FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Kristen Jarnagin

Public Relations Director
Phone (520) 796-8246 Fax:
(520)796-8333
E-mail: Kristen.jarnagin@sheraton.com
www.WildHorsePassResort.com

KAI AT SHERATON WILD HORSE PASS RESORT & SPA ANNOUNCES

JACK STRONG AS CHEF DE CUISINE

PHOENIX, AZ – April 2006 – The famed Native American culinary creations will surge ahead at Kai at
the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa under the talents of new Native American Chef de Cuisine,
Jack Strong.
With an extensive background of incorporating locally grown and indigenous ingredients into
high-end and specialty menus, Strong brings a rare combination of Native American heritage and luxury
culinary experience to the already renowned and award-winning Kai restaurant on the Gila River Indian
Community.
Most recently acting as Sous Chef at The Phoenician’s Windows on the Green restaurant, Strong
jumped at the opportunity to be part of the Kai team where he can fulfill his dream of furthering the
advancement of Native American cuisine and giving back to the local Native Community.
Strong hails from the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians in Oregon and has a long history of
utilizing his culinary skills for Community involvement. Devoting much of his time to Tribal initiatives for
Community youth programs such as cooking for Siletz youth conferences, camps and giving public talks
on culinary career opportunities, Strong looks forward to transferring those experiences to benefit Kai’s
existing programs with the Gila Crossing Elementary School’s agricultural curriculum and other entities
such as the Gila River Farms.
As Chef de Cuisine at Kai, Strong will work with the Resort’s executive chef, Michael O’Dowd and
Kai’s consulting chef, Janos Wilder to develop menus, execute daily operations, manage food costs and
staffing and promote guest satisfaction.
“Being on the culinary staff at Kai is a dream come true for me,” said Chef de Cuisine, Jack
Strong. “Having the ability to advance Native American culinary artistry with the guidance of the incredibly
talented and passionate Chef O’Dowd and Chef Janos is a new pinnacle in my career.”
Strong has spent the last two years at The Phoenician where he was nominated for a leadership
of the quarter award and prior to that he had worked his way up to Co-Executive Chef at that acclaimed
Adam’s Place fine dining restaurant in Eugene, Oregon where he was two-time associate of the year
winner. Strong’s work ethic comes from a background mixed with formal culinary arts training and more
than 14 years of restaurant and kitchen experience. He is a bachelor who resides in Phoenix and enjoys
golf, basketball and fine wine. Strong replaces former chef de cuisine, Sandy Garcia, who pursued an
opportunity to move his family to California.
Kai is one of Phoenix’s most talked-about dining experiences and incorporates the essence of the
Pima and Maricopa tribes into the menu and restaurant décor. Kai, the Pima word for ‘seed’, will treat you
with a contemporary approach to Native American cuisine in a rich yet relaxing atmosphere. Executive
Chef Michael O’Dowd and James Beard Award-winning consulting chef Janos Wilder are renowned for
creating unique menu experiences that utilize indigenous Native American ingredients. Kai’s menu
features citrus from the Gila River Farms and items from Native Seed SEARCH, which is a foundation
that preserves ancient Native American seed lines that would otherwise be extinct. In addition, the Kai
team works with the local Gila Crossing Elementary School on an agricultural curriculum and incorporates
the children’s lettuce, vegetables and seeds in several menu items.

The Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa is Arizona’s only Native American-owned luxury
resort. Located on the Gila River Indian Community, this resort features 500 culturally themed
guestrooms, the 17,500 sq. ft. Aji Spa with Native American-inspired treatments, 36-holes of Troon Golf,
four swimming pools, a waterslide and one of Arizona’s top rated restaurants, Kai.

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