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Hosts: Travis Entenman & Lori Walsh
Guest: Michael Haskett - Chef and Owner of MB Haskett Delicatessen 

Episode Summary

On the 14th anniversary of M.B. Haskett Delicatessen, Travis Entenman and Lori Walsh sit down with chef-owner Michael Haskett in the deli’s basement to trace his journey from teenage pizza maker to James Beard-connected chef and local food advocate. He reflects on how early jobs at Gigglebees and TGI Fridays, mentorship under Chef Dominic, and learning “real” stock at the Culinary Institute of America shaped his philosophy around food, people, and place. Throughout the conversation, Haskett emphasizes building a more matriarchal-style, humane kitchen culture and championing local, sustainable agriculture—especially perennial crops like Kernza that can reduce nitrate levels in water and improve soil health—while connecting this to his advocacy work on environmental policy and the power of consumer choices.

Highlights

• Growing up between Sioux City and Sioux Falls, discovering kitchens as a refuge, and early jobs at Gigglebees, Bagel Boy, TGI Friday’s, and Theo’s.​
• The shock of going from powdered sauces to making classic stock at the Culinary Institute of America and realizing food can tell a story, not just make money.​
• Punk rock, vegan friends, and how zines, Gulf War I, and animal welfare debates reshaped his politics around meat and industrial agriculture.​
• Mentors like Chef Dominic, Christina Keene, and Lucia Watson, and what Michael learned about running less patriarchal, more humane restaurant teams.​
• The 14‑year evolution of M.B. Haskett, from buying Michelle’s Coffee Shop with no stove to becoming known for meticulous eggs and local sourcing.​
• James Beard’s Chef’s Boot Camp for Policy and Change, pandemic advocacy for restaurant relief, and working with congressional staff on PPP and industry survival.​
• Chefs for Healthy Soils, cover crops, and why soil health, runoff reduction, and farm incentives matter to a breakfast cook in downtown Sioux Falls.

About the Show

Rivers & Rangelands explores conservation, water, and community in the Northern Great Plains. Hosted by Travis Entenman and Lori Walsh, the podcast asks big questions about how we care for our land and water — today and for generations to come.

🎶 Special thanks to Jami Lynn for providing the music for this episode. You can explore more of her music here: jamilynnsd.com

👉 Follow Friends of the Big Sioux River for more episodes, updates, and ways to get involved.

👉👉 And to hear more from Lori, follow So Much Sunlight, a newsletter of essays, poetry, and audio ephemera on Substack!