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.