A Fruitland chef will be featured on national television later this month as part of a Food Network special series highlighting Indigenous cuisine.
Chef Justin Pioche, a Farmington-area chef and co-founder of a family-run food business, will appear on Food Network’s “Chopped” in an episode titled “Indigenous Inspirations,” airing at 10 p.m. MDT Tuesday, April 21. Pioche will compete alongside other chefs, including Albuquerque chef Ray Naranjo. The episode is part of a themed series spotlighting Indigenous chefs and culinary traditions.
Justin Pioche is the executive chef and co-owner of Pioche Food Group, a Fruitland-based food service business he operates with his sister, sous chef Tia Pioche, and their mother, manager Janice E. Brown. The family business specializes in catering, private dining and a nine-course dining experience called LorAmy, which focuses on elevating traditional Navajo foods in a modern, upscale setting.
Tia Pioche said the simplicity of traditional Navajo ingredients allows for creative reinterpretation in presentation.
“The ingredients are very simple,” Tia Pioche said. “So it’s a lot easier to play around with it presentation wise.”
She said the team experiments with different forms and textures, transforming items like blue mush into popsicles and sauces, and reworking steamed corn stew by separating its components into elements such as jellies and purees.
Beyond cooking, the brother-and-sister duo works at an educational farm, Navajo Ethno-Agriculture, in Nenahnezad, New Mexico. There, Justin Pioche teaches local youths and visiting students about agriculture, food rights, water rights and Native American heritage. They focus on teaching students how to cook food directly after it comes out of the ground to spark an interest in agriculture.
“He reads so much, and he knows so much about our native people, our Navajo people,” Tia Pioche said. “And he’s just very proud to be presenting being in Navajo, cooking the Navajo food, telling the stories behind it.”
The opportunity to compete on “Chopped” arose after Justin Pioche was named a finalist for a James Beard Award in 2023 for Best Chef: Southwest. While initially hesitant to appear on the high-pressure competition show, his family encouraged him to accept the challenge. His sister said his organized and steadfast nature makes him well suited for the fast-paced television kitchen.
“He just brings calmness to chaos,” Tia Pioche said. “Everybody will be panicking around him. And he’s just like, hey, let’s breathe, reorganize. And let’s communicate and refocus.”
Local response has been overwhelmingly positive, with strong support pouring in from across the area. Tia Pioche said her brother takes pride in representing Navajo culture, cuisine and storytelling on a national stage.
The upcoming episode also reflects the growing recognition of Indigenous cuisine nationwide.
“I think it’s evolving. You know, it’s really coming out,” she said. “There’s so many native chefs coming about in this native community.”
If you go
What: “Chopped” watch party
When: 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 21
Where: Buffalo Wild Wings, 2700 E. Main St., Farmington
Details: Public viewing with prize giveaways; limited space
More info: RSVP at piochefoodgroup@gmail.com
Tia Pioche said their mother’s support encouraged Justin Pioche’s path into the culinary world and shaped the mindset he carries today.
“She’s always done everything in love and love and has always encouraged us to dream big and that it is OK to dream,” she said, adding that his passion for cooking ultimately became clear.
“‘I have a talent for it,’” she recalled him saying. “So that’s really what he encourages young people to do if they want to go into food service, because it really isn’t easy and it is hard. But, you know, if you’ve got that passion, just keep going.”
To celebrate the episode’s premiere, Pioche Food Group will host a public watch party at Buffalo Wild Wings in Farmington. The event begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 21. Space is limited, and attendees are asked to RSVP by contacting piochefoodgroup@gmail.com. The gathering will feature a designated area for family and friends, screens to watch the broadcast and prize giveaways.
Reflecting on her brother’s journey from a 20-year-old caterer to a James Beard-recognized chef competing on national television, Tia Pioche emphasized the impact his success has on the Navajo community.
“He’s a really good example for our youth in the community, because he’s really proven that this little rez boy from New Mexico can do anything,” she said.
