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At the Culinary Institute of Barcelona, we believe in the power of rituals, not as whimsy or hollow tradition, but as meaningful acts that shape identity. Rituals ground us in where we come from and project us toward where we’re going. They are the foundation of any culture worth calling strong and coherent. At CIB, every ritual has a purpose — and one of the most symbolic takes place every four months: the Pioneers Wall.
The Ritual of the Pioneers Wall
The Pioneers Wall marks the moment when we hang the photograph of our newest class on the wall. It may look like a simple gesture, but it carries deep meaning. With it, we acknowledge those who have chosen to join our community and embrace the challenge of learning with a radically different mindset.
Every generation that steps into CIB doesn’t just learn to cook. They learn to lead. To transform gastronomy. To question the status quo and to innovate. But above all, every student who walks through our doors becomes a pioneer. And we use that word deliberately.
Why "Pioneers"?
This ritual draws its inspiration from the early days of the space race. In the intense rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union to conquer space, NASA launched the Mercury Program. Its mission was both simple and monumental: to send a human into space and bring them back safely — something no one had ever done before.
It was an enormous challenge. Not just a matter of national pride, but of human life. At the time, there was no such thing as a professional astronaut. No one had trained for it. NASA had to look for volunteers — and found them among U.S. Air Force pilots. And here lies the lesson. When the proposal was presented, no one could guarantee success. These pilots were told they’d be crammed into a capsule no bigger than a washing machine, strapped atop a missile more than thirty meters tall, hurled into space, and expected to orbit the Earth before re-entering the atmosphere as a ball of fire. Then, if all went well, parachutes would deploy and a recovery team might find them somewhere in the ocean.
It was madness — a leap into the unknown with no safety net.
And yet, hundreds volunteered.
Seven were chosen. Seven men willing to risk everything to make history. But here’s the twist: Mercury had only six planned missions. That meant at least one of them would never fly. Rather than let that divide them, they turned it into a symbol. Every mission carried the number 7 — a tribute to the whole group. Because even if only one of them launched, he did so in the name of all. Thus, the Mercury Seven were born.
The CIB students are Pioneers
At CIB, we’ve made that story our own. Our students are pioneers in every sense. They’ve chosen to reshape gastronomy, to lead with a new mindset, to cook more consciously, and to pursue a purpose beyond personal success. Each one represents the spirit of our entire community.
That’s why, every four months, we celebrate the Pioneers Wall ritual. It only lasts about five minutes, but its impact is profound. A student from our most senior class and one from the newest promotion unveil and hang the latest photo. It’s symbolic — a passing of the torch. Every new group that joins us becomes part of something bigger. They’re not just culinary students. They’re CIBers.
At CIB, our students know they’re living a unique educational experience. Our methodology is experimental, yet proven. We don’t train conventional professionals.
We train pioneers.
And it shows — from day one.
The Pioneers Wall has now outgrown a single wall. There are two, and soon there may be more. Every generation leaves its mark, adding to a story that’s still being written. Because at CIB, we don’t just train chefs.
We train explorers of the future of gastronomy.
