R.I.P. Walter Scheib

From my news this morning:

Missing Chef's Body Found In New Mexico Mountains

(Taos, NM) -- The mystery surrounding a missing former White House chef is over. Search teams found the body of Walter Scheib [[ SHIBE ]] late Sunday in the New Mexico mountains. The 61-year-old disappeared while hiking alone near Taos ski resort last weekend. Scheib served as executive chef to Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush from 1994 to 2005.

I read his book "White House Chef" and enjoyed it. I also liked what he said in a Munchies (website) interview a while back: "In my estimate, and this will be a little bit controversial I suspect, the whole concept of this fad—and I use the word "fad" advisedly—of molecular gastronomy, it could not go away fast enough. This is the emperor's new clothes of cuisine. " Gotta admire someone who'll go out on a professional limb like that, whether or not you agree with their position.

Too bad....

I had the great pleasure of working with Walter Scheib during an all-day event (Restaurant association) in Pennsylvania. He took us through the entire kitchen prep process for a "Dinner at the White House", regaled us with great stories of his years at the WH and his interactions with the people at every level.

I paired some wines with the courses of his meal, and he did a great performance that evening. Every dish was nicely done and beautifully plated.

It's a great memory. I enjoyed the time I spent with him. And he graciously gave me an autographed copy of his book.

[Jenise]

He filmed a series on cooking in New Mexico (from his PA restaurant) that I enjoyed very much. Saw that they found him on the news this morning but didn't connect that with the guy I knew from the show until reading your post. Very sad to think of him dying scared and alone like that.