The Agri-Business Council of Oregon was pleased to welcome Walter Scheib as the featured guest chef at the 10th Annual Denim and Diamonds dinner and auction. For eleven years Walter served as the head chef at the White House, serving the First Family and their guests, including world leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Emperor Akihito. One of Walter’s many achievements during this time was the development of a distinctly American repertoire.
Since leaving his position at the White House in 2005, Walter founded The American Chef Corporation and published his first cookbook, White House Chef. Through these ventures Walter shares his knowledge of American cuisine and memories of his years at the White House.
Guests savored the flavors of Oregon agriculture by enjoying Dungeness crab with curried squash soup, Painted Hills smoked beef tenderloin with apple cider glaze, vegetables and potato leek puree with wild mushroom and truffle sauce followed by Willamette Valley Cheese tart with grilled pears, greens and hazelnut dressing. Dessert was peach and cherry cobbler with honey lavender ice cream. The 10th Annual Denim & Diamonds dinner and auction was held at the Governor Hotel (now Sentinal Hotel) on Friday, November 16, 2007.
Jim Bernau of Willamette Valley Vineyards was presented with the 2007 Agriculturist of the Year award and Larry Aamold of PNW Ag Consulting was honored with the 2007 Ag Connection of the Year award.
Thank you to every single person who organized, donated, bid at and attended the 10th Annual Denim & Diamonds. We couldn’t have done it without you!