Video by Matt Haugen, WSU News
PULLMAN, Wash. After just a taste of one of his signature dishes, it becomes obvious why Jamie Callison, executive chef for the Washington State University College of Business, is one of two chefs chosen to prepare food at the Washington State Governor’s Inaugural Ball VIP reception Jan. 16.
Callison and Chef John Fisher, Renton Technical Colleges School of Culinary Arts, who were selected for their culinary expertise and community work, will head to Olympia with their respective teams of hospitality students.
“I am very excited to be part of this event and to represent the School of Hospitality Business Management and Washington State University,” said Valkyrie Jordan, a student team member. “This is a great opportunity, and our team is ready to showcase to the Olympia community all of the skills and knowledge we have gained at school.”
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| Photo by Linda Weiford, WSU News |
The teams will prepare a menu highlighting Pacific Northwest products and the bounties of the WSU orchard, cattle ranch, creamery and organic farm. Callison and Fisher co-developed the menu, which includes Cougar cheese, WSU organic honey, Wagyu beef, lentils, fresh seafood and much more.
“It is an honor for Chef Fisher and me to be chosen to represent our programs and Washington state chefs for the VIP event; but more importantly, this is a great opportunity for our students to be part of a high-caliber event,” said Callison. “The knowledge they will gain from this experience will give them an advantage over their peers and prepare them for rewarding careers in hospitality and business management, one of the world’s largest industries.”
“It will be a unique experience to add to my resume,” said hospitality student Jessica Murray. “I helped make the appetizers for the ball four years ago with the Clark County Skills Center, though I did not actually attend. I am very excited to attend this year.”
Callison, CEC, AAC, and Fisher, CEC, CCE, AAC, have worked the ball on two previous occasions. They are members of the Washington State Chefs Association, which is catering all the events for the ball. Twenty-one schools and businesses will prepare food for Washington’s highest ranking officials, dignitaries and thousands of guests. Ball events support culinary scholarships and other educational benefits for aspiring chefs, as well as continuing education.
A highly accomplished culinary expert, Callison joined WSU in 2006 after serving as an apprentice under several chefs, working as a sous chef at the Seattle Yacht Club, running a large catering business and teaching a culinary apprenticeship class at Seattle Center Community College. He also was executive chef and director of food services at Lakeside School in Seattle for 15 years. After meeting rigorous cooking and business skills requirements set by the American Culinary Federation, Callison became a certified executive chef and an inducted member of the American Academy of Chefs, the honor society of the federation.
In fall 2013, Callison will publish a cookbook featuring highly acclaimed gourmet dishes long favored among guests of world-class events at WSU. Proceeds will support maintenance and replacement of equipment and furnishings in the College of Business J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation Hospitality Teaching Center. For more information on the cookbook, contact Jeff Pilcher, assistant director of development for the WSU College of Business, at 509-335-8906 or jeff.pilcher@wsu.edu.
About the College of Business
The WSU College of Business is accredited across all business disciplines at the baccalaureate, masters and doctoral levels by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Faculty across disciplines produce scholarly and applied research at the main campus in Pullman as well as at urban campuses in Vancouver and the Tri-Cities. International activities include academic centers in China and Switzerland as well as thriving partnerships with several schools around the globe. Innovative online programs supplement face-to-face offerings. For more information, visit http://www.business.wsu.edu.
Contacts:
Sue McMurray, WSU College of Business, 509-335-7578, sue.mcmurray@wsu.edu
Jamie Callison, WSU College of Business, 509-335-7426, jcallison@wsu.edu