December 11, 2011 / by J Smoke Wallin / Make A Comment / Filed under 2011 Event
I had the great pleasure of having a grand dinner with with former White House executive chef, Walter Scheib. In October a bunch of YPO/WPO members of the Food & Beverage Network and the Beer, Wine & Spirits Network (I chair) got together in Chicago for 3 days of learning and networking. It was a fantastic event, with best of the best resources, speakers, and activities. One highlight was our evening with Walter Scheib.
Here is a little background on Walter from his website The American Chef.
Walter Scheib
(White House Executive Chef, 1994 – 2005)
“For the last eleven years, I have had the honor of doing daily what most chefs would be lucky to do once in their life time. That honor was serving the First Family of the United States.”
- Walter Scheib, March 2005
Walter Scheib has quite a story to tell. In fact, he has two stories to tell. The first involves the rise of an American chef to the most storied position in the land. The second offers an intimate, human view of two First Families, the corridors of political power, international personalities, and the most famous building in the United States, from a unique vantage point: The kitchen.
In April 1994, after a lengthy application and screening process, Walter Scheib became the chef to America’s chief executive and the First Family. First Lady Hillary Clinton, impressed by the comprehensive spa menu Scheib had developed for the Greenbrier resort, as well as his highlighting of American cuisine, personally hired Scheib. For 11 years, he prepared everything from simple family meals to elaborate and formal State Dinners. His culinary creations dazzled and delighted White House guests including Nelson Mandela, Emperor Aikihito, Jacques Chirac, Boris Yeltsin, Vaclav Havel, Lady
Diana Spencer, Tony Blair, Vicente Fox, and others, not to mention the thousands of congressional members, journalists, and other House visitors who got to know his food.
A highlight of Scheib’s White House achievement was his creation of a distinctly American repertoire for the nation’s First House. He continues to speak with eloquence and pride about America’s bounty today, praising the artisan cheese makers, green grocers, mushroom foragers, master bread makers, fishermen, ranchers, and farmers who have helped our national market basket evolve, and make quality cooking more accessible than ever. “America is rich in amazing produce, meats, and fish,” Scheib say
The White House Chef - YPO/WPO Menu
s. “Using just a few excellent ingredients, anyone can make a perfect meal with very little formal training.”
Chef Scheib was very personable and probably the coolest part of the our evening together was all the interesting stories from his days in the White House for both President Clinton and Bush. There were many funny ones.
The meal was excellent and creative. Menu at right. Jay Wright the EVP and COO of Constellation Wines hosted our reception with a fun tasting of some of their wines from around the world. Constellation Wine worked with Chef on the pairings. I was not a fan of everything, but it was a great experience. My favorite dish was the first course – Seasame crusted Halibut with Red Curried Sweet Potato Soup. This was paired with the 2010 Nobilo “Icon” Sauvignon Blanc. Nice.
The best part was hanging out with Chef afterwards. He joined us at our “afterparty” that I hosted with 3 Amigos Tequila and Napa Smith Brewery. We enjoyed a Napa Smith Organic IPA together and chatted about his current business, travels and great food. He is a big fan of great beer and agreed with my contention that a beer dinner is easier to create than a wine dinner as beer actually can accompany more foods in a more complimentary way. Don’t get me wrong, I love wine, but we are seeing more and more of this kind of thinking. Its great to get confirmation from a talented chef like Watler Scheib.
Chef Scheib’s book is called “White House Chef”. It is far more than a cook book. It is an interesting look into life inside the White House.
White House Chef
November 26, 2011 / by J Smoke Wallin / Make A Comment / Filed under Brand Management, Napa Smith, News
I have not posted about Napa Smith lately so here is a bit of catch up.. We acquired the brewery & winery in December 2010 so it has been under our control since January… 10+ months.. we spent the first 3 getting production back up and running and taking care of vendors. Since then, we have been brewing to capacity and selling everything we make. Steve Morgan, Don Barkley and the rest of the growing Napa Smith team have been hitting on all cylinders as we have ramped up. The Paddington team has taken the lead on sales and distribution. The combination has been awesome!
Napa Smith Brewery
- Napa Smith Team
Some highlights over the past year:
- Paddington Brands acquires Napa Smith brewery & winery December 2010
- Napa Smith Beer now available in 33states. This is from a base of just CA back in 2009. See map.
- GABF Winner – Napa Smith Organic IPA won the Silver Medal at the Great American Beer Festival this year… huge! More on this below.
- Napa Smith “Brew Pub” tasting room opened in Napa, CA… an awesome experience and long overdue for our home market!
- Numerous beer dinners and tasting and events throughout the year.
- Major retailer support with placements in Safeway, Whole Foods, Publix, HEB, Harris Teeter, Total Wine & More, BevMo, ABC, Cost Plus World Markets and many more….
Silver Medal Winner - Great American Beer Festival 201
Don’s brewery team had a wonderful time in Denver at the GABF seeing old friends and trying so many terrific beers.
- Don Barkley – Master Brewer – GABF Silver Winner – Napa Smith Organic IPA
Here is a short video of Don Barkley on Napa Smith Organic IPA
Don Barkley on Napa Smith Organic IPA
And here is a link to some of the pictures from the brew pub opening on facebook… Napa Smith Brew Pub Opening
Napa Smith Brew Pub Opening
Napa Smith “Lost Dog” Red Ale blew out at the Brockway Pub in Carmel, Indiana just last weekend…
Smoke and Dave Hunter enjoying a Lost Dog at Brockway
Napa Smith "Lost Dog"
And an example of retail placements… Cost Plus World Market has Napa Smith on promotion in 130 stores right now.
Cost Plus World Markets Now has Napa Smith Beer
Napa Smith Lost Dog & Organic IPA
November 17, 2011 / by J Smoke Wallin / Make A Comment / Filed under 2011 Event
After a little break, I’m back updating the Drink Technology blog once again… lots to catch up on.. we had an amazing weekend down in Phoenix for the NASCAR SPRINT CUP CHASE… it was a big deal for 3 Amigos Tequila and Paddington Brands overall. We had the opportunity to bring in the Stealing Angels from Nashville who performed an amazing version of our national anthem before the Nationwide race on Saturday (LINK TO ANTHEM). (See PR below). I’ve added some pictures from their show. They are great so if you have not heard them yet, go download their songs on iTunes and check it out! More later…
RISING TRIO STEALING ANGELS CONTINUE MOMENTUM WITH “LITTLE BLUE SKY”
SLATED TO PERFORM NATIONAL ANTHEM FOR PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY’S WYPALL* 200 ON NOVEMBER 12
Nashville, TN (November 7, 2011) – It’s been a whirlwind year for the girls of Stealing Angels. Country music’s rising trio spent 2010 entertaining radio stations across the country, participating in the Minnesota Twins 20th Anniversary of their world series win, performing for the troops on the Turn Out The Lights USFI Tour in Iraq, being national ambassadors for American Humane Association and performing in the Humane Societies’ Red Star S.O.S. tour and opening for the likes of Tim McGraw and Lady Antebellum. They are keeping the momentum going with their newest single, “Little Blue Sky,” available at radio today and iTunes on November 8.
“We are so excited about getting this song out to our fans, friends and family” says Stealing Angels. “It is really special to us because everybody has somebody who is their little blue sky. We hope this song touches people and reminds them to appreciate the people that are most important in their lives.”
Stealing Angels are slated to perform the National Anthem live on ESPN 2 at the WYPALL* 200 powered by Kimberly-Clark Professional at Phoenix International Raceway on November 12. The girls will also perform a pre-race concert on PIR’s Fan Midway presented by Three Amigos Tequila. “3 Amigos Tequila is very excited to present the amazing trio – Stealing Angels and their new single to our many race fans – a perfect combination!” said J. Smoke Wallin, CEO of Paddington 3 Amigos.
www.PhoenixRaceway.com.
Here they are on the 3 Amigos Tequila – Budweiser Stage
The Angels performed for about 45 minutes then had the opportunity to perform the National Anthem before the NASCAR Nationwide Race.
Here is the video… it was an incredible performance. Really quite moving to everyone who witnessed it.
Stealing Angels perform The National Anthem at NASCAR in Phoenix
here are a couple of shots from the track
About 3 Amigos Tequila
3 Amigos is the “Official Tequila of Racing”™. Tequila 3 Amigos is produced in Tepatitlan, Jalisco, Mexico. Tepatitlan is located in the region of Los Altos de Jalisco (highlands of the state of Jalisco). Tequila 3 Amigos holds a high standard of making a quality tequila – “Quality is our Signature”, taking pride in exercising the best agricultural practices by growing and maintaining their blue agave organically, and harvesting their own agave at its prime ripeness, producing a tequila of the finest quality embodied with flavor and aromas pleasurable to any palate. http://3amigostequila.com/html/casa.html and on Twitter @tequila3amigos
About Paddington Brands
Paddington Brands (www.Paddingtonbrands.com) manages a portfolio of owned and agency premier import and craft beers, artisanal spirits and fine wines. Paddington owns the Napa Smith Brewery & Winery and 3 Amigos Tequila. Paddington is headquartered in the Indianapolis, Ind., metro area with offices in the United Kingdom and Napa, Calif., and a sales team covering the U.S. market and select international markets. Join us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Paddington-Brands/220043258012149 and Follow us on Twitter @Paddingtonbrands
