STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

The Sun Valley Culinary Institute is kicking off the summer with a Welcome Party on Monday, June 22.

This year’s fundraising celebration will be held at 5:30 p.m. at Sun Valley’s historic Trail Creek Cabin.

Michiel Bakker, the sixth president of the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), will share his perspectives on hospitality, innovation and sustainability.

The evening, to raise money for the SVCI’s professional student program, will be filled with delicious food.

And there will be an array of auction items to peruse, including an assortment of chef’s dinners for 12, a private apres ski fondue for 24, private Dungeness crab dinner for 24, champagne brunch with Esta Hornstein, a traditional Greek Glendi, Jingle & Mingle Holiday Party for 60, Ballet Sun Valley tickets and a three-day Alaskan culinary tour.

Bakker came to the CIA from Google, where he spearheaded the transformative evolution of its Food at Work program, which harnessed the power of food to foster joy, health and well-being. Prior to Google, Bakker spent 17 years at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., holding key roles in hotel and global food and beverage operations.

His career has been marked by enduring commitments to hospitality, innovation, sustainability and food systems stewardship.

“This year’s array of dinners, events, and culinary experiences demonstrates how SVCI’s outreach continues to grow and support the Wood River Valley hospitality industry,” said SVCI Executive Director Karl Uri. “The mission of the Sun Valley Culinary Institute is truly reflected in these curated culinary experiences and The Welcome Party, where accomplished and dedicated professionals join us to celebrate the culinary arts and support the hospitality industry workforce in our valley and beyond.”

For tickets to the Welcome Party, go to https://Welcome26.ourschool.support.

Check out the online auction at to https://bit.ly/3RqbGzp. The online auction closes on Sunday, June 21, at 6 p.m.

The Sun Valley Culinary Institute, located on Main Street Ketchum, is a nonprofit offering a year-long program for aspiring culinary artists. In addition to providing professional culinary education, it offers food enthusiast classes, pop-up lunches and dinners and additional offerings like picnic baskets for the Sun Valley Music Festival season.

The SVCI also contributes to Ketchum Community Dinners, which operates out of St. Thomas Episcopal Church providing meals once a week to the community.