally do not consider themselves chefs, but simply people who love food, conjure up homemade Southern Italian recipes.

“We have many, many plans for the future of our programs, and partnering with a group like this will raise the bar in our department, ” said Virginia-Stipp Lawrence, Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Department Chair. “This is an opportunity of a lifetime for all of us, not only in our programs, but the college as well.”
The making of “Cucina Toscana” at ACC gives students in various areas of study an opportunity to showcase their talents nationwide. Students enrolled in Culinary Arts, Hospitality Management, Travel and Tourism and Meeting Planning are getting hands-on experience in the day-to-day duties associated with producing a cooking television show. They are in charge of scheduling and client relations, culinary production, live show production, and off-site event coordination.

ACC Theatre Students have a big role in “Cucina Toscana” as well. They are building the set that will be used in the PBS show, expected to reach literally thousands of Italian food enthusiasts nationwide.

ACC’s Culinary Arts Program is one of six statewide that is accredited by the American Culinary Federation. This accolade makes ACC students who graduate with either a Basic Certificate, or Associates Degree of Applied Science in Culinary Arts, eligible to receive their Culinarian Certification (the first level of a certified chef.)