SCRANTON -- In the upper echelon of America’s top chefs, the job of leading the White House kitchen is a pretty plum assignment.
A man who served in that role under two presidents is in Scranton this week and folks are flocking to the historic Colonnade to sample his cooking.
Newswatch 16 was invited to one of his events Wednesday night, where we learned even though the president of the United States is the leader of the free world, he's not necessarily the leader of his own dinner table.
Walter Scheib served as White House chef during the terms of Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.
During a visit to Scranton's Colonnade on Jefferson Avenue, Scheib entertained guests with tales of the first families and what they like to eat.
Scheib said the menu at the White House did not break down politically, but rather by gender.
“Both first ladies were very eclectic, very adventuresome palates, wanted to try new and different things all the time, very much into nutrition, very much into organics,” Scheib said. “Now the two presidents on the other hand, I think they would've been just as happy if we opened a TGI Fridays or a Hooters down in the basement.”
So what did he do?
“As in any private home, if momma's happy, everybody's happy. We would cook for the first lady’s taste if they were at the table together,” Scheib said.
Scheib beat out about 4,000 other hopefuls to become White House chef after then First Lady Hillary Clinton held nationwide auditions in 1994.
The staff at the Colonnade helped prepare White House appetizers, right from Chef Scheib's cookbook.
“This is a smoked shrimp that we have here served in an Asian spoon. It's also been grilled with a tomatillo sauce on it,” said Joshua Mast, co-owner of the Colonnade.
About 75 people turned out for the event that raised money for cancer patients in our area.
The reviews of Chef Scheib's dishes were fairly unanimous.
“Crustini bread with filet on it. It had a little, like a Chilean sauce on top. It was delicious. It was very good,” said Ann Darienzo of Dunmore.
“It was really moist and tender and it had a spice to it. It was really, really good. I mean that's all you really need to know about food. It was really, really good,” said Mary Beth Scalese of Dunmore.
Thursday night, Chef Scheib will host a formal sit down dinner, with official White House meals, at the Colonnade.
Friday's dinner is private.
