This photograph of chilled pasta salad made by chef Mathew Wendel was taken by Bruce White. Wendel served the dish at President George W. Bush’s Prairie Chapel Ranch near Crawford, Texas. Wendel became acquainted with the Bush family in 1995, while working at the Governor's Mansion in Austin, Texas, as a waiter-caterer with the Word of Mouth catering company. After Bush was elected president in 2000, Wendel prepared comforting meals for the first family during their trips to Camp David and during visits home to the Prairie Chapel Ranch near Crawford, Texas.

This photograph of handwritten grocery lists written by chef Matthew Wendel was taken by Bruce White on February 11, 2020. Wendel was the cooked and entertained for President George W. Bush and his family. For efficiency, Wendel based the lists on the store's layout, and he also divided the items into categories so when they were bagged they could quickly be put away at the Bush’s Prairie Chapel Ranch near Crawford, Texas. Wendel became acquainted with the Bush family in 1995, while working at the Governor's Mansion in Austin, Texas, as a waiter-caterer with the Word of Mouth catering company. After Bush was elected president in 2000, Wendel prepared comforting meals for the first family during their trips to Camp David and during visits home to the Prairie Chapel Ranch.

This photograph of chilled serrano honeydew melon soup prepared by chef Mathew Wendel was taken by Bruce White on October 29, 2020. Wendel served the dish at President George W. Bush’s Prairie Chapel Ranch near Crawford, Texas. Wendel became acquainted with the Bush family in 1995, while working at the Governor's Mansion in Austin, Texas, as a waiter-caterer with the Word of Mouth catering company. After Bush was elected president in 2000, Wendel prepared comforting meals for the first family during their trips to Camp David and during visits home to the Prairie Chapel Ranch.

This photograph of a cheese platter made by chef Mathew Wendel was taken by Bruce White on October 30, 2019. The platter was prepared by Wendel for his book, Recipes from the Ranch. Wendel became acquainted with President George W. Bush’s family in 1995, while working at the Governor's Mansion in Austin, Texas, as a waiter-caterer with the Word of Mouth catering company. After Bush was elected president in 2000, Wendel prepared comforting meals for the first family during their trips to Camp David and during visits home to the Prairie Chapel Ranch near Crawford, Texas.

This photograph of a cheese platter made by chef Mathew Wendel was taken by Bruce White on October 30, 2019. The platter was prepared by Wendel for his book, Recipes from the Ranch. Wendel became acquainted with President George W. Bush’s family in 1995, while working at the Governor's Mansion in Austin, Texas, as a waiter-caterer with the Word of Mouth catering company. After Bush was elected president in 2000, Wendel prepared comforting meals for the first family during their trips to Camp David and during visits home to the Prairie Chapel Ranch near Crawford, Texas.

This sweet and smokey cheeseburger prepared by chef Matthew Wendel was taken by Bruce White on October 30, 2019. First Lady Laura Bush liked the burgers to be prepared with toasted wheat bun, burger patties blended with barbeque sauce, and topped with extra sharp cheddar cheese. Wendel became acquainted with the Bush family in 1995, while working at the Governor's Mansion in Austin, Texas, as a waiter-caterer with the Word of Mouth catering company. After Bush was elected president in 2000, Wendel prepared comforting meals for the first family during their trips to Camp David and during visits home to the Prairie Chapel Ranch near Crawford, Texas.

This photograph of a blueberry pie prepared by chef Matthew Wendel was taken by Bruce White on October 30, 2019. Wendel became acquainted with President George Bush’s family in 1995, while working at the Governor's Mansion in Austin, Texas, as a waiter-caterer with the Word of Mouth catering company. After Bush was elected president in 2000, Wendel prepared comforting meals for the first family during their trips to Camp David and during visits home to the Prairie Chapel Ranch near Crawford, Texas.

This photograph of chicken and dumplings prepared by chef Matthew Wendel was taken by Bruce White on October 30, 2019. Wendel became acquainted with President George W. Bush‘s family in 1995, while working at the Governor's Mansion in Austin, Texas, as a waiter-caterer with the Word of Mouth catering company. After Bush was elected president in 2000, Wendel prepared comforting meals for the first family during their trips to Camp David and during visits home to the Prairie Chapel Ranch near Crawford, Texas.

This photograph of guacamole and tortilla chips prepared by chef Matthew Wendel was taken by Bruce White on October 30, 2019. Wendel became acquainted with President George W. Bush’s family in 1995, while working at the Governor's Mansion in Austin, Texas, as a waiter-caterer with the Word of Mouth catering company. After Bush was elected president in 2000, Wendel prepared comforting meals for the first family during their trips to Camp David and during visits home to the Prairie Chapel Ranch near Crawford, Texas.

This photograph of ingredients that chef Matthew Wendel used to prepare guacamole was taken by Bruce White on October 30, 2019. The ingredients include lemons, salt, pepper, avocado, cilantro, serrano chilies, and green onions. Wendel became acquainted with President George W. Bush‘S family in 1995, while working at the Governor's Mansion in Austin, Texas, as a waiter-caterer with the Word of Mouth catering company. After Bush was elected president in 2000, Wendel prepared comforting meals for the first family during their trips to Camp David and during visits home to the Prairie Chapel Ranch near Crawford, Texas.

The photograph of Velva’s hot rolls and soup prepared by chef Matthew Wendel, her son, was taken by Bruce White on October 30, 2019. Wendel used his mother's recipe to create the rolls and typically served them at Camp David and Prarie Chapel Ranch for special holidays. Wendel became acquainted with President George W. Bush’s family in 1995, while working at the Governor's Mansion in Austin, Texas, as a waiter-caterer with the Word of Mouth catering company. After Bush was elected president in 2000, Wendel prepared comforting meals for the first family during their trips to Camp David and during visits home to the Prairie Chapel Ranch near Crawford, Texas.

This photograph of Velva's famous cinnamon rolls prepared by her son, chef Mathew Wendel, was taken by Bruce White on October 30, 2019. Wendel became acquainted with President George W. Bush’s family in 1995, while working at the Governor's Mansion in Austin, Texas, as a waiter-caterer with the Word of Mouth catering company. After Bush was elected president in 2000, Wendel prepared comforting meals for the first family during their trips to Camp David and during visits home to the Prairie Chapel Ranch near Crawford, Texas.

This photograph of chef Matthew Wendel preparing a blueberry pie was taken by Bruce White on October 30, 2019. Wendel became acquainted with President George W. Bush’s family in 1995, while working at the Governor's Mansion in Austin, Texas, as a waiter-caterer with the Word of Mouth catering company. After Bush was elected president in 2000, Wendel prepared comforting meals for the first family during their trips to Camp David and during visits home to the Prairie Chapel Ranch near Crawford, Texas.

This photograph of chef Matthew Wendel preparing his grandmother's chicken and dumplings was taken by Bruce White on October 30, 2019. He served the dish on cold winter days at Camp David. Wendel became acquainted with President George W. Bush’s family in 1995, while working at the Governor's Mansion in Austin, Texas, as a waiter-caterer with the Word of Mouth catering company. After Bush was elected president in 2000, Wendel prepared comforting meals for the first family during their trips to Camp David and during visits home to the Prairie Chapel Ranch near Crawford, Texas.

This photograph of chef Matthew Wendel preparing his grandmother's chicken and dumplings was taken by Bruce White on October 30, 2019. He served the dish on cold winter days at Camp David. Wendel became acquainted with President George W. Bush’s family in 1995, while working at the Governor's Mansion in Austin, Texas, as a waiter-caterer with the Word of Mouth catering company. After Bush was elected president in 2000, Wendel prepared comforting meals for the first family during their trips to Camp David and during visits home to the Prairie Chapel Ranch near Crawford, Texas.