Mente Argentina offers two different cooking programs that are perfect for anyone curious about Argentine and South American cuisine. Our Cooking Program and Culinary Arts Degree Program offer courses at one of the top culinary institutes in the country for cooks of all levels. Argentine cuisine is especially unique in South America due to the country’s heavy influence of immigrants from Europe and the Middle East combining with Native traditions. With Italian and Spanish cuisine as its guides, and the addition of native traditions, Argentine cuisine stands out mainly because of its barbecue, roast beef, empanadas, and world famous dulce de leche.
Cooking Program
Our cooking program is flexible, starting any Monday of the year and lasting anywhere from a couple of weeks to several months. You get to choose from a variety of fantastic courses taught by expert instructors at one of the country’s top culinary schools. The goal of the cooking program is to teach students typical South American & Argentinean dishes with modern preparation, presentation techniques, and sophisticated flavor combinations. Our cooking program is tailor-made to suit your needs and interests and can be arranged for students of all Spanish levels and degrees of cooking experience.
Many participants like to combine out cooking program with some of our other short programs to broaden their learning experience while in Buenos Aires. Some common combinations are with out Intensive Spanish Program for those looking to build their language skills or our Wine Program for the full gastronomic experience.
Culinary Arts Degree
In contrast, our culinary arts degree program, is an intensive program, created specifically for students who are passionate about gastronomy and expanding their culinary skill set. Aspiring chefs in the Mente Argentina culinary arts degree program will take intensive classes for five months which cover the same content as a 2 year Culinary Arts degree program. Students will learn to plan and organize various types of kitchen operations, such as: restaurant, hotel, and catering company. In just five months, graduates will master basic and advanced cooking techniques. Students will learn the gastronomic concepts behind their practical skills which will allow them to independently create original recipes using both classic and modern culinary theory.
As you will be learning alongside local culinary arts students here in Argentina, our culinary arts degree program is recommended for those with at least an intermediate Spanish level. Of course we can arrange Spanish classes through our Intensive Spanish Program for you to ensure that you are comfortable in your culinary coursework. Many students, even of intermediate or advanced Spanish levels prefer to take some Spanish classes to learn about particularities of Argentine Spanish.
Beyond your personal exploration of Buenos Aires and any travels around Argentina, Mente Argentina offers several weekly activities to take your learning outside of the classroom. These activities also connect you with the rest of your Mente family, both staff and fellow participants, as you explore the city together. During these outings, 2-3 times per week, we show you our favorite brunch spots, happy hours, theaters, museums, parks and so much more. Check out the Mente Instagram for lots of photos.
Buenos Aires is well known for its huge gastronomic scene, which is something you will get to experience first hand in your classes and as you explore the city on your own and with us. With new innovative restaurants opening every day, the culinary climate in the city is always moving and changing along with the people. To learn more about the BA gastronomic scene, check out Pick Up The Fork, a blog by Allie Lazar, an American living in Argentina now for over a decade.
We could talk to you all day about our programs, but we also want you to hear directly from our past participants about their stories and why they chose our Cooking Programs. Here are some of their stories:
- Following his childhood dream of opening a restaurant and learning about cuisine around the world: Mike’s Story
- Combining his passions for cooking and travelling: Tristan’s Story
- Transitioning careers and pursuing her dream to enter the culinary industry: Sne’s Story
- Expanding his perspective and diving deep into Argentine culture: Troy’s Story