Loading Dock Talks with Chef Preeti Mistry Copper & Heat, Preeti Mistry

Preeti and Devita talk about growing up in an empowering black space, why she founded FoodLab Detroit coming out of the economic crisis of 2008, and the favorite dish that she will never be able to eat again, breakfast at her grandma’s house.

Preeti’s guest this week is Vinny Eng, celebrated sommelier and community activist. Their conversation revolves around safety; feeling safe as immigrants in the U.S., feeling unsafe as queer folks in college, and creating a truly hospitable restaurant by prioritizing the safety of your staff.

Preeti and Chef Mavis-Jay talk about discovering their chefiness as kids doctoring up boxed mac and cheese, why they decided to go to culinary school at CIA at Hyde Park, and how they left fine dining restaurants to work in restaurant industry activism.

Preeti’s guest this week is Chef Jenny Dorsey - chef and founder of the community think tank, Studio ATAO. Jenny talks about growing up questioning bias in the system, creating real change in the restaurant industry, and Preeti & Jenny debate the merits of Morton’s Coarse versus Diamond Crystal kosher salt.

Preeti talks with Eric Rivera - chef and owner of addo restaurant in Seattle - about pivoting his business during the pandemic, being unfiltered on Twitter, and colonizing the colonizer by using Puerto Rican flavors in European dishes.

Preeti talks with Brenda Buenviaje - chef and owner of Brenda’s French Soul Food and Brenda’s Meat & Three in the Bay Area - about growing up fishing, foraging, and cooking in Louisiana, starting her career in restaurants as a lesbian in the south, and navigating the spotlight as “The Brenda.”