Author Talk – Fire, Passion, and Heritage: Native American and Mexican Cooking with Chef Pyet DeSpain

Fire, Passion, and Heritage: Native American and Mexican Cooking with Chef Pyet DeSpain Next Level Chef Winner and Creator of Indigenous Fusion Cuisine Thursday, November 12, 2026 at 2 PM See More and Register Prepare your palate for a vibrant culinary journey with star chef Pyet DeSpain, the inaugural winner of Gordon Ramsay’s hit television competition Next Level Chef, as she presents her debut cookbook, Rooted in Fire: A Celebration of Native American and Mexican Cooking. Pyet shows you how to incorporate a delicious range of key ingredients—from venison and dandelion greens to sunchokes, bison, and native berries—into more than 60 fusion dishes. Family and friends will be excited to gather around the table to enjoy sweet and savory food such as: Three Sisters Salad Bison and Sweet Corn Soup Fry Bread Mexican Chocolate & Mezcal Cake Corn Silk and Honey Tea Wojapi BBQ Sauce Join us LIVE for a chance to win a copy of Rooted in Fire! The giveaway link will be in the Resources area under the broadcast screen during the live event. About the Author: Pyet—short for her inherited Native American name, Pyetwetmokwe—is a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and an award-winning global private chef. She made history as the first winner of Gordon Ramsay’s Next Level Chef and was named one of Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top 25 Private Chefs in Los Angeles. Her work is centered on uplifting Indigenous foodways within the culinary industry while advocating for a more sustainable and sovereign food system for Indigenous peoples. Brought to you in partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium. Sponsored by a generous donation from the Pennington First Aid Squad.