Building a legacy

Napa River Grill honors beloved sous chef

By: Tamsen Merrill

Published On: August 31, 2010

Kenny Black, by all accounts, was a popular and talented guy. With an infectious smile and outgoing personality, he had built a second family at Napa River Grill, and within a few short years went from building salads to creating signature menu dishes like the popular Ahi Nachos.

Right as his culinary star was rising, Black was killed in a motorcycle accident in April just shy of his 25th birthday. All who knew him were devastated. But a small group, “his culinary second family,” was determined to foster the legacy he didn’t have time to build.

The Napa River Grill Culinary Scholarship Fund, created in 2003, was proudly renamed the Kenneth Black Memorial Scholarship Fund within a week of Black’s death. The fund held its first big event, The Culinary Cup, on August 2 at Cardinal Club Golf Course in Simpsonville.

Golfers played the18-hole course in a shotgun start beneath an unrelenting sun and returned to the clubhouse drenched but happy. Asked how they played, golfers responded along the lines of teammates Robbie Blake and Joe Bishop “We’re definitely not on the leader board,” they laughed. “But we had a great time, and we’re glad to support the fund.”

Black’s fund was created in conjunction with his school, Sullivan University. Rothberg’s renewed goal is to build a solid endowment, allowing the scholarship to be offered while keeping the principal investment intact. With $35,000 in proceeds from this year’s tournament, the fund is rejuvenated, and more events are being planned.

David Malthaner, executive chef at Napa River Grill, explained local chefs’ commitment to Sullivan’s culinary program: “Sullivan supplies half of the restaurants here with qualified people.” He estimates that more 60 percent of Napa’s kitchen staff either attended or graduated from Sullivan.

Dick Brien, director of Sullivan’s Corporate Learning Center, is looking forward to the day the scholarship can be offered. “A local culinary program like this is a great place to honor Kenny, by helping people get through school and make a life.”

Dianah Mines, Kenny’s mother, muses about what her son would think. “I’m sure he’s smiling and saying, ‘Wow, all this for me?’ But I’m sure he’s proud of himself, too.” Mines has supported the fund with both praise and action: She, her family and coworkers raised $1,400 to sponsor four holes. “They have been so special,” she says of Napa River Grill’s staff. “There just are no words.”