- Details
- By Native News Online Staff
Potawatomi and Mexican-American Chef Stephanie “Pyet” Despain won the "Next Level Chef" competition on Wednesday night's season finale on FOX television. The 30-year-old private chef is a tribal citizen of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation.
Pyet, who specializes in Indigenous fusion food that melds both sides of her background, earned the grand prize of $250,000 and a yearlong mentorship with celebrity chef hosts Gordon Ramsay, Nyesha Arrington, and Richard Blais.
Native News Online editor Levi Rickert interviewed Pyet live on Native News Online's Facebook page on Friday, March 4 at 12 noon - EST.
Her appearance on the show helped shine a light on Indigenous cuisine and provided a boost to Despain's e-commerce business, where she sells products that play key roles in her brand of Indigenous fusion cuisine. That includes Wojapi, a traditional Native American berry sauce, which she used in winning the show’s burger challenge.
More Stories Like This
Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. BriefsUS Presidents in Their Own Words Concerning American Indians
Sandy White Hawk Remembers Alex Pretti, the VA Nurse Who “Understood” Her
Medal of Honor Recipient and Chickasaw Citizen Honored
Navajo Nation Council Opens 2026 Winter Session With Recognitions and Public Awareness Events
Help us defend tribal sovereignty.
At Native News Online, our mission is rooted in telling the stories that strengthen sovereignty and uplift Indigenous voices — not just at year’s end, but every single day.
Because of your generosity last year, we were able to keep our reporters on the ground in tribal communities, at national gatherings and in the halls of Congress — covering the issues that matter most to Indian Country: sovereignty, culture, education, health and economic opportunity.
That support sustained us through a tough year in 2025. Now, as we look to the year ahead, we need your help right now to ensure warrior journalism remains strong — reporting that defends tribal sovereignty, amplifies Native truth, and holds power accountable.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Your support keeps Native voices heard, Native stories told and Native sovereignty defended.
Stand with Warrior Journalism today.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher
