Curated Cuisine: James Beard Award-winning chef Sean Sherman on reclaiming Indigenous foods and traditions
Curated Cuisine presents James Beard Award–winning chef Sean Sherman in conversation about reclaiming Indigenous foods, culinary practices, and traditions. Sherman, a leading voice in the Indigenous food movement, will discuss Indigenous foodways, food sovereignty, and the lasting connections among culture, community, and the land. He will be joined by Tamika Francis, founder of Food & Folklore.
The program is part of WBUR CitySpace’s monthly Curated Cuisine series, which explores the people shaping the food industry, from chefs to food writers. After the conversation, guests can sample Deseronto potato beans, roasted mushrooms, and purslane inspired by Sherman’s cookbook, *Turtle Island: Foods and Traditions of the Indigenous Peoples of North America*.
When: Monday, November 16, 2026
Showtimes: The event begins at 6:30 p.m.; doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Venue: WBUR CitySpace, 890 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215
Program: Sean Sherman will speak with Tamika Francis about Indigenous culinary traditions, food sovereignty, and the relationship between food, culture, community, and the land.
About Sean Sherman: Raised on South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Reservation, Sherman grew up understanding the depth of his people’s food heritage and connection to place. After working in restaurants centered largely on European cuisines, he became aware of the limited understanding of Native American foodways and began studying how Indigenous communities have preserved and developed their cuisines over generations. He now works to celebrate and reclaim those traditions across North America.
Featured Book: In *Turtle Island*, Sherman examines the diverse culinary landscapes of North America through recipes, historical context, and stories about the ingredients, communities, and traditions behind the food. The book encourages seasonal eating, nose-to-tail use of meat and fish, plant-forward cooking, and a closer relationship with the natural world. It includes recipes such as smoked bison ribeye, wild-rice-crusted walleye cakes, charred rainbow trout with grilled ramps, sweet potato soup with dried venison and chile oil, sunflower seed “risotto,” and sweet corn pudding with woodland berry sauce.
Food: Guests will receive a post-conversation bite featuring Deseronto potato beans, roasted mushrooms, and purslane. The book’s discussion of Indigenous foodways also highlights the people who grow, gather, prepare, and share these foods, along with stories of adaptation and resilience.
Books: Copies of *Turtle Island* will be available for purchase through bookstore partner Brookline Booksmith, and Sherman will sign copies.
Tickets: Premier tickets are $30 and include reserved seating in the front of the theater. General admission is $20. BU faculty and staff tickets are $15 with valid BU identification required upon arrival. Student tickets are $10 with valid student identification required upon arrival.
Member Discount: WBUR Legacy Circle, Murrow Society, Sustainer, and Member patrons can save $5 on tickets by entering a promotional code during online checkout. The code is available by emailing membership@wbur.org.
Run Time: Not provided.
Accessibility: The page does not provide specific accessibility information.
Note: Registrants may be contacted by CitySpace about this event or future events.