Sean Sherman expands Indigenous food vision with new Minneapolis restaurant
Indígena by Owamni opens at the Guthrie Theater with a focus on Native ingredients and Indigenous producers
Chef Sean Sherman's newest restaurant, Indígena by Owamni, opens Tuesday at the Guthrie Theater in downtown Minneapolis, expanding his efforts to center Indigenous foods and supply chains, according to reporting from MPR News. Sherman told MPR News that the restaurant builds on the model established at Owamni, which already spent more than $500,000 annually with Native fishers, ricers and farmers. He said Indígena is expected to quadruple that investment while continuing to train cooks and support Indigenous producers. "We're using food as our language … our story and our platform," Sherman said.
The menu highlights Indigenous ingredients while excluding wheat flour, dairy and cane sugar, according to the MPR News reporting. Culinary director Lee Garman said the kitchen sources wild rice from Ojibwe communities including Fond du Lac, White Earth and Red Lake. Staff members also described the restaurant as an opportunity to connect culture with hospitality. "It's really heartwarming to be able to see your own traditions, foods and practices in play in real life," employee Braeden Laughlin told MPR News.
- 1.Melissa Olson. Indígena by Owamni opens a new chapter for Sean Sherman's Indigenous cooking. MPR News.
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