Award-winning chef Pyet DeSpain will discuss and sign her debut cookbook “Rooted in Fire: A Celebration of Native American and Mexican Cooking” in conversation with Claudia Serrato at Vroman’s Bookstore on Tuesday, November 18 at 7 p.m.
The free event takes place at the historic bookstore in Pasadena.
DeSpain, an enrolled member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation with Mexican heritage, became a household name in 2022 when she won the first season of Gordon Ramsay’s “Next Level Chef” on Fox, taking home $250,000.
Her victory marked a significant moment for Indigenous representation in mainstream cooking competitions.
The 288-page cookbook, published by HarperOne, features more than 60 fusion recipes combining Native American and Mexican culinary traditions.
Recipes include Three Sisters Salad, Bison and Sweet Corn Soup, Fry Bread, and Mexican Chocolate & Mezcal Cake.
“This is more than just a cookbook,” DeSpain writes.
“It’s giving a voice to Indigenous people, while also highlighting the fusion of my two cultures with fire and purpose.”
DeSpain’s journey to culinary success was hard-won.
After experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles, she launched her personal chef business, Pyet’s Plate, in 2015.
Since her “Next Level Chef” victory, she has competed in Food Network’s “Tournament of Champions” and appears in “Spirit Plate,” a PBS series.
Claudia Serrato, an Indigenous culinary anthropologist and professor, earned her PhD from the University of Washington.
She co-founded Across Our Kitchen Tables, a women of color culinary hub.
The cookbook retails for $34.99, with signed copies available for pre-order at Vroman’s.
Pyet DeSpain, in conversation with Dr. Claudia Serrato, discusses and signs Rooted in Fire: A Celebration of Native American and Mexican Cooking will run on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. Vroman’s Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. For more information, call (626) 449-5320 or visit https://vromansbookstore.com/event/2025-11-18/pyet-despain. Ticket prices: Free.
