Culinary Schools in New Mexico

New Mexico is a delightful place to live in and to pursue a culinary profession, with the warm weather, clear skies, a flourishing tourism industry and several distinct local delectable cuisines. Considered as a culinary haven, New Mexico is home to 1.8 Million residents so you will have plenty of individuals to cook for.

The state is full of outstanding restaurants and remarkable chef that offer original southwestern dishes especially in famous places such as Albuquerque, Taos and Santa Fe. If you are planning to attend a culinary school in New Mexico, you will be immersed in the local cuisine culture. The education system that focuses on culinary arts in the state of New Mexico is a combination of technical institutes, private culinary arts colleges, community colleges and state universities.

A fusion of influences that marks the state cuisine – a mix of Native American, Mexican and Spanish dishes is what you can expect all over the state. Whether you end up in Santa Fe, Rio Rancho or Las Cruces to pursue your culinary arts education, there will be more than enough employment opportunities for externship in those places and even if you’re not the world renowned Bobby Flay, you obtain all of the knowledge and experience that you need to get a solid understanding of the unique flavors of this particular US region.

Culinary Arts in New Mexico

Culinary Arts is a remarkable discipline for those who want an exciting, challenging and fulfilling career in a flourishing industry. The objective of New Mexico culinary schools is to educate the students with advanced innovations related to food service and hospitality industry while also offering an environment that is conducive to learning that develops a student’s technical skills and individuality that will lead to a successful placement in employment in culinary industry.
Through diverse courses offered by culinary schools in New Mexico, the student will be able to learn business practices, dining room skills, supervisory skills, human relations, usage of equipment, nutrition, safety, sanitation and of course, baking and professional cooking. The classes in New Mexico culinary schools include classroom and lab time. The organization that issues accreditation for the culinary arts schools is American Culinary Federation ACF. When the students complete the AAS or Associate of Applied Science degree program, he or she will be qualified to be a “certified culinarian” as legitimized by ACF. Furthermore, the students can also gain certificates in basic culinary and/or baking. Those students who want to continue to obtain a bachelor’s degree in hospitality and culinary arts should consult it with a program director to have the courses plotted out.

Choosing among Culinary Schools in New Mexico

Since your career goal is to have a successful culinary profession, you have to make your research and make sure that among the culinary schools in New Mexico, you will select has the proper equipment and competent faculty that can pave way to a fruitful career in the food industry. The school should possess the following:

1. Seasoned and competent faculty members, instructors, and chefs.
2. Complete and advanced kitchen equipment.
3. A restaurant/facility where students can apply the theories and experience to serve the consumers.
4. A program for career guidance as well as continuity of education.
5. Job placement assistance
6. Externships and internships for the application of theoretical culinary knowledge 7. Connections to the industry to ensure employment after graduation

List of Accredited New Mexico Culinary Schools

Central New Mexico Community College – Located in Albuquerque, NM, this school’s objective in the culinary arts program is to provide teachings about the most advanced trends in the food and hospitality industry. It offers an associate degree and the students will be able to learn different skills such as business practices, dining room skills, supervisory skills, sanitation, safety, professional cooking and baking.

Santa Fe Community College – The culinary arts program in this school will provide the students with hands on experience that is designed to guarantee the development of culinary arts skills of the students. Santa Fe Community college is dedicated to offer world class training in all fiels in culinary, hospitality, industry, hot and cold kitchens, cost controls, management, sanitation and safety, pastries, nutrition, and dining room and bar. The graduated from this school are sought after in Santa Fe restaurants and establishments with professionals that earn about 12 to 15 USD per hour for entry level positions.

Eastern New Mexico University – Roswell Campus – This public school is situated in Roswell, New Mexico established in 1958 and one of the two institutions that are situated in Roswell. Eastern New Mexico University offers a two year certificate, an associate’s degree, a one-year certificate and a seven month certificate for culinary arts.

Luna Community College – situated in Las Vegas New Mexico, this school offers a culinary arts curriculum that ensures that all the standards and guidelines given by the American Culinary Federation will be met in terms of skill competencies and culinary knowledge. The program focuses on hands on experience of the students using the advanced kitchen innovations. Each class emphasizes on the mastery of professional food serving in a state of the art kitchen and equips the students for positions in the culinary field. Students will gain knowledge in the basic and advanced cooling skills, culinary professionalism and safety and sanitation in terms of food handling.

University of New Mexico Taos Branch – This school is located in Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico. The institution offers an associate degree and the students can also earn 1 to 2 years certificate and less than 1 year certificate in culinary arts.
Navajo Technical College – This institution is located in Crownpoint New Mexico. Navajo technical college offers a wide array of Associate of Applied science degree programs in culinary arts. The student can also warn a 1 to 2 year certificate and less than 1 year certificate for culinary arts.

Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute – this accredited culinary school in New Mexico is located in Albuquerque and it offers as associate’s degree in culinary arts. Students can also obtain 1 to 2 year certificate in culinary arts as well.