Enjoy internationally inspired cuisine, live cooking competitions and an evening supporting the next generation of culinary professionals
Psychology major Emerald Moreno is inspired by a passion for understanding and interpreting others, along with a deep faith that psychology is her calling. She plans to transfer to a university to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology, minor in Spanish, and continue exploring a future in law.
After a major surgery and months of recovery, Tracey Kushner faced a decision that would reshape her future. In 2024, she returned to San Diego Mesa College determined to finish the degree she had started years earlier.
SAN DIEGO, Calif. — San Diego Mesa College proudly celebrated the achievements of the Class of 2026 during its annual Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 29, 2026, honoring 1,958 graduates who earned more than 2,017 academic degrees and 414 certificates. A total of 727 graduates participated in the ceremony, joined by family, friends, faculty, staff, and community supporters.
September 24, 2019
On Thursday, October 24, 2019, at 5:30 p.m. San Diego Mesa College will host the annual “Taste of Mesa”, the premier cooking-show style fundraiser benefiting the Culinary Arts Management Program. Taste of Mesa features internationally-inspired cuisine and two cook-off competitions between alumni, students and advanced baking teams. Members of the public are encouraged to attend the family-friendly event (see photos from 2018 Taste of Mesa).
“The Culinary and Hospitality is a billion dollar industry in San Diego and a huge economic driver,” stated Dr. Pamela Luster, President. “At Taste of Mesa, our students get to showcase the culinary skills they will use to enter that industry, and guests get to sample the cuisine and participate in a fantastic interactive experience.”
Guests will get to sample fresh-made cuisine, enjoy competitions featuring local celebrity
chefs, and bid on silent auction items. Auction items will include cooking lessons
with local chefs Chef Kevin Templeton from Barleymash and Chef Joe Pastry from Waters
fine dining catering. Winners and their friends will have an experience of a lifetime
learning from each chef how to create a signature dish.
Students in Culinary Arts/Culinary Management enjoy practical hands-on approach to innovative methods and classical techniques, as well as numerous cuisines. A rigorous training program combines both laboratory and general education coursework, in addition to business courses including supervision and cost control. Graduates of the program are well-prepared, with nearly 100% finding jobs within the industry. Many have gone on to be successful chefs, managers, caterers and owners.
Proceeds from “Taste of Mesa” will be used to purchase ingredients that will help train 
students for the farm to table style restaurants that are becoming more common in
today’s market and prepare them to become valued employees in the service industry.
To purchase tickets, visit www.sdmesa.edu/tasteofmesa.
$50 for the general public, faculty and staff
$25 for students
$10 for children 12 and under
$75 VIP Tickets, which include:
Tags: Taste of Mesa, Culinary Arts
Jennifer Nichols Kearns
Director of Communications
[email protected]
(619) 388-2759
Enjoy internationally inspired cuisine, live cooking competitions and an evening supporting the next generation of culinary professionals
San Diego, CA ---- On Thursday, November 2, 2023, San Diego Mesa College will bring back their popular dining event, “Taste of Mesa”. The event is a lively evening modeled after a premier cooking-show style fundraiser benefiting the Culinary Arts Management Program. Guests will get to sample fresh-made cuisine, enjoy competitions featuring local celebrity chefs, and bid on silent auction items. The event starts at 5:15 p.m., with early access for VIP tickets holders. Taste of Mesa features internationally-inspired cuisine and two cook-off competitions between alumni, students and advanced baking teams. Members of the public are encouraged to attend the family-friendly event.
San Diego – Staring this past week, 72 Fifty, the Mesa College on-campus restaurant, began offering their specialty Fall Dinners. This week featured classic French cuisine, including Vichyssoise, crème fraiche, Beef Wellington, and Duck Confit. As one of only a few culinary programs in the nation that operates a classroom-driven restaurant that's open to the public, the Fall Dinners allow Mesa students to gain first-hand experience modeling food preparation techniques, food safety, sanitation, and menu planning while working with modern equipment in newly renovated facilities.
