“L’Academie de Cuisine, one of the nation’s top culinary schools, abruptly closes after 41 years”

Photo by PoPville flickr user Jim Havard

“Dear PoPville,

L’Academie apparently abruptly shut its doors last month. I had a $100 gift certificate to take a class there – and found out when I went to the website yesterday to sign up for a class (well, had to read a Washington Post article, actually).

The phone number to the school is disconnected, and I have a feeling I might just be out $100…which frankly, really sucks, as I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time + could really use the money back post-holidays.

I wonder if any other readers are holding a gift certificate and know what to do, or if anyone else has encountered a similar issue with a place closing its doors?”

From L’Academie’s Facebook:

“Patrice and I are utterly devastated by the closing of L’Academie de Cuisine. For 41 years, we have had the pleasure of meeting and working with so many talented teachers, students, and staff members. We know that L’Academie has become an important part of so many lives and has built such a strong reputation, and that is not because of us. It is due to the thousands of people (all of you) who walked into Bethesda or Gaithersburg over the past 41 years and shared your lives with us.

We know the past week has been extremely difficult for many people and we are so sorry. We have been focused on complying with the federal and regulatory agencies that have allowed us to operate as a cooking school with the primary goal of taking care of our students, staff and customers as best we can.

We have been made aware of fundraising efforts created by former students to help Patrice and I personally. We appreciate those who have thought of us in creating or supporting these causes and thank you for your well wishes. However, we can not accept nor will take custody of any of these funds and promise that any funds raised in whatever capacity will go towards L’Academie students, customers and staff that have been adversely affected by the closing.

I have dedicated my life to teaching others to excel in the kitchen. I have shared my kitchen with the most fascinating and talented teachers the culinary world will ever know. There are so many people that have worked so hard over the years to open our kitchens to the public. We are so devastated that we will no longer be able to do so.”