Walter Scheib facts for kids

Walter Stanley Scheib III (born May 3, 1954 – died June 13, 2015) was a famous American chef. He was the main chef at the White House for many years, from 1994 to 2005.

Becoming a Chef: Walter Scheib's Journey

Early Life and Cooking Passion

Walter Scheib was born in Oakland, California, on May 3, 1954. His dad worked for the Atomic Energy Commission. His mom was an accountant. When Walter was young, his family moved to Bethesda, Maryland.

Walter's mom loved French cooking. She taught him to enjoy different flavors. Walter's favorite TV shows were about cooking. He often helped his mom in the kitchen. He became very good at cooking. As a teenager, he worked in restaurants. He washed dishes, cleared tables, and helped prepare food.

Learning at Culinary School

Walter finished high school in 1972. He first went to the University of Maryland. But he soon left to follow his passion for cooking. He joined The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. He graduated from this famous cooking school in 1979.

First Jobs as a Chef

After school, Walter worked in France for a while. Then he moved to Washington, D.C.. He got a job at the Capital Hilton hotel. In just three years, he became the chef de cuisine, which means the head chef.

Later, he worked as an executive chef at the Boca Raton Resort in Florida. He also worked at the Mayflower Hotel in D.C. In 1990, he became the executive chef at The Greenbrier. This is a fancy resort in West Virginia. There, he led a team of 200 chefs. They often made 1,000 meals in one night!

Cooking for Presidents: The White House Years

How Walter Became White House Chef

The White House needed a new head chef in 1994. The previous chef left because he didn't want to cook low-fat American food. This was what President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton wanted.

Walter Scheib's wife sent in his application without him knowing. About 4,000 chefs applied for the job! Only five were asked to show their cooking skills to Mrs. Clinton. She was impressed by Walter's ability to manage a big kitchen. She also liked that he could make many great meals quickly. Mrs. Clinton wanted more American-style dishes at the White House. She also wanted less creamy and fatty French food.

Walter cooked a special meal for Mrs. Clinton. It included pecan-crusted lamb and red-curried sweet potatoes. He showed off many different American cooking styles. Hillary Clinton chose Walter Scheib to be the new White House Executive Chef.

The Clinton Family's Meals

As White House chef, Walter made some changes. He started a vegetable garden on the White House roof. He also helped update the kitchen. He even taught Chelsea Clinton, the President's daughter, how to cook.

The Clintons had different food tastes. Hillary Clinton liked spicy sauces. Bill Clinton loved cheeseburgers and big steaks. Chelsea Clinton became a vegetarian in 1999. This meant the kitchen staff had to be very careful. They couldn't use the same tools for meat and vegetables.

Cooking for the Bush Family

Usually, the White House chef stays when a new president comes. So, Walter Scheib continued as chef when President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush moved in. But the Bushes had different tastes. Laura Bush liked more formal meals. President Bush didn't like soup, salad, or poached fish. He preferred peanut butter and honey sandwiches, BLTs, and cheeseburgers. The Bush daughters wanted to know the calories in each meal.

After the September 11 attacks in 2001, there were fewer big events at the White House. Walter mostly cooked for the First Family. President Bush even called him "Cookie."

Leaving the White House

Over time, the differences in food tastes became too much. Walter Scheib left his job in February 2005. He was replaced by Cristeta Comerford. She was a sous-chef (assistant chef) whom Walter had hired in 1995.

During his time at the White House, Walter Scheib worked long hours. He often cooked three meals a day for the First Family. He also cooked for many important guests. These included leaders like Tony Blair, Diana, Princess of Wales, and Nelson Mandela. Both the Clintons and Bushes enjoyed enchiladas, fresh fruit, salads, and sorbet. And both presidents sometimes asked for junk food when their wives weren't around!

After the White House: New Adventures

In 2007, Walter Scheib wrote a book called The White House Chef. It was about his time cooking for the presidents. He then started a company called The American Chef. He became a consultant and speaker. He also helped plan and cook meals for large groups. He traveled a lot, visiting many U.S. states and countries.

Walter also appeared on the TV show Iron Chef America in 2006.

Walter Scheib's Death

Walter Scheib went hiking in Taos, New Mexico, on June 13, 2015. He went missing that day. His body was found on June 21, 2015.

An autopsy showed that Walter died from drowning. The area where he was hiking can have flash floods. Thunderstorms had happened the day he went missing. His body was found in a ravine where water from the storms was flowing.

Walter Scheib's Family Life

Walter Scheib met his first wife, Jean Prince, at the Capital Hilton. She was also a chef. They had two sons, Walter S. Scheib IV and James Prince. Their marriage later ended.

Walter then married Yvonne Swartz. Their marriage also ended.