Santa Fe's Trailblazing Women: Pioneers in Culinary Arts, Outdoor Adventures, and Fine Arts
As Women's History Month concludes, Santa Fe's women continue to shape history. This legacy began with early settlers' wives joining indigenous New Mexican women and persists today. Recently ranked the #1 U.S. city for women-owned businesses, Santa Fe thrives thanks to its rich heritage of influential female figures and the dynamic contributions of modern women leaders. Below is an introduction to some remarkable Santa Fe women worth knowing.
Global Kitchens Inspired by Santa Fe Expertise
The Santa Fe School of Cooking, founded in 1984 by Susan Curtis during her midlife career pivot, has elevated New Mexico's regional cuisine worldwide. As the foremost authority on Southwestern flavors—including the Three Sisters (beans, corn, and squash) and signature chiles—the school offers classes from traditional dishes to the intensive three-day Southwest Culinary Bootcamp.
Southwestern Bootcamp at the Santa Fe School of Cooking offers immersive kitchen excitement (Photo Credit: Santa Fe School of Cooking)
Specialty sessions feature experts like Oaxacan chef Susana Trilling, cheese expert Laura Werlin, and Southwestern cuisine authority Cheryl Alters Jamison. Director of Operations Nicole Curtis Ammerman's Restaurant Walking Tours are TripAdvisor favorites, while the online market provides unique ingredients to spark creativity.
Chef Michelle Roetzer leads a Santa Fe School of Cooking Restaurant Walking Tour (Photo Credit: Eric Swanson)
Chef Michelle Roetzer teaches at the school while directing the Santa Fe Community College Culinary Arts Program, where she's celebrated for mentoring emerging chefs, affectionately called her “cheflings.” The program also features lead pastry chef Helen Singleton Nichols (teaching since 2012) and chef pâtissière Leslie Chavez, named “2013 Chef of the Year” by the New Mexico Culinary Association.
Santa Fe Women Dominating the Food Scene
Santa Fe's vibrant food culture shines through its caterers and restaurants. Chef Lois Ellen Frank of Red Mesa Cuisine preserves indigenous American techniques and flavors. With Kiowa Nation heritage from her mother and Sephardic roots from her father, she earned a Ph.D. in Culinary Anthropology from the University of New Mexico. Her 20+ years of research inspired the acclaimed book Foods of the Southwest Indian Nations, blending traditional and modern recipes.
Chef Lois Ellen Frank crafts frybread with prickly-pear syrup and fresh berries (Photo Credit: Lois Ellen Frank)
After 17 years catering, Catherine O’Brien and Glenda Griswold opened Terracotta Wine Bistro, a beloved downtown spot near the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, famed for its wine list, inventive dishes (like standout onion rings), and prime location.
Breakfast served all day at Café Pasqual’s—no cooking required! (Photo Credit: Café Pasqual’s)
At Café Pasqual’s, owner Kathryn Kagel perfected the menu with organic, local ingredients, offering adaptable vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. Her two cookbooks highlight her expertise, and the restaurant draws crowds—arrive early for breakfast.
Adventure Awaits: Santa Fe Women Lead the Way Outdoors
Santa Fe women excel in outdoor pursuits too. Outspire Hiking, founded by biologist-turned-guide Karen Dennison, delivers stunning panoramic scenery. An avid fly-fisher, Karen co-authored a regional fly-tying book; her all-female guide team matches any expertise. Sue Mally, co-owner of Santa Fe Walkabouts and a native of Burma, provides insider tours of the Land of Enchantment. For a relaxed option, Clarice Coffey's Custom Tours offer downtown sights and local stories from the driver's seat.
Santa Fe's Visionary Women Artists and Designers
Barbara Meikle captures portraits of notable subjects at her gallery (Photo Credit: Barbara Meikle Fine Art)
Santa Fe's artistic tradition flourishes under women's leadership. Women own galleries and create pottery, paintings, photography, and jewelry. Caitlin Elizabeth Photography immortalizes pet visits, while Barbara Meikle's demand led to Meikle Fine Art gallery for her vibrant works. The Golden Eye upholds Norah Pierson's legacy of handcrafted jewelry by skilled craftswomen.
Celebrate Santa Fe's Empowering Women Year-Round
This is just a glimpse—Santa Fe honors its women's achievements beyond Women's History Month. Like Adam enriched by Eve, your visit to the City Different will be transformed by discovering these inspiring figures.
