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Pyet DeSpain

Award-Winning Indigenous & Mexican Chef, First Winner of Next Level Chef

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Pyet DeSpain is a global private chef, culinary educator, and cultural advocate specializing in Indigenous Fusion Cuisine, blending the flavors and traditions of her Prairie Band Potawatomi and Mexican heritage with a modern, elevated approach.

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Meet Pyet DeSpain

Pyet DeSpain, short for her inherited Native name Pyetwetmokwe, is a proud member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation and a culinary artist whose dishes are as much about story and heritage as they are about flavor. The first-ever winner of Gordon Ramsay’s Next Level Chef and one of Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top 25 Private Chefs in Los Angeles, Pyet specializes in Indigenous Fusion Cuisine and is actively redefining what it means to bring Indigenous and Mexican cuisine to the modern table. She is also well-known for her fireside chats, cultural workshops, and immersive cooking experiences. Pyet DeSpain is available to be booked for corporate and private events. Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group today to inquire about Pyet DeSpain’s fees.

Want to book Pyet DeSpain for an event?

Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group at (215) 995-0905 to book Pyet DeSpain for corporate or private events, keynote speeches, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances. Our agency will work directly with your organization and our keynote speakers to create an unforgettable event.

The Mollie Plotkin Group is the leading keynote speakers agency and entertainment bureau bringing excitement to audiences, clients, and employees. We represent subject-matter experts in every possible field, so whether we’re your partner in creating a memorable meeting, or your meeting planner’s secret weapon in securing the perfect keynote speaker, we’re in this with you.

Biography

Rooted in Heritage

Raised between the Osage Indian Reservation and Kansas City, Kansas, Pyet grew up surrounded by the flavors, aromas, and storytelling traditions of both her Native American and Mexican heritage. Her earliest memories come from her family’s taquerias, where food was more than a meal; it was an expression of love, history, and community. Her dual heritage became the foundation of her identity and long-term purpose as a chef.

After earning a culinary degree and a certification in Wellness & Nutrition, she launched Pyet’s Plate in 2015, a culinary business devoted to whole foods, Indigenous ingredients, and the healing power of traditional cooking.

A Force in the Culinary World

Pyet gained national recognition when she won the inaugural season of FOX’s Next Level Chef, mentored by Gordon Ramsay, Nyesha Arrington, and Richard Blais. Her dishes, infused with traditional ingredients like wojapi (sweet berry sauce) and bison, earned praise for their depth of flavor and cultural significance. She has since competed on Food Network’s Tournament of Champions, bringing her heritage and skills to the global culinary stage.

Her work has been featured in Entrepreneur Magazine, where she was named one of Los Angeles’ top private chefs. She has also spoken on platforms like TEDx, where her talk, “Reclaiming Identity Through Food,” explored the intersection of cuisine, heritage, and healing.

Cooking with Purpose

Every plate Pyet creates is an invitation to reconnect with the land, to embrace seasonal eating, and to celebrate the rich culinary traditions of Indigenous and Mexican foodways. Her mission extends beyond the kitchen: she advocates for food sovereignty, ancestral knowledge, and cultural preservation.

In November 2025, she will release her debut cookbook, Rooted in Fire (HarperOne/HarperCollins), a blend of memoir, recipes, and ceremony organized around Indigenous philosophy. Complete with seasonal menus, cultural teachings, and QR codes linking to oral storytelling, the book is a celebration of flavor, heritage, and connection.

How to Hire Pyet DeSpain

To hire Pyet DeSpain for an event, contact the Mollie Plotkin Group with the proposed event date, location, audience size, event format, and program goals. Pyet DeSpain is available for corporate events, conferences, leadership meetings, private events, workshops, fireside chats, and virtual programs.

After receiving your request, a Mollie Plotkin Group booking agent will review Pyet DeSpain’s availability, discuss the event details, and get back to you within 48 hours with next steps for securing Pyet DeSpain for your program.

Pyet DeSpain Booking Fee

The cost to book Pyet DeSpain depends on the event date, location, format, audience size, and scope of the appearance. Speaking fees may vary for keynote speeches, workshops, fireside chats, private events, corporate meetings, and virtual programs.

For the most accurate Pyet DeSpain booking fee, contact the Mollie Plotkin Group with your event details. Our team will help confirm availability, pricing, and the best format for your event.

Speaking Topics & Programs

Chef Pyet offers immersive culinary experiences that celebrate Indigenous and Mexican food traditions, from intimate dinners and cooking demonstrations to dynamic workshops and fireside chats. With any of the offerings noted below, Pyet is also available for cookbook signings with attendees following her primary engagement. Schedule a Zoom call with Pyet and an MPG team member to begin tailoring her appearance to your event.

A Fireside Chat with Chef Pyet DeSpain

An intimate conversation that blends culinary storytelling, cultural heritage, and the behind-the-scenes journey of an award-winning chef.

In this dynamic fireside chat format, audiences have the rare opportunity to sit down with Pyet for a guided discussion that weaves together her personal history, creative process, and vision for the future of Indigenous Fusion Cuisine. Drawing from her experiences as the first winner of Gordon Ramsay’s Next Level Chef, a proud member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, and an advocate for food sovereignty, Pyet shares candid insights and inspiring stories that bring her work—and her new cookbook Rooted in Fire—to life.

Potential Discussion Themes:

Behind the Cookbook: Get a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process of writing her debut cookbook, including the most challenging recipes to develop and why. Pyet also shares the inspiration behind integrating QR codes, educational videos, and storytelling elements into the book.
Heritage & Identity: Explore how Pyet’s upbringing between the Osage Reservation and Kansas City shaped her understanding of food, culture, and belonging. She shares what it means to be a “fire keeper” and how she blends Native American and Mexican traditions into a modern culinary voice.
Culinary Legacy: Learn how the teachings of her grandmothers, Barbara and Shirley, influence everything from her ingredient choices to the way she welcomes guests to the table. Pyet reflects on rediscovering traditional Indigenous techniques and honoring her ancestors through food.
Representation & Advocacy: Discuss how Rooted in Fire adds to the conversation around food sovereignty and healing generational trauma. Pyet speaks about the importance of visibility for Indigenous chefs and making Native American cuisine accessible to a wider audience.
Food & Spirituality: Understand the cultural and spiritual practices that guide Pyet’s cooking, including the significance of offering a Spirit Plate. She explains how the Medicine Wheel shaped the structure of her book and which recipes carry the strongest ancestral connection.

This conversational style works especially well for conferences, culinary festivals, corporate cultural programs, and more, offering audiences the chance to engage directly with Pyet through moderated Q&A and open audience questions.

Cooking Classes & Live Demonstrations

Take your skills to the next level or just have fun in the kitchen! Whether you’re a home cook wanting to sharpen your skills or looking to host a unique and interactive experience, Chef Pyet offers both online and in-person cooking classes and demonstrations tailored to your needs. Choose a foundational skills class or dive into advanced, indulgent dishes rooted in ancestral knowledge and seasonal ingredients. Learn the techniques behind traditional ingredients, explore seasonal recipes, and enjoy a flavorful journey that nourishes both body and spirit.

Options Include:

Basic Cooking Skills Workshops
Advanced Indigenous-Inspired Classes
Private or Group Demonstrations
Online & In-Person Availability

Private Events

Add flare and flavor to your next dinner party or event.

From elegant dinner parties to cozy brunches and corporate celebrations, Pyet’s Plate offers private chef and full-service catering designed to impress and inspire. Chef Pyet blends the flavors of her Prairie Band Potawatomi and Mexican heritage to create custom menus rooted in Indigenous Fusion Cuisine—where ancestral ingredients meet modern creativity.

Available Services:

Intimate Dinner Parties
Elevated Brunches
Corporate Events
Seasonal Menus & Cultural Tastings

Let Pyet help you create an unforgettable culinary experience filled with culture, connection, and bold flavors.

Keynote Speaking & Workshops

Food is medicine. Storytelling is power.

Chef Pyet is a passionate advocate for cultural preservation, food sovereignty, and wellness through ancestral nutrition. She offers keynote speeches, consulting, and educational workshops for conferences, schools, wellness retreats, and community events that help audiences reconnect with food as a form of identity, wellness, and activism.

Topics Include:

How to “Indigify” Your Plate
Understanding Indigenous Food Systems
The Cultural Significance of Our Plant Relatives
Wellness and Healing Through Ancestral Foods

Let Pyet inspire your audience through story, history, and the transformational power of food.

Books

Rooted in Fire: A Celebration of Native American and Mexican Cooking

Next Level Chef winner Pyet De Spain celebrates her Mexican and Native American heritage in this collection of mouthwatering recipes, a vibrant fusion that ties us to the land and to one another.

Star chef Pyet DeSpain rose to prominence as the first winner of Gordon Ramsey’s Fox television show Next Level Chef. Now, in her debut cookbook, she shares the joy of cooking fueled by her burning passion for Native American and Mexican American cuisine. Rooted in Fire: A Celebration of Native American and Mexican Cooking is a tribute to her dual heritage—a gorgeously crafted celebration of the diversity of food and the stories, traditions, culture, and profound philosophies of Indigenous people that season each meal.

Pyet shows you how to incorporate a delicious range of key ingredients—from venison, dandelion greens, to sunchokes, bison, and native berries—into more than sixty 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

In addition to her inventive and palate pleasing recipes, Pyet invites home cooks to honor the seasons on our beautiful Earth and connect with essential foodways. “This is more than just a cookbook,” Pyet writes. “It’s giving a voice to Indigenous people, while also highlighting the fusion of my two cultures with fire and purpose.”

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