Rooted in Fire: A Celebration of Native American and Mexican Cooking – A Vibrant Indigenous Cookbook with Sixty Fusion Recipes from the Next Level Chef Winner

Pyet DeSpain, winner of Gordon Ramsay's Fox television show Next Level Chef, presents her debut cookbook celebrating her Mexican and Native American heritage. Rooted in Fire features over sixty fusion recipes that blend traditional Indigenous and Mexican American cuisines, incorporating ingredients such as venison, dandelion greens, sunchokes, bison, and native berries. The cookbook includes recipes like Three Sisters Salad, Bison and Sweet Corn Soup, Fry Bread, Mexican Chocolate & Mezcal Cake, Corn Silk and Honey Tea, and Wojapi BBQ Sauce. DeSpain combines sweet and savory dishes while exploring the stories, traditions, and philosophies of Indigenous foodways. Beyond recipes, the book invites home cooks to honor the seasons and connect with traditional food practices. DeSpain describes the work as giving voice to Indigenous people while highlighting the fusion of her two cultures.