Description: In her debut cookbook, author Pyet DeSpain shares recipes that are a tribute to her dual Native American and Mexican heritage.
Brief description:
Pyet (an abbreviation of her inherited Native American name Pyetwetmokwe) is a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Tribe, an award winning and global private chef, and the first winner of Gordon Ramsay's groundbreaking cooking competition series, Next Level Chef. In 2021, Entrepreneur Magazine named her one of the Top 25 best private chefs in Los Angeles. Her life's work is dedicated to Indigenous Fusion Cuisine, where she combines the food of her heritage, both Native American and Mexican. Pyet's passion is to uplift Indigenous culture and traditions via storytelling, traveling, and cooking. Originally from the Osage Indian Reservation and Kansas City, Kansas, she now resides in Los Angeles.
Review Quotes:
"Pyet's talent is evident in every recipe in this book. The way she weaves her heritage into her dishes is extraordinary and I've seen it every day since the first time I tasted her work on Next Level Chef. Trust me, you're in for an absolute treat." - Gordon Ramsay
Pyet's Rooted in Fire beautifully honors her Prairie Band of Potawatomi and Mexican heritage through food storytelling that is both personal and powerful. Her voice is heartfelt, her vision and dedication are clear, and her talent within the Indigenous food movement is undeniable. I'm so proud to see her shining as a modern-day Indigenous food warrior--this book marks an important chapter in her growing legacy." - Sean Sherman, Founder of The Sioux Chef/NATIFS.org and Author of The Sioux Chef's Indigenous Kitchen and Turtle Island
"A chapter on soups and stews is particularly decadent and will be welcome on a cold winter night. DeSpain provides a variety of cultural education for home chefs to explore, including history, recipe origins, and a Potawatomi language pronunciation guide, adding to the richness of her narrative. Both a welcome entry point to explore Indigenous cooking and an enjoyable, loving voyage through DeSpain's culinary history and family." -- Sarah Tansley, Booklist - Booklist
"A valuable resource for home cooks looking to learn more about Indigenous foodways." - Publishers Weekly