Spain to Open World's First University of Gastronomy

Earlier this year, it was announced that Spain will be the first country in the world to open a "gastronomic university".

The Basque Country's cultural capital, San Sebastián, will play host to this culinary venture, which is planned to offer a four-year undergraduate degree programme and a one-year masters course, as well as some shorter courses for food enthusiasts. Tuition will be in both English and Spanish, and will be headed by Ferran Adrià, the famous owner of El Bulli Restaurant. The UK's eccentric Heston Blumenthal is also expected to make appearances as a guest lecturer.

The private university will include a research laboratory to explore the chemistry behind food, or "molecular gastronomy". And with Adrià and Blumenthal at the helm, the new students are set to produce some innovatory new dishes, such as the Parmesan snow and chocolate wine of their teachers.

In a building designed to resemble a pile of stacked plates, the university could not be better located - San Sebastián is renowned for its excellent restaurants, and nine of its eateries boast a combined total of 16 Michelin stars. The Basque Culinary Centre will be complete and ready for its first students in September 2011. Spain's Minister of Science and Innovation, Cristina Garmendia, has fully supported the venture, saying "Not only is gastronomy an art, culture and an industry, it is also a technology and a science."