Why I chose the Basque Culinary Center
After years of searching for the right path, I found a graduate program that felt made for me. Here’s why I chose the Basque Culinary Center to study Gastronomic Sciences.
When I first stumbled across the Basque Culinary Center, I thought it was too good to be true. A school dedicated to gastronomy. Not just cooking, but food systems, justice, sustainability, and innovation? I didn’t know programs like that even existed.
But the more I researched, the more I realized: this wasn’t a dream. This was alignment.
A Program That Honors Complexity
As someone who has spent years navigating health systems, caregiving responsibilities, and systemic burnout, I needed a program that could hold more. More intersections, more questions, more nuance. More of that thing. That thing I can’t quite put my finger on. The Master’s in Gastronomic Sciences at BCC is exactly that.
It’s not just about food as a product. It’s about food as a cultural force, economic driver, political tool, and healing modality.
The curriculum integrates:
Cultural identity and food heritage;
Sustainability and agroecology;
Innovation, entrepreneurship, & ethics; and
Global systems thinking.
It’s academic, hands-on, and rooted in real-world change. That’s exactly what I want to be a part of. Not to mention the amazing GOe. More on that later.
Feminist Food Futures & Justice
I was also struck by how the program centers food justice, something I care deeply about. From land rights and climate justice to cultural appropriation and labor conditions, these are the conversations I already have daily. Now I get to study them professionally and help shape solutions? Sign me up!
One of the faculty members even gave a presentation on feminist future food systems, and I felt seen. My interest in intersectional advocacy, trauma recovery, and justice storytelling finally had a place to land.
Why BCC Specifically?
Beyond the philosophy, the Basque Culinary Center offers:
A stunning, cutting-edge campus in San Sebastián;
Global faculty with real-world experience;
Access to both academic research and industry connections; AND
A multidisciplinary, international community.
It’s not just a school. It’s a hub for changemakers and researchers.
And let’s be honest—being able to live, eat, and learn in one of the most respected culinary regions in the world? That’s a dream. To say the least.
What This Means for Me
This is the start of something new. A second career. A reimagined purpose. I’m not just going back to school. I’m designing a life that honors who I am, what I care about, and what I’m here to build.
Choosing BCC wasn’t just about education. It was about becoming.
If you are interested in learning more, check out the links below.
