Pyet in the Press

Chef Pyet Despain celebrated Native American Heritage Month with a Barnes and Noble social media takeover, where she spotlighted influential Indigenous cookbooks and shared the inspiration behind her debut cookbook Rooted In Fire.

Chef Pyet DeSpain joins WFLA’s Daytime to talk about her name, her Indigenous and Mexican heritage, and the story behind the Three Sisters recipe from Rooted in Fire.

Rooted in Fire by Chef Pyet DeSpain has been honored as one of Amazon’s Best Books of the Year (2025). The announcement aired on CBS Mornings and includes a five-story billboard in New York City, recognizing Pyet’s celebration of Indigenous Fusion Cuisine and storytelling through food.

I had such a wonderful time meeting with the team at Indian Country Today to talk about my new cookbook, Rooted in Fire . It was an honor to sit down with a Native-led news organization that has spent years uplifting our voices and sharing our stories with the world. We talked about what this book means to me, how it celebrates both my Native and Mexican roots and the journey that brought me here. I shared stories about the recipes that shaped me, from my family’s taquerias i

Chef Pyet DeSpain travels to Oʻahu to join Chef Kealoha Domingo in preparing a 400-pound pig in an underground imu oven and learning about the sacred taro root that sustains Hawaiian culture. Together, they share a feast that honors food, family, and gratitude.

In the premiere episode of Spirit Plate on PBS Food, Chef Pyet DeSpain returns home to the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation to prepare a sacred bison stew feast, reflecting on love, community, and the strength of her roots.

Pyet DeSpain invites her community to join her October 29th at 5 PM PST for a live TalkShopLive event celebrating Rooted in Fire, her debut cookbook honoring Native American and Mexican traditions. Signed copies ship November 18, 2025.

I’m so excited to share that my cookbook Rooted in Fire: A Celebration of Native American and Mexican Cooking was recently highlighted...

Publishers Weekly has highlighted Rooted in Fire in its feature on new Indigenous cookbooks this season. Chef Pyet DeSpain shares how her debut book draws from her Native American and Mexican roots, weaving family traditions into recipes that honor heritage, healing, and authenticity.

In a powerful conversation on Your Mama’s Kitchen, Chef Pyet DeSpain shares how her Native American and Mexican heritage guided her journey to winning Next Level Chef. She reflects on childhood memories, challenges stereotypes about Indigenous cuisine, and shares a special tamale recipe inspired by her roots.

Chef Pyet DeSpain, featured on The Today Show, shares the deep cultural meaning of the “Three Sisters” — corn, beans, and squash — and how they represent strength, resilience, and community within Indigenous foodways.

Chef Pyet DeSpain brings a first-of-its-kind Indigenous and Mexican fusion menu to Downtown LA, spotlighting the richness of Native foodways beyond the usual fry bread. Her cooking tells a deeper story—one rooted in heritage, identity, and healing.

Chef Pyet DeSpain makes history as the first Indigenous chef to lead a residency at Abernethy’s in Downtown LA, offering a powerful blend of Native American and Mexican cuisine through spring 2025.

Chef Pyet enters Food Network’s Tournament of Champions Season 6 not just as a competitor, but as a proud representative of Indigenous chefs and foodways. This moment is bigger than one plate—it’s for the entire community.

LA Weekly spotlighted my Indigenous Fusion pop-up at Red Room, calling attention to the deep roots and bold flavors behind Pyet’s Plate — and I couldn’t be more grateful.

Winning Season 1 of Next Level Chef was more than just a title—it was a turning point in my life. The struggles that once defined my daily routine are now part of the story I carry with me to uplift others. From scraping together gas money to walking on the set of Gordon Ramsay’s show, I’ve lived both ends of the spectrum—and I carry that gratitude into every dish I create.

Chef Pyet DeSpain brings her Indigenous Fusion cuisine to The Rachael Ray Show, sharing a heartfelt and flavorful recipe for Bison Empanadas with sweet potato. Watch her cook alongside Richard Blais and learn how to make this soulful dish at home.

In her feature for the Passion Series by Mark Mendoza, Private Chef Pyet Despain shares how cooking is more than a career—it’s a path to wholeness. Blending her Indigenous and Mexican heritage, Pyet finds purpose in every meal she creates and joy in sharing that experience with others.

Chef Pyet’s heart is in the kitchen, but her impact reaches far beyond it. In her recent feature with VoyageLA Magazine, Pyet shares how she fuses her Native American and Mexican heritage into unforgettable dishes—and how a single jar of Wojapi is helping her pass on a taste of tradition to tables across the country.

Chef Pyet DeSpain in rank #7 in the top private chefs of Los Angeles in LA Entrepreneur Magazine.