Chef Dan Thiessen, has been selected as the Guest Chef for the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers (WAWGG) annual industry banquet at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick, WA, February 7. There, Thiessen, supported by select Walla Walla Community College (WWCC) culinary students, will develop and coordinate the menu and wines for the banquet held during the association’s 2013 annual meeting, convention, and trade show.
With 4 years of culinary instructor experience and a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), Chef Dan Thiessen, Director of Culinary Arts at WWCC, has worked kitchens in Aspen, Switzerland, and Idaho. His local credits include opening Instructor at the Art Institute of Seattle for 3 years as well as Executive Chef at The Space Needle, Golf Club at Newcastle, Chandler’s Crabhouse, Corporate Chef of Salty’s Restaurants, and Chef/Owner of the 0/8 Seafood Grill and Twisted Cork Wine Bar.
Thiessen has been featured in local, regional and national publications for quotes, recipes, industry insights and tips, throughout his career. He has also made television appearances and hosted his own radio cooking show. His background from the CIA, and working in Europe, provided a firm foundation on the fundamentals of cooking as well as restaurant ownership, and a unique ability to teach culinary management and leadership skills to those interested in a career in the industry.
“The pairing of WAWGG with WWCC is a natural for this event,” says WAWGG Chair, Lynn Chamberlain of Spofford Station Vineyards, Walla Walla. The Walla Walla Community College also has an established Viticulture and Enology program that has produced award-winning wines. Chamberlain was in the first class of the program.
The Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers’ Annual Meeting, Convention and Trade Show is the premier educational opportunity for the Northwest grape and wine industry. One of the largest events of its kind, the WAWGG Convention draws key industry players including wine grape growers, wineries, winemakers, marketers, product and service providers, educators and media from throughout the US, Canada and Europe.
The Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers advocates for the Washington wine growing industry by educating, promoting, representing, and unifying the industry and encouraging a positive business environment for continued growth and production of world-class, Washington-grown wines.
More information: www.wawgg.org