Chef Maya Brown
Chef Instructor, Culinary Arts
"I love learning from my students and other Chef Instructors — food is amazing in that way — there is never the 'right' way, but many that change from person to person."
About
Chef Maya has an array of industry experience, including doing research in a microbiology lab to create space food for astronauts, making Seth Rogen a pork chop, and conducting a few wine dinners with UFC fighter Carlos Condit. In 2016, she won Best Dessert Course for Duke It Out.
Maya owned an ice cream business called Foodgore that specialized in small-batch ice cream utilizing local flavors and highlighting local artists in the surrounding Albuquerque, New Mexico, area. She’s also served in roles related to community-supported agriculture and taught cooking classes for patients with eating disorders.
Her culinary experience also includes being a Head Baker and Pastry Chef, working as a Behavioral Health Technician & Dietary Aide in a clinical setting, working in social media management, and teaching Culinary Medicine at the University of New Mexico.
A student member of Diversify Dietetics and the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics, Chef Maya is passionate about nutrition.
Honors & Awards
- Best Dessert Course, Duke It Out 2016
Professional EXPERIENCE
- Behavioral Health Technician & Dietary Aide - Eating Disorders Treatment Center, Albuquerque, NM
- Patient Food Supervisor - Presbyterian Health Services, Albuquerque, NM
- Community Cooking Class Coordinator - La Cosecha CSA, Albuquerque, NM
- Line & Prep Cook - The Shop Breakfast & Lunch, Albuquerque, NM
- Chef Instructor for Culinary Medicine - University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
- Baker - New Mexico Pie Company, Albuquerque, NM
- Pastry Chef & Line Cook - Artichoke Café, Albuquerque, NM
- Head Baker - Swiss Alps Bakery, Albuquerque, NM
- Intern - Hyatt Regency Hotel, Albuquerque, NM
Dish Examples
Corn cake with cajeta, freeze-dried corn, ganache
These are both dishes that are special to me as they were created during the start of my pastry chef journey. Although I started in pastry, I ended up working both savory and sweet in my career, so these dishes melded the two worlds together as a pastry dish, therefore, defined the type of pastry chef I aimed to be.
Avocado Cheesecake
Avocado Cheesecake with creme fraiche, dill fronds, pomegranate reduction, graham cracker crumble, Maldon salt.
Education
- Master of Science in Nutrition, University of New Mexico
- Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics, University of New Mexico
- Associate Degree in Culinary Arts & Advanced Baking and Pastry Concentration, Central New Mexico Community College
- Associate Degree in Arts in Pre-Health Sciences
In The News
Martha Stewart, 2/24/2025
Martha Stewart, 5/21/2024
Martha Stewart, 3/19/2024
Special Interests
Thrifting, fishing, gardening, and biking.
