In this guest episode from Loading Dock Talks with Chef Preeti Mistry, 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.

Listen to more Loading Dock Talks here or wherever you get your podcasts.

More about the Copper & Heat Radio brand refresh:

Many of you know us as Copper & Heat (the newly dubbed Copper & Heat Radio) which explores the forces that shape our meals through narrative, sound-rich podcasts.

Copper & Heat Creative is an expansion of our award-winning storytelling. As a production studio, we focus on helping brands engage food-curious audiences with unique and thoughtful content. Over the past few years, we have done work we are really proud of with some amazing brands on projects ranging from podcast production to social media strategy and in-person event activation.

At the heart of all of our work is our belief that food is a conversation. We tell stories that, like the best meals, challenge preconceived notions and delve into the forces that shape them.

You can learn more about all of our work on our newly refreshed website: Copperandheat.com