In this episode, Chef Preeti talks with Chef Debra VanTrece about her recipe for Baby Back Ribs with Sweet Tea BBQ Sauce. Chef Deborah shares her family's rich barbecue traditions and roots in Kansas City and how they influenced the development of her rib recipe (including the potentially controversial addition of sweet tea). Deborah recounts her pivot from a flight attendant to a chef and the prevalence of racism and sexism as she worked her way up in catering. They delve into the meaning of soul food and the importance of blending global inspirations into cooking, specifically in a world where "fusion" is used frequently.

More about them:

Deborah's Website

Deborah's Instagram

Her Restaurants: Oreatha's at the Point | Twisted Soul Cookhouse and Pours

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In this episode, Preeti talks with Chefs Norma Listman and Saqib Keval, the duo behind Masala y Maíz and Marigold in Mexico City. The chefs share their unique culinary backgrounds and the melding of their heritages — Mexican, South Asian, and East African — into their cuisine. They discuss the process behind their lamb barbacoa recipe, a melding of Norma's Mexican family tradition with Saqib's South Asian flavors and spices. The discussion also explores the significance of maintaining cultural integrity while innovating with traditional recipes, avoiding the pitfalls of fusion for the sake of novelty. They also discuss the broader responsibilities of chefs in society, touching on labor rights in the restaurant industry, creating a supportive work culture, and the importance of political engagement through food.

More about them:

Norma's Website

Saqib's Website

Their restaurants Masala y Maiz | Marigold

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In this episode, Preeti engages in a flavorful discussion with British Jamaican chef, food journalist, and friend, Jacqui Sinclair, also known as the Juicy Chef. They first discuss the recipe Jacqui shared with them, which is Lorna's Cottage Pie, originally made by Jacqui's mother. The recipe is a combination of Jamaican flavors with the British classic. Jumping off from there they delve into the history of Jamaica and the influence its colonial past has had on its cuisine. Jacqui shares personal stories, including growing up black in Brighton, England, her family's influence on her cooking and love for Jamaican cuisine, her professional journey from diplomacy to culinary arts, and the creation of Nyam and Trod, a food and travel movement emphasizing Caribbean flavors. The episode also touches on Jacqui's role in promoting Jamaican food culture through Kingston Kitchen and addresses broader themes like the impact of colonialism on food, global culinary influences, and the importance of cultural preservation and representation in the culinary world.

For more from Jacqui:

Her Instagram

Her YouTube Channel

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In this episode, Preeti dives into the heart of food's nostalgic power with guest Telly Justice, chef and owner of HAGS in New York City. The conversation centers around Telly's family's old-fashioned cream pie recipe—a simple, yet emotionally charged dish that ties back to her German-American heritage and childhood memories. Telly's journey from a non-culinary family background to receiving the 2023 New York Young Chef Award by Michelin highlights the melange of personal and professional experiences shaping her approach to food. Through the lens of queerness and community, Telly and Preeti explore how food serves not just as sustenance, but as a medium for self-expression, healing, and connection. They touch upon the challenges and joys of operating a queer-inclusive restaurant that aims to celebrate identity and belonging, all while navigating the competitive landscape of New York City's culinary scene.

For more from Telly:

• More about HAGS
• HAGS Instagram

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In this episode of Loading Dock Talks, Chef Preeti Mistry hosts Fernay McPherson, the chef-owner of Minnie Bell's Soul Movement, a fast, casual fried chicken restaurant in Emeryville, California, and soon to be in the Fillmore District of San Francisco. Fernay shares her journey starting Minnie Bell's in the historic Fillmore district, a place she aims to honor and return to with her business in early 2024. Fernay McPherson discusses her involvement with La Cocina and the support she received in starting her own business. She emphasizes the importance of building relationships with other women chefs and the sense of community that comes with it. Fernay also talks about the alternative paths in the restaurant industry and the shift towards a more welcoming environment.

For more from Fernay:

• Her restaurant
• Minnie Bell's Instagram

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In this episode Chef Preeti interviews Leah Scurto, owner of Pizza Leah in Sonoma County, who shares her journey growing up in restaurants and her love for the craft of pizza making. Leah shares her mother Viola's picadillo recipe that she grew up eating, and the stories behind the beloved family dish. The pair also discuss the importance of intentionality in making a great pizza. During the conversation, Leah reveals some pizza-making secrets, her favorite pizza to try, and shares how her expertise in making good pizza dough has contributed much to her success.

For more from Leah:

• Her restaurant
• Her Instagram

Subscribe to Preeti's Substack to get behind-the-scenes content, to cook the recipes, and to get extended versions of the interviews.

In this episode, Hetal tells Preeti about her family recipe for seero, a sweet semolina pudding made with ghee and toasted nuts. Through the recipe, how she grew up learning to cook and garden with her family while living in a house with a constant rotation of family members immigrating from Gujrat. Hetal also shares her opinions on authenticity in cooking and her complicated relationship to the term "chef" after winning the Masterchef reality show. 

For more from Hetal: 

• Her website
• Her book
• Her Instagram

Subscribe to Preeti's Substack to get behind-the-scenes content, to cook the recipes, and to get extended versions of the interviews. 

In this episode, Chef Rahanna Bisseret Martinez shares more about her family recipe for Shrimp & Grits, one that she made for 40 people at a staff meal while interning at the age of 16. The conversation dives into Rahanna's thoughts on the role of family recipes in her cooking and the transition from home cooking to fine dining. She also shares her thoughts on the role of a chef in society and the importance of representation in the kitchen. Throughout the conversation, she reflects on her experiences as a young chef and the impact of being a young black woman in the kitchen. 

For more from Rahanna: 

Her Instagram

Her book, Flavor + Us

Subscribe to Preeti's Substack to get behind-the-scenes content, to cook the recipes, and to get extended versions of the interviews.