The Demise of La Dolce and the Rise of Istituto Culinario

Many years ago, OB Montessori (my grade school and high school alma mater) had a restaurant with an Italian theme. It was called Ristorante La Dolce Fontana, and it was inspired from Mrs. Preciosa Soliven's trips to Italy. It used to sell a select number of Italian dishes such as pizza, carbonara and spaghetti. They also sold brunch and lunch buffet meals during break times of 10:00-11:00 a.m. and 12:00-2:00 p.m. And later in my high school days they even sell maki. The venue is also home to important events such as press conferences and the grade school formal dinner. But after the class of 2011 called it a day, they decided to revamp the restaurant.

2008: Me, Nico de los Santos and Jill Garcia behind the La Dolce Fontana.

It would cease to exist three years later.

When I returned to the school in June 2011, what was once the shaded roof above the clay flooring, with a water fountain and a mini-garden lining up the entrance was now gone. All of a sudden, a cherished possession of my high school days has ceased to exist. Now it is undergoing a serious facelift. To make it official, the school placed a banner high atop the Annapolis side of OB Montessori to signify the birth of Istituto Culinario.

According to its Facebook account, Istituto Culinario:

"Is built on the strong foundations and solid reputation

of the country's first specialized school for the culinary arts,

the O.B. Montessori College Culinary Institute, established in 1995.

Istituto Culinario is committed to nurturing true Culinary Maestros~

professional, creative, and passionate chefs

through our curriculum based on classical cooking disciplines

and instilled via cutting-edge culinary instruction."

The institution also moves away from the Italian style to the French style of culinary approach. Aside from that, they have also been able to upgrade existing cooking equipment as part of a plan to modernize the facilities and to make it a little easier for the students to learn.

The newly renovated restaurant is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2012.

While La Dolce Fontana no longer exists physically, the restaurant will forever be remembered for its Italian food, its maki, and the hospitality that brings with it. The students will never forget working in this restaurant as part of a requirement in the Food Technology class, as well as providing a hands-on experience towards achieving eventual independence. La Dolce may be gone, but not forgotten. As for Istituto Culinario, best of luck for them in providing a high quality of culinary education to students and in creating a positive atmosphere towards the chefs, waiters and diners alike.