Editor’s Note: This interview is part of an ongoing Star series highlighting Kansas Citians from historically underrepresented communities and their impact on our region. The series builds on The Star’s efforts to improve coverage of local communities. Do you know someone we should interview? Share ideas with our reporter J.M. Banks.
Kansas City native, Pyet DeSpain grew up with food at the center of many cultural festivities. These experiences instilled a passion that she turned into a mission to put Indigenous cuisine at the forefront of American kitchens.
As a chef, author and host of the new PBS TV show, Spirit Plate, she fuses traditional Native American ingredients, like wojapi sauce (made with berries), with contemporary culinary techniques, to create dishes that honor heritage while inviting home cooks to connect with her roots…