Barbacoa with Norma Listman & Saqib Keval

In this episode, 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. 

More about them: 

Norma's Website

Saqib's Website

Their restaurants Masala y Maiz | Marigold

Subscribe to Preeti's Substack to get behind-the-scenes content, to cook the recipes, and to get extended versions of the interviews.