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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 2012)
Strong wins Indian chef cook-off, includes heirloom tomatoes in each dish Power issues, sharing refrigerator and stove top add to challenge • Dessert: Heirloom tomato “rice” pud ding served with dried cranberries, pine nuts, Bing cherries and a stone fruit-tomato chutney By Diane Rodriquez Tribal member Jack Strong took first place in an Iron Chef-style cooking com petition held at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., as part of the annual Living Earth Festival. Strong is the executive chef at Chinook Winds Casino Resort in Lincoln City, Ore. On July 22, he competed against Chef Rob Kinneen (Tlingit) in preparing six dishes in one hour - two appetizers, three entrées and one dessert. Each dish included this year’s surprise ingredient - heirloom tomatoes, which the chefs learned of about 10 days prior to the cook-off. “In competitions like this, there are Courtesy photo by R.A. Whiteside, National Museum of the American Indian always unforeseen challenges. My refrig Chet Rob Kinneen (left) looks on as Jack Strong, executive chef at Chinook Winds erator didn’t work and I had to share my Casino Resort, accepts his first place award from Richard Hetzler (right), emcee of competitor’s full fridge. We were using a the Iron Chef-style cook-off and chef at the Mitsitam Café at the National Museum lot of pots and pans and continually wash of the American Indian. ing them after use for another dish. We had some other power issues that kept us Strong prepared the following items Entrée 1 : Seared duck breast served from using plugged-in equipment for pock during the competition: atop quinoa, duck leg confit and ets of time. We had to share a four-burner heirloom tomatoes with a charred stove top, so I used the charcoal grill for a • Appetizer 1: A trio of tomatoes - heirloom tomato and dried chili sauce lot of boiling and cooking, more than just chunky tomato soup with a shrimp grilling,” said Strong, indicating that the Entrée 2: Cedar paper-wrapped pillow, salmon and tomato tartare only things he brought from home for the salmon with melted leeks, potato and a refreshing shot of tomato water competition were his knives, uniform and coins, pickled seabeans topped with cedar paper. “In a cook-off like this, you a tomato-shrimp and mussel relish • Appetizer 2: Second trio of tomatoes have to constantly adjust your dishes based - tomato confit with steamed mussels, 1 Entrée 3: Chili-rubbed bison hanger on what’s available, what cooked in time. heirloom tomato salad with puffed steak served atop an heirloom tomato It was very challenging and a lot of fun.” amaranth and tomato tapioca and mixed bean ragout Chef Richard Hetzler from the Mitsi tam Café at the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) emceed the cook-off. Three local chefs served as judges - Brian Patterson, Jerome Grant and Pati Jinich, host of Pati’s Mexican Table on PBS. “This is a great event supporting sus tainability and awareness of current eco- issues. The NMAI is a beautiful museum that provided great exhibits and events like dancing, music, demonstrations and a farmers market. Their café was amazing, (with) food that was broken up into sta tions - South Americas, North Americas and Great Plains - and the food served represented those areas,” said Strong. “It was a great experience.” Strong has worked at Chinook Winds since 2010. Prior to that, he worked at AAA 4 and 5 Diamond restaurants in Ari zona and Washington. He is the co-author of the book The New Native American Cuisine: Five-Star Recipes from the Chefs of Arizona’s Kai Restaurant. As the sous chef at the Phoenician Resort and Spa, Strong was part of the team on the drive for AAA 4 Diamonds. Some of his achievements include an AAA 5 Diamond award, a Mobile 5 Star Award and a nomination to the James Beard Long list for best Chef Southwest 2008. I I STBC seeks bids on tenant improvement project Michael Wayne Elkins - 1959-2012 Michael Wayne Elkins, 53, of Siletz, Ore., died Aug. 2 at his second home in Eugene, Ore., of COPD. Mike was bom April 18, 1959, in Eugene to William James Elkins and Janet Lee Mueller. He attended Willamette High School in Eugene. His greatest accomplishment was successfully owning his own construc tion business, Michael’s Construction, for more than 20 years. Mike spent the first part of his life in Eugene. He married his wife, Roxanne, in California in 1986. Three years later they began their lives in Siletz, where they made their home for the last 23 years. They had three children and Mike was a proud grandfather of four. Family and friends were most important to him. He loved his community and helped many programs with generous donations. Baker; siblings, Jim Elkins, Rhonda Mike recently became a member of Elkins, Debra (Hugh) Thomas and Sherrel the Siletz Gospel Tabernacle Church. (Mike) Hawkins, all of Eugene; aunt and His hobbies included golf, bowling, uncle, Bob and Marilou Mueller; uncles, traveling, vintage cars and car shows, Larry Mueller and Dale Mueller; mother- country western music and movies, family in-law, Connie Williams; and numerous gatherings, barbecues and playing crib- nieces, nephews and cousins. bage and dominos. He was preceded in death by both Survivors include his wife, Roxanne parents and a son, Shannon Elkins Elkins of Siletz; daughter, Chuvonne A wake was held Aug. 6 at the Siletz (Willie) Metcalf of Siletz; son, Matthew Tribal Community Center. Funeral ser E. Baker of Siletz; grandchildren Alexis, vices were held Aug. 7 with a potluck Willard and Madison Metcalf and Bailey reception following at the Tribal Center. 4 * Siletz News * September 2012 I The Siletz Tribal Business Corpo- ration (STBC) is pleased to announce the signing of a long-term tenant for the remaining east endcap space at the Salem Flex office building located at 3160 Blossom Drive NE, Salem, OR 97305. I STBC is currently seeking con- tractors to bid on a tenant improve- | ment project for the space. Bids are | । । due Sept. 25 at 1 p.m. at Carlson Veit, 3095 River Road N, Salem, OR 97303. A mandatory pre-bid conference is scheduled for Sept. 12 at 10 a.m. at the lease space. The tentative construction start date is Oct. 1, 2012. Please visit stbcorp.net or contact Michael Phillips at 541-994-2142 or 877-564-7298 for more information. I Tribal Head Start kicks off new year By Lori Jay-Linstrom, Parent Involve ment Coordinator Summer sure does fly by - Siletz Tribal Head Start has been really busy during the summer. We had registration for families in Portland, Salem, Siletz and Lincoln City, plus pre-service for our staff. This year we have incorporated a Community Resource Fair with our open house between Siletz Head Start and Siletz Valley Schooi. Plans are in the works to expand the resource fair to all of our open houses next summer. Portland, Salem and Lincoln City will have a resource fair for families during September and October. Classes will start Sept. 5 in Portland and Salem, Sept. 11 in Siletz and Tenas, and Sept. 12 in Lincoln City. Head Start staff will hit the ground running. In the first 45 days of class, we will have completed vision, hearing and devel opmental assessments on all of our 112 students. By the 90,h day of class, we will have completed health screens of height, weight, blood pressure and dental with fluoride/vamish treatments. We are looking forward to another exciting Head Start year with new and returning families. Parents - remember that young children age 3-5 need at least 10 hours of sleep nightly. Now is the time to start preparing them with good sleep habits. Head Start always accepts applica tions for our program. If you need one, please call 800-922-1399 or 541-444- 2532 and ask for Head Start to have one sent to you.
