Learn About the Possibilities that a Culinary Arts Degree Can Provide

Charlie Ruffolo • December 21, 2021
LCI Student Spotlight: Dayreana Love

Although she never considered a career as a professional chef, Dayreana Love has found her calling at Louisiana Culinary Institute. Dayreana has always had a passion for cooking and channeling her creative side into creating dishes and meals. A close friend suggested that she take an open house tour at Louisiana Culinary Institute, and she is now enrolled and pursuing a double culinary major in advanced culinary arts and advanced baking and pastry. 


While Dayreana is a manager at Mcdonald's, her experience in culinary school not only taught more about the restaurant and hospitality industry it has opened up her mind and her creative side. "It truly is a family here, and you gain real-life experience," says Dayreana. One of the biggest challenges she has encountered that has made her stronger is learning how to step out of her comfort zone. “Dayreana has proven herself throughout this program. She is a hardworking student with impeccable standards. She’s grown her eye for detail and I believe she will be successful in her future endeavors,” says Chef Instructor, Jeanne Mancuso.

After graduation, Dayreana would like to open a dessert-based food truck, combining the skills she's learned at LCI with her passion for creativity and service. Furthermore, she'd like to offer leisure cooking classes for children and adults.

CONTACT US
LCI dining hall event venue in Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge Event Venues: How to Find the Right Space for Your Event

By Charlie Ruffolo • April 29, 2026
Planning an event in Baton Rouge? Learn what to look for in a venue, including catering, layout, and full-service options for a flawless event.

From Music to Kitchen Mastery: Student Spotlight on Ben Messina

By Charlie Ruffolo • March 25, 2026
Some people know from childhood exactly where they're headed. Ben Messina took a different route. He started college as a music major, took a gap year to find his footing, and leaned on his brother's encouragement before landing exactly where he was always meant to be: a professional kitchen . Now a senior in the Savory program at Louisiana Culinary Institute (LCI) in Baton Rouge, Ben is weeks away from graduating in May 2026. He arrived at LCI with a love of cooking and a family connection to food. He's leaving with a world-class culinary foundation, a mentor who pushed him to be his best, and a dream of opening multiple restaurants of his own one day. His story is proof that the path to a culinary career doesn't have to be a straight line. Is It Too Late to Change Careers and Go to Culinary School? For Ben, food has always been part of the family fabric. Growing up in Baton Rouge, he spent time in the kitchen with his grandmother, learning to make snickerdoodles as a kid. Those early memories planted a seed. But Ben initially followed a different passion. He'd played trumpet and piano since a young age, so he enrolled at Southeastern Louisiana University to study music. It wasn't long before the questions started creeping in: "What am I actually going to do with a music degree?" He took a gap year to figure it out. And the answer, when it came, was simple: go back to his other love. Cooking. His brother, who owns a food truck, had been encouraging him to consider culinary school. More specifically, he encouraged Ben to look at LCI. And then, without warning, he signed him up for a campus tour. 
More Posts