School of Business, Professional Studies and Education
See the Culinary Arts Program Flyer
Listen to Chef Jerry Dakan discuss the culinary arts program with KSWV’s Estevan Gonzales
About the Culinary Arts Program
If the kitchen has always been your favorite room in the house, then a career in Culinary Arts could bring you a taste of success. The Culinary Arts program is a hands-on professional program designed to give you the skills you need for a career in Culinary Arts.
Our program is committed to delivering world-class instruction in all areas of the hospitality industry, including pastries, hot and cold kitchens, dining room and bar, cost controls and management, restaurant design, nutrition, and sanitation and safety.
Emerging chefs participate in experience-based learning opportunities, from cooking basics in the college’s high quality commercial kitchens to running a food truck or apprenticing with top Santa Fe restaurants and caterers.
The program is the sole training facility for Chaîne des Rôtisseurs of New Mexico, the world’s oldest international gastronomic society.
About the Patissier Program
Are you the one always asked to bake sweet delights for family gatherings? There is more to the restaurant industry than just the art of cooking; Santa Fe Community College will give you hands-on experience to teach you proper pastry tool techniques, large kitchen equipment operation and basic to advanced baking methods and the chance to create edible works of art.
In Santa Fe alone, the possibilities for pastry chefs are endless. In this tourist-based town, hundreds of fine hotels and restaurants offer opportunities for you to create your own recipe for success with a patissier certificate.
As a tourist mecca, Santa Fe has great job prospects in a variety of positions and environments. Graduates of Santa Fe Community College are in high demand, and current graduates earn $12-to-$15 per hour. Sous chef salaries in Santa Fe vary from $25,000 to $32,000. Executive chefs in the area earn between $50,000 and $100,000 or more.
Culinary Arts Garden
SFCC’s Culinary Arts Garden produces fresh, organic vegetables for use in the culinary arts labs and kitchens.
Career Opportunities
- Line cook
- Saucier
- Salad chef
- Banquet chef
- Pastry, cake and candy making
- Pastry chef in a restaurant kitchen
- Demonstration chef
- Wine steward
- Food manager
- Dining room manager
- Social caterer
- Consultant Health inspector
- Event planner
- Commercial production manager
