WP: White House Chef Is Out In East Wing Social Shuffle

[kskiska]

For nearly 11 years, Walter Scheib has worn the nation's top toque as executive chef at the White House.

But now, according to the White House, it's coming off.

"Walter has resigned to pursue other opportunities," said Laura Bush's press secretary, Gordon Johndroe, yesterday in response to a reporter's call. "Mrs. Bush appreciates his service during their first term and his years before that, and wishes him well." Asked if the resignation was effective immediately, Johndroe said, "He's already gone."

"I wouldn't say that's official," said Scheib, reached at his Virginia home late yesterday afternoon. "I was at work today, and I will be at work tomorrow."

So who's cooking dinner tonight? "I misspoke," Johndroe called to say last night. "He's still there."

(snip)

At the beginning of President Bush's second term, the West Wing has made headlines with Cabinet appointments, but just as surely the East Wing is quietly being reshaped. Mrs. Bush has indicated that she and her husband intend to do more formal entertaining during their second term. During their first four years they hosted only four state dinners, the same number President George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush hosted in his first six months in office.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A62313-2005Feb3?language=printer

[barbaraann]

1. Two of Laura's employees resigned right after the election.

I believe it was her Chief of Staff and Social Secretary.

[flordehinojos]

2. clearing brush at the white house? the bushes are getting rid of the chef

hired by the clinton's after they dethroned Poppy. There was a big stink about it because whoever was Poppy's chef didn't want for this guy to take over or something like that ... this current chef is probably going to be replaced with some BABS AND POPPY LOYALIST who will take care of their JUNIOR and make sure that no one POISONS HIM or anything of the sort as they prepare to hold on to their power grab, because, they way it is looking...it seems like the bushes are not planning to go back to crawford in my lifetime or yours.

[LibDemAlways]

3. He probably got tired of making

peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The chimp is not a gourmet.

[Sparkly]

9. Haha!! With a side of bourbon.

:thumbsup: You're probably right.

[insane_cratic_gal]

15. Maybe he served Pretzels one too many

times in hopes of a repeat!

[Lisa]

19. I think it was the constant demands for "calf fries" (beef testicles)

... that just got on his nerves!

http://dir.salon.com/people/feature/2001/01/11/cheapshots0110/index.html

[mogster]

4. He's probably tired of the WH social sufflé n/t

[MADem]

5. I get the sense he was PUSHED

What a stupid decision--that guy can COOK. And if Laura is planning on having more parties, she can't be shoving the Stouffer's mac and cheese in the oven and ladling it out on paper plates.

How terrible. That guy made our country look good, from a gastronomic perspective. Lord knows who will replace him, but it's a big toque to fill.

[Missy Vixen]

16. The guy also

was forced to compose the Inaugural dinner out of some ingredients I'm sure they didn't use in chef school. Icky.

I tried to cut and paste the menu; I wasn't able to. As a result, here's a link. http://swiftreport.blogs.com/news/2004/12/on_the_inaugura.html

Poor guy. I know he'll have another executive chef job in a New York City minute.

Julie

[54anickel]

17. Geez, that is so sad. At least the guy seems to have a sense of

humor about it all.

"I've never had to create dishes that include soda, doughnuts and canned fruit before," says Scheib, who received his training at the Culinary Institute of America, and cooked at the Capitol Hilton in Washington and the Boca Raton Club before accepting the honor of "top toque" in the White House kitchens. But he says he's not worried. "I've already changed the way I cook and have given up all French recipes. This should be a snap," says Scheib, referring to the White House's ban on béchamel and beurre blanc after France refused to support the administration's decision to go to war in Iraq.

[Ramsey]

22. OMG!!!!

Everyone has to read that menu!!! Not only are the brands incorporated into the descriptions of each dish, like "Trio of Safeway Greens", but the names of the "Pioneers" appear under the item too!

OMFG! The Bushies are so bought and paid for. That is the tackiest thing I have ever laid eyes on. And for the nations' Inaugural that Pickles defended as a moment of national dignity. What hicks.

[mikita]

28. just when I think I've seen it all....

something like the Inaugural Menu puts me in my place!
Thanks for sharing this. It could be something right out of The Onion, or Ironic Times. But the truth is, it shows how much the corporations are running EVERY aspect of our government, and sadly, our lives.

[LiberalFighter]

31. Chef's statement about inaugural menu

"I've never had to create dishes that include soda, doughnuts and canned fruit before," says Scheib, who received his training at the Culinary Institute of America, and cooked at the Capitol Hilton in Washington and the Boca Raton Club before accepting the honor of "top toque" in the White House kitchens. But he says he's not worried. "I've already changed the way I cook and have given up all French recipes. This should be a snap," says Scheib, referring to the White House's ban on béchamel and beurre blanc after France refused to support the administration's decision to go to war in Iraq.

[LiberalFighter]

32. Menu

[truthisfreedom]

6. unsociable because they are stupid hicks who are afraid of being exposed.

the wife killed her highschool boyfriend. the husband is the antichrist who mangles the English language. idiot city.

[frictionlessO]

8. Ive never heard of that thing with Laura...

joke, rumour or conspiarcy? Fill me in pretty please.

[coffeenap]

10. http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/e1698.htm

[htuttle]

11. You mean when she killed her boyfriend?

It's true. Here's Snopes talking about it:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/bush/laura.asp

Snopes doesn't think she did it on purpose, but...

[frictionlessO]

14. gotta say I go with snopes on this... but

I still cant believe I've never heard about this before...

[BlueManDude]

21. Imagine if Hillary had done this...

100 % of the world's population would know about it and the GOP congress would have had hearings into it.

[frictionlessO]

27. yep and every rightie out there would think she had not

not only done it on purpose, but in fact enjoyed it so much she was going to do it again to people from RW churches! Sunday drivers!

[no_hypocrisy]

7. Probably fired in retaliation for slipping Exlax Brownies to the Chimp.

[hector459]

12. Remember the flack over the dismissal of the WH Travel office staff?

Bet no one will raise an eyebrow about this.

[diamond14]

13. the bushites must be ghastly to work for...just imagine how they treat

the maids/butlers/gardeners/cooks/secretaries....I'm sure it's HELL over there at OUR White House....hope someone writes an 'inside' story...they could make MILLIONS on the scoop...

[dhinojosa]

18. Dialog overheard at the white house

Bush: "Buenos Dias"
Gardener: "Not all gardeners are Mexican Mr. President"
Bush: "Heh Heh, come esta las plantanas? By the way it's pronounced Mehican"
Gardener: "Ah...eh forget it"
Bush: "What are you listening to on those headphones? Santana?"
Gardener: "Actually, it's Bach, it helps me appreciate the delicacy of my work"
Bush: "I like Bach too, he and his Tijuana Brass, awesome! Well, hasta Llugo buddy..eh eh...10-4! and hey...support our troops"

[Rose Siding]

20. NYT quote: "...it is the same thing, night in and night out"

"We've been trying to find a way to satisfy the first lady's stylistic requirements," Mr. Scheib said in a telephone interview, "and it has been difficult. Basically I was not successful in my attempt."
...
"This failure is a loss," he said, "and I hate to lose, because I am supercompetitive."

At the same time, there is a limit to how creative a chef can be at the White House.

"While it is an honor to serve the first family," he said, "it is the same thing, night in and night out, over an extended period. And it's time for me to be exploring all of my creative abilities and not limiting myself."

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/05/politics/05chef.html?ex=1265346000&en=e8209230f660653d&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland

"the first lady's stylistic requirements" ROFL!

[susu369]

23. Let's hope Mr. Scheib "explores his creative ability"

to write a book.

:evilgrin:

[tanyev]

24. Stylistic requirements?

Spam casserole in the shape of a cowboy boot?

[liveoaktx]

29. How many ways can you cook *Calf Fries* aka Cow Balls?

which we all know are the Bushie's Very Favorite!

[kskiska]

30. It's been said that * has the diet of a 13-yr. old

Tacos and cheeseburgers. I remember an early interview with Pickles telling how she'd cook him up a meatloaf dinner.

[Neecy]

25. jeebus

"He's already gone."

"I misspoke," Johndroe called to say last night. "He's still there."

If Hillary had fired the chef, and this kind of coldness was demonstrated by a member of her staff, we'd be FLOODED with stories about Hillary's 'personality' and the right-wingers would be absolutely screeching.

The imperial Bush family treats everyone like discardable serfs, yet you never hear a bad word about Laura. It's one thing to replace the chef, it's another to constantly refer to him as "he" as though you don't know his name, and be unsure if he's still around or not. Her staff must be as high 'n mighty as the rest of the crew.

[hector459]

26. So it this going to be called "kitchengate" by the MSM? Remember

how they hounded the Clintons for having the nerve to want to change the travel office staff? No one is saying a thing about this. It should be a non-issue just as the changing of the travel office staff under the Clintons should have been a non-issue.