Regenerating the Sahel and Rediscovering Forgotten Foods with Chef Pierre Thiam, Regenerative by Design Podcast, S1 E5
S1 E5
Host: Joni Kindwall-Moore
Guest: Pierre Thiam
From the deserts of the Sahel to the kitchens of NYC, this podcast with Chef Pierre Thiam will have you on the edge of your seat and a smile on your face as he shares his story and infectious passion for positively impacting food, people, and the planet. Chef Pierre is a world-renowned Chef and founder of Yolélé Foods, a brand that brings us the bold flavors of West Africa and the nutritious superfood, ancient grain Fonio.
What You'll Learn In This Episode:
In this episode, Chef Pierre Thiam takes us on a journey from a boy growing up in coastal Senegal dreaming of becoming a scientist to a young man, who finds himself in downtown Manhattan in the early 90’s. As his story unfolds, we see how sometimes “the fates” have a way of putting us on a path that is very different from what we had envisioned.
Chef Pierre’s story is fascinating and he shares how these experiences shaped his worldview today. He is now a restaurateur and co-founder of Yolélé Foods, a food brand that brings us the flavors of West Africa and the superfood grain Fonio. We learn how this ancient, superfood grain has been overlooked and almost even forgotten in the urban areas of West Africa following the adoption of French-influenced, colonial food systems. Chef Pierre explains the cultural significance of Fonio as well as its incredible nutritional profile and agricultural impact potential. Fonio is called the "seed of the universe" by the Dogon people of Mali; try it and you will see why!
Building a new category involves developing all the parts in the middle (harvesting and processing) for this new ingredient to scale. Chef Pierre describes the leading-edge innovation and advancements in manufacturing that he and his team have made to bring this new grain to global markets. These advancements are a "big deal" in the world of climate-impact small cereals and nutrition. His brand Yolélé Foods is making a big impact on the global palate and awareness about climate-impact, superfood grains.
Pierre tells us about his upbringing and how he was raised with the understanding of regeneration. This included a culture of eating seasonally and understanding how crops need to be planted together to help each other grow and to combat the advancement of the Sahara desert. He invites us to think about our food in a new way.
Join us on this heartfelt recording that will have you on the edge of your seat hearing about those early days in the kitchens of NYC to his explorations of the rural deserts of the Sahel. You will feel Pierre’s sincere passion for impacting the people and the land of his youth.
Join us on this heartfelt recording that will have you on the edge of your seat hearing about those early days in the kitchens of NYC to his explorations of the rural deserts of the Sahel. You will feel Pierre’s sincere passion for impacting the people and the land of his youth.
Learn more about Yolélé Foods:
https://www.instagram.com/yolelefoods/?hl=en
Learn more about Chef Pierre:
https://twitter.com/chefpierrethiam
TED Talk with Chef Pierre:
Call to Action: If this conversation inspired you, consider diving deeper into the principles of regenerative agriculture to see how you might apply them to your farming practices or support local farmers who do. Share this episode with friends and colleagues who are passionate about sustainable agriculture and the future of food.
Rate and Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to your preferred Podcast Platform to rate and review the show. Your feedback helps us grow our audience and reach more listeners like you who are passionate about sustainable agriculture and innovation in food systems.
Join Us Next Time: Tune in next week for another fascinating discussion on "Regenerative by Design," where we will explore innovative solutions to combat climate change through agricultural practices. Don't miss it!
Regenerative by Design is hosted by Snacktivist Inc. Snacktivist creates baking mixes and finished products that are allergy-friendly, soil, water, and carbon-focused, all while radically impacting human nutrition by transforming staple foods into something more than just empty calories. Visit snacktivistfoods.com to learn more.
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