Two chefs whose culinary chops have landed them on the Food Network will be the special guests at a dinner fundraiser hosted by New Mexico State University’s School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism.
Chefs Marie Yniguez and Mike White will join HRTM’s annual Chef Artist Dinner on Thursday, March 27, at NMSU’s Corbett Center Student Union on the Las Cruces Campus. Dinner service will feature a menu designed by the chefs and wines paired for each course.
Chef Jon Young, owner of At Last Farm in Corrales, New Mexico, will also make a special appearance. NMSU alumnus and mixologist Patrick Abalos will serve specialty cocktails at the welcoming reception at 5:30 p.m. A silent auction will also take place.
“HRTM is thrilled to bring such high-caliber chefs to provide such a one-of-a-kind experience for our loyal supporters,” HRTM Director Jean Hertzman said. “It will be our largest event of the year. All proceeds benefit scholarships, travel, professional development and other program activities for our wonderful HRTM students.”
Yniguez owns and operates two Albuquerque restaurants, My Mom’s and Smoking Fred’s ’46. She has notched several appearances on Food Network shows like “Chopped” and “Dinner, Drive-Ins and Dives,” and was a 2022 semifinalist for best chef in the Southwest by the James Beard Foundation.
White founded High Point Grill and Taproom in Albuquerque and serves as the director of two charities, 505 Food and Bar Fights and The Kitchen Kids Inc. He has received awards from the New Mexico Restaurant Association, Edible New Mexico and other organizations. He also appeared on the Food Network shows “Supermarket Stakeout” and “Guy’s Grocery Games.”
Students in HRTM 4110-Meetings, Convention and Special Events class are coordinating the event with support from HRTM chef-instructor Danielle Young. It is sponsored by Sodexo. Tickets are $125 per person and are available online. Tickets may also be purchased in person in the HRTM offices by contacting Andres Sanchez at 575-646-7324.
For more information, visit https://100west.nmsu.edu/events/chefdinner.html.
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CUTLINE: New Mexico State University’s School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism will host its annual Chef Artist Dinner on Thursday, March 27, at NMSU’s Corbett Center Student Union on the Las Cruces Campus. (Courtesy)