Southwestern Cooking Schools
Let’s talk about Southwestern cuisine and how it’s shaped many of the culinary chops of the best chefs at work today. New Mexico is crammed with stellar chefs and notable restaurants in popular places like Santa Fe, Taos and Albuquerque. Your culinary education in NM is two-fold: academic and experiential.
The culinary arts schools in the state are a mixture of leading state universities, community colleges and vocational and technical institutes. Each delivers sound programs. Looking for affordable and accelerated? Focus on the programs offered at the community and technical colleges. Looking for a 4-year Bachelors and possibly a management level degree? Set your sights on one of the state university programs.
NM Food Scene: Festivals, Flavors and Chefs
Wherever you choose to enroll make part of your educational experience a submersion in the local food scene. Dine at the best reviewed restaurants, acquaint yourself with the flavors and nuances of the up and coming local chefs, learn what works and what doesn’t, check out the regional farmers markets and the local food and wine festivals:
- Albuquerque Wine Festival
- Santa Fe Wine and Chili Festival
- Fiery Foods and BBQ Show, Albuquerque
The state is renowned for its red and green chili sauces—order them together and it’s “Christmas.” Excellent Southwestern fare is the food of the day, but you’ll find an international tapestry of cuisines represented and a crowd of “best” chefs.
Choose a School
Confused over which school to choose? Since the ultimate goal is successful career launch, make sure the program you choose has the tools and services to propel you smoothly to the next professional level:
- Well-connected professional chef/instructors
- State-of-the-art teaching kitchens
- Student-run restaurant that serves a demanding public
- Career guidance and job placement
Finding a Chef’s Job in New Mexico
Explore all your options for culinary jobs in New Mexico. Popular chef careers include restaurants and hotels, but check out the upscale spas and resorts, and catering businesses. For networking resources and valuable professional connections consider a membership with a respected professional organization, such as a local chapter of the American Culinary Federation (Rio Grande Valley Chapter – Albuquerque). Associations like this also afford you access to private job lists and educational events and conferences.
Salaries for chefs in New Mexico vary widely based on years of experience, level of education, location and even reputation. What’s clear is that many chef jobs require a culinary education. Average salary for a sous chef in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Taos is between $39,000 and $43,000.
New Mexico State Colleges, Community and Technical Colleges Offering Culinary, Restaurant Management, and/or Hospitality Degrees
Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute – Albuquerque
Crownpoint Institute of Technology – Crownpoint
New Mexico State University - Las Cruces
Santa Fe Community College - Santa Fe
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute – Albuquerque
University of New Mexico - Albuquerque