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WASHINGTON COUNTY’S INAUGURAL RESTAURANT WEEK
By Kathleen L. Hondru
M
ark your calendars and plan to attend the
Kick-Off Event to the inaugural Washington County
Restaurant Week, being held March 3, 2015 at The
Meadows Casino. The party will launch a week-long
celebration, March 9 – 15, 2015, of
Washington County’s diverse and flourishing
food scene and will feature the entertaining
Celebrity Chef Walter Scheib, famous for bringing
a distinctly American cuisine back
to the White House during
his time as Executive Chef
from 1994 – 2005.
Washington County
Restaurant Week will
KICK-OFF EVENT
March 3, 2015
6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Triple Crown Banquet & Conference Room
at The Meadows Casino
Featuring Celebrity Chef Walter Scheib
offer lunch and dinner deals to premier restaurants,
including special Restaurant Week prix-fixe menus.
According to David Lamatrice, one of the event’s
organizers, “The time is right to showcase and
celebrate the amazing chefs, food and dining options
available right here in Washington County.”
In addition to dining specials, local hotels
will be participating with Restaurant Week
packages, including discounted hotel
stays and shuttles to certain participating restaurants.
For a full listing of events, participating
restaurants and hotels, and deals, go to
WashingtonCountyRestaurantWeek.com.
Sample food and spirits from participating
Washington County restaurants
and cast your vote for the evening’s
‘Chef’s Best Dish’ Award.
Tickets are $35 and can be
purchased online at
WashingtonCountyRestaurantWeek.com.
VISITWASHINGTONCOUNTYPA.COM
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Kick-Off Event for Restaurant Week Featuring
THE AMERICAN CHEF:
Walter Sheib
In April 1994, then First Lady Hillary Clinton selected
Scheib, who at the time was Executive Chef at The
Greenbrier resort, to be the new White House Executive
Chef. Just a few short months later, the Clintons hosted
their very first full-fledged white-tie state dinner, held in
honor of Emperor Akihito of Japan and his
wife, Empress Michiko. All eyes were on the
Clintons and their new chef. “That one
certainly stands out for me,” recalled Scheib.
“Mrs. Clinton was not going to leave a single
detail to chance. To ensure the success of the
entire event, we held a complete dress
rehearsal with 250 guests, just days before
the official state dinner. Fortunately, our
preparation paid off and the state dinner was
deemed a success.”
Another standout event for Scheib was the state dinner for
President Jacques Chirac of France, since Scheib had so
famously replaced French cooking at the White House with
American Cuisine. The dinner’s menu was three months in
the making and was distinctly American. Scheib was quoted
at the time as not trying to ‘out-French the French.’ With so
much attention on the dinner’s menu, President Clinton
Known as “The American Chef,” Walter Scheib has an impressive resume and is passionate about
American Cuisine. He is affectionately known in certain cooking circles as the chef that replaced the
French and European Continental style cooking that had been in place for nearly 40 years at the
White House, established by Jacqueline Kennedy, with what is now referred to as American Cuisine.
When asked what he considers to be the hallmark of American Cuisine, he answered
with conviction, “It is about big, fresh, delicious flavors and taking advantage of the
fresh foods available in our local areas. America is rich in amazing produce,
meats and fish. Using just a few excellent ingredients, anyone can make a
perfect meal with very little formal training.”
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WASHCOCHAMBER.COM
shared with guests, “I feel compelled to make a full
disclosure: Our chef at the White House, Walter Scheib, is
an American.” Later in the evening, President Chirac told
guests, “I have heard a lot about American food. Well, if this
is American food, it is okay with me.”
As far as which foreign dignitaries were most
impressive to meet, Scheib answered without
hesitation, “Nelson Mandela. It was a true
honor to meet him. He wanted to meet the
entire staff and was so humble and gracious.”
Scheib tours the country and shares with
audiences his humorous and humanizing
stories about his experiences as the White
House Executive Chef for two different
and great American First Families. From
State Dinners to family meals, Scheib
offers a rare and entertaining glimpse to what goes on
behind the scenes at the White House. He also serves up
his tips for cooking and hosting success.
To buy tickets to the Washington County Restaurant Week
Kick-Off event, featuring Celebrity Chef Walter Scheib, go
to WashingtonCountyRestaurantWeek.com.