If you are interested in learning about classic and regional Mexican cuisine and techniques, you will notice small culinary schools located in different regions of Mexico.
These culinary schools in Mexico are known to cater to foodies and amateur chefs. However, that’s not all they do, they also offer unique culinary opportunities for culinary students and professionals looking for inspiration.
Are There Culinary Schools In Mexico?
Yes, and while most culinary arts degree programs cover a wide range of topics, some programs offer a course in Mexican cuisine. You can learn about the different types of regional cuisine in Mexico, as well as the history of local foods such as corn, chili peppers, and beans.
You can learn cooking techniques and prepare a variety of dishes using common Mexican ingredients, including zucchini and avocado.
You can also find additional study abroad programs that will allow you to travel to Mexico and experience authentic Mexican cuisine for yourself. You can experience the local flavor in restaurants and visit markets or bakeries.
In these programs, you can learn how to make tamales, mole sauces, and tortillas. You can also use traditional Mexican kitchen utensils, such as a mortar and pestle and whetstones.
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How Much Do Culinary Schools Cost In Mexico?
When looking at culinary schools tuition in Mexico, consider whether the dollar amount covers the entire degree program or just a portion of it.
In many cases, this is not the same as the annual tuition you would find at a four-year college. Instead, culinary school tuition usually includes the cost of the entire training program.
Culinary schools usually require students to undergo an intensive program. Students may spend more time in the classroom (or in the kitchen) compared to students pursuing a traditional four-year degree.
School management should also consider the cost of all ingredients and tools used in cooking classes. As with other colleges and universities, culinary schools also require students to pay a variety of fees in addition to tuition.
- Tuition: $8,950
- Application: $50
- Confirmation: $100
- Cookware set, textbooks and uniform: $1,395
- Fee: $1,330
- Total contribution: $615
- TOTAL: $12,440
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What Are The Requirements For Culinary Schools In Mexico?
Culinary school students have several options when it comes to earning a degree. Schools may offer bachelor’s degrees, associate’s degrees, or certificates.
While smaller culinary schools offer only one option, larger schools such as Le Cordon Bleu offer all three. Bachelor programs are generally the most expensive, but also provide more experience and prestige.
Admission to most culinary schools is open, and students are usually only required to have a high school diploma or GED.
If your chosen school is more competitive, you may be asked to take a test to prove you have a basic understanding of kitchen technology. Work experience or other training can also be used to support your application.
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What Are The Best Culinary Schools In Mexico?
Le Cordon Bleu at Universidad Anáhuac del Sur in Mexico City
Le Cordon Bleu at Universidad Anahuac del Sur in Mexico City is just one of more than 30 campuses worldwide that cater to a multicultural student environment.
The curriculum remains similar to the Parisian founding school of the same name. Any culinary school graduate with Le Cordon Bleu on his or her resume is quickly hired and highly respected.
The study programs include: the classic cycle – leading to a diploma in cooking (Cocina), a diploma in pastry and baking (Pastisteria) or Le Grand Diplome.
It also includes a tight combination of both, a Master of Senior Hotel and Restaurant Management, a Bachelor of Restaurant Management, a Bachelor of Hotel of management and bachelor of catering management.
Casa Jacaranda
The more expensive option, Casa Jacaranda, offers a full-day culinary immersion, starting with a trip to the local market to buy produce. The location of the class is the house of two Mexican hosts, located in a wonderful Roma neighborhood of Mexico City.
The market you are heading to is the wonderful Mercado Medellín, known for its goods from all over Latin America. However, the focus is on seasonal produce combined with lots of personal stories about cooking with grandma.
After that, it’s time to start cooking and you return to the house to cook under the supervision and guidance of Beto and Jorge.
However, the real fun begins with the meal, which takes place in the rooftop garden under the eponymous jacaranda tree. At $170 per person, it’s not cheap, but it’s incredibly well-appreciated.
Mexico Soul and Essence
Ruth Alegría, who was born in Panama but lives in Mexico City, has experienced Mexican cooking. As well as being a trained and experienced chef and food writer, she runs wildly popular cooking classes in her own kitchen.
Although classes with her are not cheap, they are fascinating; it will allow you to participate in chili tasting and identification workshops, which will really help you get to know one of the most important ingredients in Mexican cuisine.
In addition, she will adapt the class to your needs and seasonal requirements. So the September sessions require chili en nogada, stuffed chili with a creamy nut sauce and pomegranate seeds.
Sazon Cooking School
The Sazon Cooking School in San Miguel de Allende is a specialized cooking school open to beginners and advanced. Mexican cuisine and more, hands-on and intense.
Begin your culinary adventure by choosing from classes that focus on regional cuisines and specialties, seasonal ingredients, and healthy cooking. All classes also include a tour of a bustling local market filled with exotic produce.
Experience an unparalleled culinary vacation. The Sazón cooking school is located in a magnificent 18th century mansion. Explore the bold flavors and rich history of regional Mexican favorites or learn the techniques to create an elegant modern masterpiece.
How Much Do Cooks In Mexico Earn?
According to the BLS, the median annual salary for chefs in Mexico was $53,380 as of May 2020. Chefs in the top 10% earned more than $90,790, while chefs in the bottom 10% earned $30,300 or less.
As a chef specializing in Mexican cuisine, you can work in a full-service Mexican restaurant, catering company, or hotel.
You can also open your own Mexican restaurant. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment for all chefs, including Mexican chefs, is expected to grow by 25% between 2020 and 2030, much faster than the national average.
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How Do I Become A Cook In Mexico?
Mexican chefs can choose from several programs, some of which last up to three years. Students in the ACF Apprenticeship Program
ACF students also get paid for their work. Hands-on training includes instruction on 10 cooking stations, including grilling, cold food and baking. Students must also participate in some classroom activities.
While certification is not required, it can lead to higher paying jobs and promotion opportunities. Chefs with two years of work experience or an associate’s degree in culinary arts can earn a Certified Culinary Certificate from ACF.
The organization also offers a Certified Chef certification to sous chefs with three years of experience who manage at least two other employees. With five years of experience, Mexican chefs can earn the Certified Sous Chef certification.
Once a chef meets the experience and education requirements and is approved by the ACF, they can take the required exams (one practical and one written).
As chefs become more proficient in Mexican cuisine, they may have the opportunity to become a sous chef or head chef. These chefs are often required to manage staff, so it is advisable to gain management experience early on.
Those with management experience may be preferred over chefs without it. If you’re aiming to become a head chef, it’s also a good idea to get as much training and certification as possible.
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What Are The Best Paying Culinary Jobs in Mexico?
Big cities are hotspots for innovative restaurants, as are resort areas such as Cancun/Playa, Acapulco and Cabo San Lucas.
Try regional dishes—seafood, shellfish, especially shrimp and lobster—as well as freshly made salsa and guacamole. Classic Mayan dishes use corn and local grains.
If you graduate from culinary arts or hotel management school in Mexico, you can look for a good job in the country or abroad.
Jobs within the country are competitive, but available for well-educated and qualified chefs and cooks in some of the country’s leading restaurants, as well as in a throng of luxury resorts, many of which boast several high-end and casual restaurants.
Culinary Schools In Mexico FAQs
Mexican chefs will learn about local foods, including huevos tirados, mole, cochinita pibil, empanadas and tamales, and how to prepare these dishes in traditional ways. They can work in any establishment where a chef is needed, for example, in hotels, restaurants and on cruise ships. They may also have the authority to supervise kitchen staff, create menus, and order food. Chefs can work long hours and often spend most of that time on their feet.
There are a variety of programs for experienced chefs interested in Mexican cuisine. You can attend Latin American cooking conferences that can expand your knowledge of Mexican cooking techniques, including roasting, slow cooking, and grilling. You can also find individual refresher courses that cover specific topics, such as desserts or appetizers.
Food service managers do not need formal training, but a bachelor’s degree can improve employment prospects. Also, if you are passionate about cooking Mexican food, you may want to consider working as a chef. Like chefs, chefs don’t need a degree, but completing a culinary arts program can greatly improve your culinary skills.
Conclusion
Culinary schools in Mexico educate students on cutting-edge innovations related to the food service and hospitality industry, and offer a supportive learning environment that develops the student’s technical skills and personality, leading to successful employment in the culinary industry.
With the variety of courses offered by culinary schools in New Mexico, a student will be able to learn business practices, dining room skills, supervisory skills, human relations, equipment use, nutrition, safety, sanitation, and of course, baking and professional cooking. Classes at New Mexico culinary schools include classroom and laboratory classes.
References
bestaccreditedcolleges.org – Become a Mexican Food Chef: Step-by-Step Career Guide
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