The Splendid Table: Conversations & Recipes For Curious Cooks & Eaters 841: Celebrating 30 Years: Live from St. Paul!
Jan 16, 2026
Sean Sherman, an Oglala Lakota Sioux chef, shares his journey connecting communities to indigenous food and the significance of true wild rice. Jamal Hashi, a Somali-American chef, talks about blending Somali flavors into local dishes and the role of hospitality in Somali culture. Karin Tomlinson, a James Beard Award-winning chef, highlights her farm-focused culinary approach and the importance of local sourcing. Diane Mua discusses her Hmong heritage, family farming, and the cultural pride in her dishes, merging traditional and contemporary techniques.
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Food Tells Place-Based Stories
- The Twin Cities food scene reveals stories of community, migration, and place through meals.
- Francis Lam frames local chefs as translators of culture and regional ingredients.
Plants Carry Cultural Knowledge
- Sean Sherman credits many elders and seed keepers for rebuilding Indigenous food knowledge.
- He frames plant knowledge and seed stories as carriers of culture and community networks.
Buy And Protect True Wild Rice
- Intentionally source true Minnesota wild rice from Indigenous producers when possible.
- Protect wild rice waters by directing food dollars and awareness toward local harvesters.
