STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Extensive renovations have kept Italian cultural center Casa Belvedere, Grymes Hill, closed to the public since September. But now construction of the facility's culinary school kitchen is complete, a room with a lofty ceiling, stainless steel detail and top-of-the-line cooking equipment. And, starting Wednesday evening, a battery of hands-on instructional sessions hosted by guest chefs will run through June.



"This is just the baseline to getting an accredited culinary institution centered on Staten Island," enthused Gina Biancardi, president of the Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belevedere. Ms. Biancardi hopes that Casa's kitchen will be a destination for home cooks and professionals, just as the Culinary Institute of America is to chef-types who travel to its home base of Hyde Park, N.Y.



Two-hour interactive cooking sessions are offered to a maximum of 10 students almost daily with midweek sessions that commence at noon. Evening classes kick off at 6:30 p.m. Prices start around $75 per guest.

"The classes are geared toward people with different degrees of food understanding," said Ms. Biancardi. "Guests just need to come here with an interest in learning something new, a little something new about Italian culture."

Rosemarie Pinizzotto is the first chef to teach at Casa Belvedere.

Casa's once-dated kitchen, now dubbed "Cucina Colavita" as a nod to a major donor, is overhauled with induction cooktops, a steamer, deep-fryer, grill, pasta cooker, convection ovens, stainless countertops plus hand-crafted custom cabinetry.



The inaugural event at Cucina Colavita happens Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m. with a lesson taught by Rosemarie Pinnizzoto. The New Jersey cook comes with a well-rounded resume that includes work in her own bakery/restaurant business, for Polly-O, and with cookbook author/long-time PBS food personality Mary Ann Esposito of Ciao, Italia! Her menu features homemade tortellini dressed in fresh cream sauce, chicken with balsamic glaze, Brussels sprouts and cippolini. Dessert focuses on how to make a fresh fruit tart.



Starting May 31, other food components at Casa will include pop-up restaurants hosted by I Truli, La Masseria, Da Nico and Patsy's, all of Manhattan. La Masseria, which translates to "the farmhouse," is owned by Staten Island resident Pino Colavonato. Roberto's of Arthur Avenue, Bronx, is another confirmed venue for one-night summer food stints.



Come fall, Casa Belvedere expects to open a private dining club. The kitchen for that operation, also designed with state-of-the-art cooking features, is a separate, members-only venue.