Dickie Yuzicapi indigenizes cuisine in his Sioux Chef Catering business by taking traditional food and injecting it with a modern twist
- Michelle Meeches | June 01, 2023
With more than 20 years of cooking experience under his belt, Yuzicapi’s has gone beyond just cooking in his kokum’s kitchen.
He has founded his own Indigenous-owned food business called Sioux Chef Catering.
Originally from the Okanese First Nation, he now lives in Regina.
Yuzicapi is recognized for his use of wild meats, and various cultural food items to recreate mouthwatering dishes.
He is also a skilled baker who has created more than 150 bannock recipes.
“So, for every kind of bread, there is out there. I have an answer for it in bannock form.”
Finding a niche in the food and hospitality sector has been a journey for Yuzicapi.
“[There’s] recognition for every culture around the world, they have their own cuisine, and [First Nations] were left out,” he said.
Being raised by his grandma and from an early age, she began teaching him the basics like how to cook soup and bannock.
He remembers those early days fondly.
“Every morning, on the wood stove there was always a big pot of soup, a big pot of tea, bannock was always fresh and hot,” said Yuzicapi. “So, people come over, you know true traditional hospitality rules, sit down, shut up and eat.”
For him, it’s more than just food, “when you’re cooking, it’s all love,” said Yuzicapi.
He keeps his grandmother’s memory alive through her recipes that he shares with extended family.
“I have a lot of nieces and nephews and adopted nieces and nephews all over North America that have taken up the job of cooking,” said Yuzicapi.
These days, the Sioux Chef re-invents traditional dishes to create combinations that other local restaurants don’t have. He has travelled to all parts of the world to gain his knowledge of cuisine.
“I use sushi, then I combine that with all our traditional foods. I actually make rice rolls with buffalo, rice rolls with smoked salmon, all that kind of stuff,” said Yuzicapi. “Squash, corn, and beans like the three sisters. I make a three sisters sushi roll. That’s the combination of bringing Japanese into our cuisine.”
Yuzicapi can be found on Facebook under Sioux Chef Catering.