Jane Butel

Jane Butel’s Brief Biography

Jane Butel, an internationally recognized authority on the regional cooking of the American Southwest has just completed a contract with Turner Publishing to publish her newest book, “Jane Butel’s Simply Southwestern” November 22, 2016. This will be her 23rd cookbook.

Turner also contracted to republish 8 of her previous cookbooks, several of which have been best sellers. “Jane Butel’s Southwestern Kitchen”, will be the first to be published and is due October 4, 2016.

Following is the schedule for the re-publication of the 7 other cookbooks she has written: “Jane Butel’s Tex-Mex Cookbook” is due December 13, 2016

“Jane Butel’s Finger Lickin’…Barbecue” is due April 4, 2017

“Jane Butel’s Freezer Cookbook” is due August 8, 2017

“Jane Butel’s Quick & Easy Southwestern” is due December 5, 2017

“Jane Butel’s Fiesta Cookbook” is due April 3, 2018

“Jane Butel’s Hotter Than Hell Cookbook” is due August 7, 2018

“Jane Butel;s Chili Madness” is due December 4, 2018

Ms. Butel’s interest in Southwestern cooking predates its current widespread popularity by decades. She was the first to write about the cooking style that evolved in the Southwestern border area, and is credited with starting our nation’s love affair with this cuisine She continues to wow audiences, recently attracting the largest audience ever for a culinary event at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C for a culinary event.

Her background includes executive positions at American Express, General Electric, Con Edison and Public Service Company of New Mexico. At American Express, she was the first female corporate vice president, Vice President of Corporate Consumer Affairs and Marketing. Though successful in the corporate environment, she wanted both more control over her efforts and more satisfaction from them.

In 1983, she founded the Jane Butel School of Cooking in Santa Fe, relocating to Albuquerque in 1993, which was recognized by Bon Appétit magazine as one of the best vacation cooking schools in the world. Gayot.com recognized her Scottsdale school as the “best in the US”. She also created Jane Butel’s Pecos Valley Spice Company, a trusted source of the pure, fresh ingredients critical for authentic Southwestern fare. Her expertise has put her in high demand as a consultant, and she has worked with companies like Del Taco, El Torrito, Zona Rosa and Luxury Hotels.

Ms. Butel is listed in Who’s Who in American Women, Outstanding Young Women, Platinum Who’s Who and the World Who’s Who. She was a member of the New York City chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier and the International Association of Culinary Professionals among others. She currently is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Goodwill Industries of New Mexico.

Kansas State University’s Hale Library selected her work in 2012 to be featured in their permanent collection of outstanding alumni. She is only the third woman so recognized since the program began in 1908.