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Our Knives Will Save Us: Dispatches from a White Mountain Apache Chef
From Indigenous chef Nephi Craig, a searing personal and cultural reckoning about the power of food to heal intergenerational wounds
When Nephi Craig enrolled in the culinary program at Scottsdale Community College, it was out of necessity after a felony arrest led to a judge’s work or prison. Expecting little more than a means to an end, he quickly discovered a talent and passion for cooking. He also experienced a profound dissonance as the only Indigenous person in the kitchen, preparing European recipes that—disguised by their French and Italian names—relied on ingredients native to the Americas. This experience, along with his roaming childhood on the White Mountain Apache and Navajo reservations, led him to trace the buried histories of Indigenous cultivars such as tomato, cacao, and amaranth, each one a portal into possibility as well as a marker of the violent legacy of colonization. Craig’s mission to build Indigenous food sovereignty and to showcase Native peoples’ rich cuisines led him around the world, from top fine-dining restaurants in the United States to high-profile banquets in Brazil, England, Germany, and Japan. All the while, though, Craig wrestled with addiction, entering one treatment center after another in the hopes that he could get—and remain—sober.
In the heat, frenzy, and collaborative energy of restaurant kitchens, Craig found a lifeline. But when he was faced with the difficult decision of choosing between a career-defining executive chef job and an opportunity to serve his community back on the Rez, he realized his true vocation. Interweaving personal reflection with searing cultural insight, Craig lays bare the ongoing traumas wrought by colonial violence as well as the power in claiming our own ancestral intelligence. His book offers a vision of one where food is decolonized, history is honored, and healing is possible.
When Nephi Craig enrolled in the culinary program at Scottsdale Community College, it was out of necessity after a felony arrest led to a judge’s work or prison. Expecting little more than a means to an end, he quickly discovered a talent and passion for cooking. He also experienced a profound dissonance as the only Indigenous person in the kitchen, preparing European recipes that—disguised by their French and Italian names—relied on ingredients native to the Americas. This experience, along with his roaming childhood on the White Mountain Apache and Navajo reservations, led him to trace the buried histories of Indigenous cultivars such as tomato, cacao, and amaranth, each one a portal into possibility as well as a marker of the violent legacy of colonization. Craig’s mission to build Indigenous food sovereignty and to showcase Native peoples’ rich cuisines led him around the world, from top fine-dining restaurants in the United States to high-profile banquets in Brazil, England, Germany, and Japan. All the while, though, Craig wrestled with addiction, entering one treatment center after another in the hopes that he could get—and remain—sober.
In the heat, frenzy, and collaborative energy of restaurant kitchens, Craig found a lifeline. But when he was faced with the difficult decision of choosing between a career-defining executive chef job and an opportunity to serve his community back on the Rez, he realized his true vocation. Interweaving personal reflection with searing cultural insight, Craig lays bare the ongoing traumas wrought by colonial violence as well as the power in claiming our own ancestral intelligence. His book offers a vision of one where food is decolonized, history is honored, and healing is possible.
Audible Audio
Published July 14, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
July 16, 2026
Growing up, Craig had dreams of being a professional skateboarder—it was something of an accident (literal and figurative, I guess) that landed him in culinary school instead. It was culinary school that would get him out of the hole he'd found himself in...but it was a new look at traditional, Indigenous cooking that would ultimately pull him out of the holes that followed.
I didn't learn any of this in culinary school. During my formal education as a chef, the subject of Native foods never came up. The message I received from teachers and mentors, again and again, was loud and clear: When it came to cooking, all things French reigned supreme. (loc. 149*)
I'm perennially curious about stories and backgrounds that are not my own, and I have a growing list of books by Indigenous writers that I'm gradually working through (mostly while visiting my mother, whose library is much better for this than mine). Conveniently, Our Knives Will Save Us overlaps with another reading interest of mine, food memoir—the hook was baited, and this reader was caught.
This makes for a complicated story about family, heritage, addiction, loss, and coming home again. I love how much discussion of traditional foods Craig includes, as well as how clearly he calls out the ways in which Native cooking has been erased from history (or rather, appropriated by other cultures). I'm a rather disinterested cook (to the eternal dismay of my spouse), but I would cheerfully pore over a full book of recipes from Craig, ideally with even more history and context. (Would I make these recipes? Uh...I'd give the book to my mother, who is a much more interested cook than I, and then I'd hope she chose to make something with neither meat nor tomatoes.) I also love how straightforward he is in telling his story; when he makes excuses, it's in the context of coming back around and realizing that the excuses are just that, and gradually moving forward to make the changes he needs to make. A good one for those interested in memoir, Indigenous voices, food, recovery stories, and history.
*Quotes are from an ARC and may not be final.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
I didn't learn any of this in culinary school. During my formal education as a chef, the subject of Native foods never came up. The message I received from teachers and mentors, again and again, was loud and clear: When it came to cooking, all things French reigned supreme. (loc. 149*)
I'm perennially curious about stories and backgrounds that are not my own, and I have a growing list of books by Indigenous writers that I'm gradually working through (mostly while visiting my mother, whose library is much better for this than mine). Conveniently, Our Knives Will Save Us overlaps with another reading interest of mine, food memoir—the hook was baited, and this reader was caught.
This makes for a complicated story about family, heritage, addiction, loss, and coming home again. I love how much discussion of traditional foods Craig includes, as well as how clearly he calls out the ways in which Native cooking has been erased from history (or rather, appropriated by other cultures). I'm a rather disinterested cook (to the eternal dismay of my spouse), but I would cheerfully pore over a full book of recipes from Craig, ideally with even more history and context. (Would I make these recipes? Uh...I'd give the book to my mother, who is a much more interested cook than I, and then I'd hope she chose to make something with neither meat nor tomatoes.) I also love how straightforward he is in telling his story; when he makes excuses, it's in the context of coming back around and realizing that the excuses are just that, and gradually moving forward to make the changes he needs to make. A good one for those interested in memoir, Indigenous voices, food, recovery stories, and history.
*Quotes are from an ARC and may not be final.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
August 9, 2026
3.5 stars. I enjoy reading about different cultures. This memoir looks at both Native American food heritage and addiction. Hoping to get book autographed at National Book Festival.
July 15, 2026
Wow, what an incredible read. I went through the whole emotional spectrum reading this. I loved everything about it. Highly, highly recommend.
July 28, 2026
(ARC review) but also writing this review after publication
I wish i can give the rating for this book a 6, because it was genuinely honest about addiction, replease, and recovery, the research and everything I learned about indigenous ingredients we use everyday in recipes that are native to the Americas before Colonization and since then erasure of indigenous people cultures, traditions and how they cultivated their foods weren't spoken about. Our Chef and author Nephi Craig teaches us through this memoir decolonize our view on food, have hope and support for those struggling in addiction. The intergenerational struggles of indigenous population in reservation who are starving and with a lack of health options of food and groceries and under mental health crisis. I have to admit that from the first moment i first saw this book, I knew it would be powerful and alter the way I saw things in these subjects above, once the book came out I want to purchase it and highlighted and noted the book.
I wish i can give the rating for this book a 6, because it was genuinely honest about addiction, replease, and recovery, the research and everything I learned about indigenous ingredients we use everyday in recipes that are native to the Americas before Colonization and since then erasure of indigenous people cultures, traditions and how they cultivated their foods weren't spoken about. Our Chef and author Nephi Craig teaches us through this memoir decolonize our view on food, have hope and support for those struggling in addiction. The intergenerational struggles of indigenous population in reservation who are starving and with a lack of health options of food and groceries and under mental health crisis. I have to admit that from the first moment i first saw this book, I knew it would be powerful and alter the way I saw things in these subjects above, once the book came out I want to purchase it and highlighted and noted the book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The audiobook, read by the author, was fantastically done. This memoir is, at its heart, a love letter to indigenous history in the best and most heartbreaking way. Following the author as he fights to balance his addiction with his love for his native culture and food, falling again and again, this memoir hit hard. The ultimate theme, that survival is decolonization, was something I think all of us need to hear. Everything is touched by colonization, family, food and especially the genetic harm of generational trauma.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This made me stop and take a minute and start looking at ingredients in meals and where they come from/represent. A good story on addiction and how cooking and a passion led to recovery and growth. I’m really glad multiple people never gave up and always tried to extend a hand when the author kept making mistakes. It just goes to show there are still great people in this world. I also really enjoyed the perseverance of the author continuing to send in applications to Mary Elanies over and over. It shows if you really want something keep working even if you fail you might not the next time. Even though things were rough for Nephi, I’m glad he got the opportunity to go to Brazil and meet Yone and all the other special people who shaped him along the way. So many life changing events and Nephi kept going. Such a special thing. I’m so glad Cafè Gozhóó was able to open and create the safe place it did for Nephi, People on the Rez, Addicts, and more.
August 15, 2026
4.5 rounded up.
Man, you love to see a success story. I was really moved by this powerful memoir. Nephi Craig comes across as someone who has approached recovery with extraordinary persistence and food with insatiable curiosity—and who is willing to do the damn work.
I really respected his transparency about the dozen-plus rehabs and relapses that preceded his recovery. And I appreciated how much of that story is tied up in his relationship with his father, his White Apache identity, his family, and the mentors—both in recovery and in the kitchen—who helped him along the way. It’s an addiction narrative that’s messy, hard-won, and ongoing.
So much of what Craig knows about Indigenous food is self-taught, the result of following his curiosity wherever it leads him. He seems to approach food with the same intensity and openness he brings to recovery (or is it the other way around?): ask questions, learn everything you can, keep going.
Inspiring. Hopeful.
Man, you love to see a success story. I was really moved by this powerful memoir. Nephi Craig comes across as someone who has approached recovery with extraordinary persistence and food with insatiable curiosity—and who is willing to do the damn work.
I really respected his transparency about the dozen-plus rehabs and relapses that preceded his recovery. And I appreciated how much of that story is tied up in his relationship with his father, his White Apache identity, his family, and the mentors—both in recovery and in the kitchen—who helped him along the way. It’s an addiction narrative that’s messy, hard-won, and ongoing.
So much of what Craig knows about Indigenous food is self-taught, the result of following his curiosity wherever it leads him. He seems to approach food with the same intensity and openness he brings to recovery (or is it the other way around?): ask questions, learn everything you can, keep going.
Inspiring. Hopeful.
July 25, 2026
4.5 stars
August 8, 2026
Great memoir!! Honest, informative, and fascinating.
June 10, 2026
Thank you to Penguin Random House for providing this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
4.5/5
To start, I really enjoyed this book. The writing feels conversational and I would be very interested in listening to an audiobook version. Anyone who is interested in generational trauma or food, this book is for you. I happen to love both.
Craig describes the relationships between colonialism, generational trauma, and food. I got curious about indigenous foods after trying paw paw for the first time last year. Craig highlights the American foods that you will never see in a grocery store, but grow so close to us. Some of the reflections feel a little clunky but he succeeded in increasing my interest in native foods and foraging.
4.5/5
To start, I really enjoyed this book. The writing feels conversational and I would be very interested in listening to an audiobook version. Anyone who is interested in generational trauma or food, this book is for you. I happen to love both.
Craig describes the relationships between colonialism, generational trauma, and food. I got curious about indigenous foods after trying paw paw for the first time last year. Craig highlights the American foods that you will never see in a grocery store, but grow so close to us. Some of the reflections feel a little clunky but he succeeded in increasing my interest in native foods and foraging.
August 13, 2026
Not familiar with the author but was super intrigued by the title and the summary. Nephi Craig tells the reader of his life and how he became a chef. From a childhood on the reservations to eventually ending up with some bad situations led him to a kitchen. Except there, as the only Indigenous person, he was making European foods with ingredients from the Americas. Eventually his journey leads him to become the nutritional recovery program coordinator at the White Mountain Apache tribe-owned Rainbow Treatment Center in Arizona, as well as the Café Gozhóó.
Craig takes us through his early childhood and family. Unfortunately like many Indigenous and Native peoples he also has to deal with intergenerational trauma and struggles. From narrowing escaping a sexual assault as a child, he starts drinking at a young age, which eventually leads him to jail. He has multiple stints in rehab, struggles with relationships and holding a stable job, etc. But eventually he does turn his life around.
This was okay. I thought Craig has a super fascinating story but it was very rambly and it was hard to hold my attention. Craig apparently had a co-writer but a stronger editor would have helped. There was too much detail for me, almost like he wanted to get every part of his story out. Which is understandable but made this otherwise difficult to get through.
Still, though, I did appreciate overall that Craig eventually became sober and appears to have settled (in a positive sense!) into his life. I am glad he is here to tell his story. If you are interested in him or his work or his journey, this might be a good read for you.
Library borrow was best for me.
Craig takes us through his early childhood and family. Unfortunately like many Indigenous and Native peoples he also has to deal with intergenerational trauma and struggles. From narrowing escaping a sexual assault as a child, he starts drinking at a young age, which eventually leads him to jail. He has multiple stints in rehab, struggles with relationships and holding a stable job, etc. But eventually he does turn his life around.
This was okay. I thought Craig has a super fascinating story but it was very rambly and it was hard to hold my attention. Craig apparently had a co-writer but a stronger editor would have helped. There was too much detail for me, almost like he wanted to get every part of his story out. Which is understandable but made this otherwise difficult to get through.
Still, though, I did appreciate overall that Craig eventually became sober and appears to have settled (in a positive sense!) into his life. I am glad he is here to tell his story. If you are interested in him or his work or his journey, this might be a good read for you.
Library borrow was best for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
(Note I received an advanced reader copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley)
Besides covering his own triumphs and tragedies, Nephi Craig takes on decolonization, addiction and recovery, and mental health (amongst other issues ) and their deep entanglement with one another. And the way they’re all discussed inside the context of Craig’s own life, this leads to quite the genuinely informative experience given the complexity of these subjects and the way that they’re often presented to us in the abstract. Also, combined with all that Craig imparts about indigenous food traditions, Our Knives Will Save Us is one of those works that ends up being an extremely effective mini-educations packed within a single book. And besides providing a bounty for the mind, this unhesitantly honest memoir also provides an abundance for the spirit as well, and at least in my case has provided plenty for me to reflect deeply upon in the immediate aftermath. On top of that, as someone who has faced my own mental and emotional health trials, I am always deeply appreciative when someone out there is so willing to openly share their challenges.
Like the indigenous-inspired dishes that Craig develops and serves in his community, there’s a straightforward simplicity here that’s also deep and multileveled in its richness. So far, this is definitely my most memorable memoir read of 2026, and one that I’ll be eagerly recommending to others in the immediate future.
Besides covering his own triumphs and tragedies, Nephi Craig takes on decolonization, addiction and recovery, and mental health (amongst other issues ) and their deep entanglement with one another. And the way they’re all discussed inside the context of Craig’s own life, this leads to quite the genuinely informative experience given the complexity of these subjects and the way that they’re often presented to us in the abstract. Also, combined with all that Craig imparts about indigenous food traditions, Our Knives Will Save Us is one of those works that ends up being an extremely effective mini-educations packed within a single book. And besides providing a bounty for the mind, this unhesitantly honest memoir also provides an abundance for the spirit as well, and at least in my case has provided plenty for me to reflect deeply upon in the immediate aftermath. On top of that, as someone who has faced my own mental and emotional health trials, I am always deeply appreciative when someone out there is so willing to openly share their challenges.
Like the indigenous-inspired dishes that Craig develops and serves in his community, there’s a straightforward simplicity here that’s also deep and multileveled in its richness. So far, this is definitely my most memorable memoir read of 2026, and one that I’ll be eagerly recommending to others in the immediate future.
August 13, 2026
So so so good. One of my favourite memoirs this year. Will yap about and recommend to anyone who will listen. Enthusiastically buying another copy for a Native friend.
The descriptions of food made me SO hungry. But also, this book made me go to the store and get back into cooking my own food from scratch, which has been really therapeutic for me.
I think anyone who struggles with addiction or has watched someone struggle with addiction and recovery will find a lot they connect with in this book. But Nephi’s writing is fantastic and can connect with people who haven’t directly dealt with that particular struggle either, because it’s easy to connect with his experiences if you’ve had any sort of setback in life.
I’ve never gone out of my way to learn about Native American’s or their culture, and listening to this book showed a real gap not only in my own understanding but also the American education system. How were we not taught about this sort of thing? I’ve lived in so many places with native tribes close by and our public education never taught us a single thing. Hell, even my year of PRIVATE education has never taught me a single thing. The amount of underrepresentation Native tribes and people live with every day is staggering to even consider. I appreciate having even a small glimpse into these communities this book has offered. It was something I didn’t realize I needed.
The descriptions of food made me SO hungry. But also, this book made me go to the store and get back into cooking my own food from scratch, which has been really therapeutic for me.
I think anyone who struggles with addiction or has watched someone struggle with addiction and recovery will find a lot they connect with in this book. But Nephi’s writing is fantastic and can connect with people who haven’t directly dealt with that particular struggle either, because it’s easy to connect with his experiences if you’ve had any sort of setback in life.
I’ve never gone out of my way to learn about Native American’s or their culture, and listening to this book showed a real gap not only in my own understanding but also the American education system. How were we not taught about this sort of thing? I’ve lived in so many places with native tribes close by and our public education never taught us a single thing. Hell, even my year of PRIVATE education has never taught me a single thing. The amount of underrepresentation Native tribes and people live with every day is staggering to even consider. I appreciate having even a small glimpse into these communities this book has offered. It was something I didn’t realize I needed.
July 17, 2026
Biographies/Memiors are the best of non-fiction works because everyone’s lives are different and interesting! Nephi Craig has definitely lived a couple of lives and you hear it all in this book. I appreciated how raw and transparent he was with his life story, starting with his upbringing on the reservation, how cooking was a huge part of that, his struggles with addiction (no sugarcoating), and about the relationship between food, cooking, and the Indigenous community. Being a chef helped Nephi discover a whole new world outside of the reservation and took him all over the world, as far as Japan. His addictions threatened to derail him each and every time but he somehow never gave up, even at his lowest point. As a person whose first career was food service, I had a better appreciation for Nephi’s kitchen talk because I knew it by memory, smiling to myself as this was so long ago but familiar. I’m glad to see he is helping his community through his knowledge and hope he continues to inspire many!
July 26, 2026
Our Knives Will Save Us: Dispatches from a White Mountain Apache Chef by Nephi Craig is the storyteller of a chef who once dreamed of being a professional skateboarder. Both professions are far more cool than I could ever be, so I was drawn in immediately. But, later, when he started drawing from his own life, cooking traditional Indigenous foods, he became a chef who loved his trade and who found his own passion.
He shares that culinary school did not teach him anything about Native foods; that it was all about French cuisine and cooking techniques.
His book tells a story about food, but also about heritage, history, family, addiction and reckoning with our past. The author makes it clear that Native cooking has been intentionally erased from history and most Americans have never tasted it. It is a believable and confronting premise, that I hope he helps to change. I live in Colorado, and even here Native foods are not easily accessible.
I hope that his story resonates with other Native chefs and that they too begin to bring their heritage into their restaurants.
He shares that culinary school did not teach him anything about Native foods; that it was all about French cuisine and cooking techniques.
His book tells a story about food, but also about heritage, history, family, addiction and reckoning with our past. The author makes it clear that Native cooking has been intentionally erased from history and most Americans have never tasted it. It is a believable and confronting premise, that I hope he helps to change. I live in Colorado, and even here Native foods are not easily accessible.
I hope that his story resonates with other Native chefs and that they too begin to bring their heritage into their restaurants.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC via Netgalley. This is not at all my usual type of book, but I really enjoyed the way Craig combined information about food and cooking with his life story. I thought the book was incredibly well structured! Everything flowed very well and the way you finally catch back up with the what happened in the prologue pulls it all together. My nitpicks I think really are down to the fact that I don't normally read memoir; I found it a little off-putting that none of the historical or scientific statements have citations and whole conversations are reported word for word when there's no way anyone would be able to remember that kind of detail years later. It's very much a memoir of addiction and recovery which means that you're tagging along on a very frustrating ride of someone repeatedly making terrible decisions, but you know that from the jump! It was a really eye-opening read about both the world of high-end cuisine and life on a reservation, neither of which I knew anything about.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
i loved how much of this book was focused around ingredients and the history of them and how they've come be in our meals!
our knives will save us is perfect for foodies who want a bit more of perspective out of the constraint of traditionally "white" cooking. it's also for people who want memoirs about addiction, specifically the struggles of it and how cooking helped someone get out of that dark place.
the descriptions in this were so well. i could really the author loves cooking and is very passionate about getting other apache people into cooking. there were a lot of beautiful moments and i loved reading the author's story.
overall, i'm so happy i picked up the arc of this book and i'll most likely be picking up a copy once the book is fully out!
thank you to the publisher for the arc :)
our knives will save us is perfect for foodies who want a bit more of perspective out of the constraint of traditionally "white" cooking. it's also for people who want memoirs about addiction, specifically the struggles of it and how cooking helped someone get out of that dark place.
the descriptions in this were so well. i could really the author loves cooking and is very passionate about getting other apache people into cooking. there were a lot of beautiful moments and i loved reading the author's story.
overall, i'm so happy i picked up the arc of this book and i'll most likely be picking up a copy once the book is fully out!
thank you to the publisher for the arc :)
July 31, 2026
Nephi Craig was still a teen-ager when he started drinking and drugging so much that he was picked up by police when he crashed his cousin's new van.
By the end of the book he has overcome his addictions and learned to relate to himself and others in ways that are genuinely transformative. As he goes along he shares his insights into the ways in which the treatment of Native Americans by the U.S. Government has been careless and at times wantonly destructive. It turns out that the high rates of addiction and suicide in many native communities can be directly traced to this scandalous behavior on the part of our forebears and even ourselves. As I read along, I experienced a healthy desire to learn more about these forgotten ancestors.
By the end of the book he has overcome his addictions and learned to relate to himself and others in ways that are genuinely transformative. As he goes along he shares his insights into the ways in which the treatment of Native Americans by the U.S. Government has been careless and at times wantonly destructive. It turns out that the high rates of addiction and suicide in many native communities can be directly traced to this scandalous behavior on the part of our forebears and even ourselves. As I read along, I experienced a healthy desire to learn more about these forgotten ancestors.
August 15, 2026
This is a chef memoir, but it's definitely not the typical chef memoir moaning about how tough kitchen work is as well as how difficult the uptight chefs who run the kitchens were. This one was so very much more than that.
First, the title was interesting. By the end it made perfect sense and it was a great title for the book. Craig did tell of the determination it took to get the training and to endure the hardships of "kitchen life." But this was so much more. It was about family, tradition, food, history, rez life, culture, the firm grasp of addition, and eventually beating addiction an yet that description barely scratches the surface.
This was inspiring and I love memoirs with a message. This one had that. So 5 full stars.
First, the title was interesting. By the end it made perfect sense and it was a great title for the book. Craig did tell of the determination it took to get the training and to endure the hardships of "kitchen life." But this was so much more. It was about family, tradition, food, history, rez life, culture, the firm grasp of addition, and eventually beating addiction an yet that description barely scratches the surface.
This was inspiring and I love memoirs with a message. This one had that. So 5 full stars.
July 28, 2026
What an honest and inspiring book. There are many addiction and recovery books, but I don’t think there is another one with this particular viewpoint. I have lived in Arizona and New Mexico for most of my life, but this book showed me how much I have to learn about the history of the strong, resourceful indigenous people that have suffered so much. But they are still here, and still working against great odds to preserve their heritage. Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdaine is one of my favorite books. This is that book from an Apache perspective. Highly recommend.
May 26, 2026
Thanks to The Penguin Press and Net Galley for a copy of this ARC
Our Knives Will Save Us is a raw biography that will leave you hungry for the delicious food described within and hopeful for the future that Craig has strived for.
It’s an honest and bruising look at the damage addiction causes while also examining the cultural roots that contribute to it.
This book had me googling how far away
Café Gozhóó is.
Our Knives Will Save Us is a raw biography that will leave you hungry for the delicious food described within and hopeful for the future that Craig has strived for.
It’s an honest and bruising look at the damage addiction causes while also examining the cultural roots that contribute to it.
This book had me googling how far away
Café Gozhóó is.
July 18, 2026
This book is being touted as the book everyone will be talking about this summer and I think that’s accurate. I loved this story, and how Nephi started in one place and ended up somewhere completely different. This book covers so many topics from addiction to family. I would say, going into this book, I didn’t have any insight into who Nephi Craig was, but left with an appreciation and would recommend.
August 9, 2026
Highly recommend
5.0 stars
This book was beautifully written and narrated by a White Mountain Apache-Navajo chef who has had a life journey.
The education about Indigenous cultivators and colonialism was powerful.
If you want to learn about Indigenous culture, drug/alcohol rehabilitation, or reservation life, this is the book for you!
For a more detailed review, check out my blog - booksbydorothea: https://tinyurl.com/58c4xukr
5.0 stars
This book was beautifully written and narrated by a White Mountain Apache-Navajo chef who has had a life journey.
The education about Indigenous cultivators and colonialism was powerful.
If you want to learn about Indigenous culture, drug/alcohol rehabilitation, or reservation life, this is the book for you!
For a more detailed review, check out my blog - booksbydorothea: https://tinyurl.com/58c4xukr
July 19, 2026
First of all the loved this book so much. It’s emotional and heartfelt. The story of a young Apache Chef. I learned a lot about indigenous food and culture along with Chefs wild ride of a life. It had me tearing up more than once. I highly recommend this book.One of my top three books for this year.
July 22, 2026
I've met Nephi and he cooked an amazing meal for us. The book needs a bit more editing but overall it's an excellent telling of the importance and history of indigenous food, his battles with addiction, and how cooking saved him from his depths.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book is a fascinating mix -- food, family history, and memoir mixed together, laced with insights about how the treatment of Native people in the US also impacts their food history.
July 23, 2026
Interesting true story about a Native American chef and how he became one. I couldn’t finish because his cycle of drug and alcohol abuse became too much of the plot to continue.
July 31, 2026
Healing
A very interesting read to the end. Thank you for the inspiration. I will need to buy my own knife now.
A very interesting read to the end. Thank you for the inspiration. I will need to buy my own knife now.
August 2, 2026
An inspiring and thoughtful true story about a chef who is using his skills and training to nourish and heal his community. I would love to check out the café next time I go to Arizona!
August 2, 2026
Amaranth is a perfect food, and a way to take back what was stolen.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews