West Side chef to share ‘secret sauce’ with public

By RAELYNN RICARTE

News staff writer

West Side Firefighter Chuck Walston doesn’t claim to make the best spaghetti sauce in the world, but he says that his secret recipe comes pretty close.

Walston will only reveal that he uses canned tomato sauce as a base and then “goes from there.” He’s keeping mum about the other ingredients that have made him a popular chef in the fire district with 55 volunteers.

“His spaghetti is excellent, actually — I think he must use Italian sausage,” said David Dexter, fellow firefighter.

Community members will have an opportunity to try out Walston’s special sauce at the Gorge Heroes Club fundraiser on Saturday. The fire district has donated most of the ingredients, and all of the labor, to prepare a spaghetti lunch that will be served at the Hood River Armory, 1520 12th St.

“We decided to help GHC because we are a community-based organization and supporting our local troops seemed like the right thing to do,” said Walston.

The armory’s kitchen is still in the process of being remodeled so West Side will cook the sauce and prepare the salad at its station on Barrett Drive. The food will then be transported to the armory and served to the public from noon to 2 p.m.

The 69 soldiers in training this weekend will be qualifying on the rifle range and have spaghetti delivered in take-out containers.

As well as spaghetti and salad, the lunch includes bread, dessert and a beverage at a cost of $9 per adult, $5 for children ages 10 and under and $25 for parents and their children. Proceeds will be used to pay shipping costs for care packages and to sponsor the National Guard families’ Christmas dinner.

Holiday boxes for the troops will also be assembled at 1 p.m. Nov. 21 in the armory. All area residents are invited to help fill the care packages for men and women serving in the military from the Gorge area.

GHC is a nonprofit and non-partisan group that was established to support the troops and to educate the public about challenges faced by individuals serving in combat zones.

Joining West Side in donating either money or goods to the spaghetti feed were local businesses: D&S Frame and Body, Les Schwab Tire Company, Walmart, Rosauers, Safeway, Kiyokawa Orchards and Mountain Valley Meat Service.

Western Family Foods in Portland has also provided a gift certificate to be used toward supplies.