March 2008

Fellow Cooks and Chefs,

What a great month for military food service.  The United States Army Culinary Arts Program held the 33rd Annual US Army Culinary
Arts Competition held in Fort Lee VA.  

-Army Competition-
What an amazing event this year! Everyone at the competition was so kind and helpful. I was impressed as always. It was great to finally
meet some of the best of the best (CW4 Travis Smith, Master Sgt. Mark Warren, and Master Sgt. Turcotte) and compete with some of
the greats once again.

Nearly 200 Military Chefs competed this year. All five services were represented. Hundreds of individual and team events were held.
This is the largest Culinary Competition in America and needless to say a huge undertaking for culinary staff at Fort Lee.

From my view point (low ranking competitor) I feel they did an amazing job and I’m grateful the Army has allowed the other services to
compete in this once in a life time experience for the military cook.

What I would like to do, using our forum, is open a dialog on ways to improve the competition. Did you see anything that could have
improved the experience for the competitors? Is there something in the past that has gone to the wayside and might need to be brought
back? Did you notice something new that was a success and should be included next year (example: the new certifications testing)?.
Many high ranking military food service members frequent this board on a regular basis; this is the thread to get your voice heard...  

I was able to gather up a large amount of video footage thanks to Fort Lee's Public Affairs and Army Food Service Staff. I will be putting
together a few videos shortly including the Field Kitchen, Cold Buffet, Ice Carving and an Overall Competition Video.  I've already
finished a video on the K and P Categories.  You can check it out here...

We are looking forward to seeing everyone again next year.  There seemed to be a great deal of interest from the Air Force, Navy and
the Marines to follow in the Coast Guards foot steps and compete for Military Installation of the year in 2009.  It would be incredible to
see all five services competing with each other for two straight weeks, in 11 events, at the ACF level.

For more information on the competition click here...

-IFSEA Conference-
IFSEA is holding their annual awards conference on April 3-6, 2008 at the Adam's Mark Hotel in Denver, Colorado.

Congratulations to all the winning units!  

"IFSEA's Conference highlights the Navy Ney's 50th anniversary, with a crowd of almost 1000 people - club managers, hotel directors,
health care administrators, military, students, professors, a bit of everything.  Excellent education, networking, mentoring, scholarships,
awards, and all done in one of the most exciting destinations in the world, Denver!"
-IFSEA Web Page

More info here.

-Chef of the Month-
Congratulations to Air Force SSgt Joshua C. Pallardy the Military Chef of the Month for March

The Culinary Institute of America is going to provide a free class to the winner of the April Military Chef of the Month Award and
MilitaryChefs.com will be sending the winner a $200 check.  We are proud to award the Chef of the Month for their accomplishments.  If
you were thinking about submitting a package for Chef of the Month, now is the time to do it before the competition increases.  We
have no packages from the Navy or Marines.  Being in the navy or the Marines will play a large part in our selection process next
month.  So get those packages in today!  Click here to apply:

-Quick Notes-
Original Productions is casting Military Chefs for an upcoming food series.  Some of the companies shows include: The Deadliest
Catch, Lobster Wars, Raw Nature, Ice Road Truckers, Ocean Force, The Con Game, Twister Sisters, Monster Garage, Monster House
and many others.  Click here to find out how to apply.

The American Culinary Federation holds its western regional conference in Salt Lake City next month, the festivities will include a salute
to the military chef - and a competition between the top chefs from each of the five military service branches. "We're going to do it Iron
Chef style," said Talcot, "but instead of Kitchen Stadium, we've got Kitchen Pentagon." The event is April 18 to 22 at the Hilton Salt
Lake.  Check out more here.

Someone wants to pick out one of the Military Chef of the Month's to compete is a culinary competition in Paris France. They will pay for
the flight and the hotel. More info soon.

-Want a Bachelors Degree?-

MilitaryChefs.com had no intentions of advertising until we came across this program.  This Online Degree seems like it was built for the
Military Chef.  I’m not sure if they realize how well their online class structure fits the Military cook’s needs.  Would you like a Bachelor’s
Degree from the New England Culinary Institute, one of the top ranked culinary schools in America?  With this program you can make it
happen even with your Military commitments.  MilitaryChefs.com is proud to support the Online Bachelor’s Degree from the New
England Culinary Institute.  Check it out here

-Help us Out-
We can use your help!  Please post on our forums.  This will help us build a military food service community where we can learn,
exchange ideas and network with each other. Also, please be kind enough to distribute this email to everyone you know who may find
MilitaryChefs.com and this newsletter useful.

Thank you for your support!

-James Swenson

International Food Service Executives
Association
April 3rd - 6th
107th ANNUAL IFSEA CONFERENCE & SEMINAR
Adam's Mark Hotel
Denver, Colo.
702.564.0997
www.ifsea.com

ACF Western Regional Conference
April 19-21
"Freedom Chef Challenge" Americas best military
chefs go head to head in the Kitchen.
http://www.acfutahchefs.org/
http://www.acfchefsRegionalConferences/Westernt.cfm
For more information contact SFC Jason Talcott @
jason.talcott@us.army.mil

Research & Development Associates for
Military Food & Packaging Systems
April 28th – 29th
R&DA QUALITY SUMMIT
Natick, Mass.
Fax: 210.493-8036
www.militaryfood.org

Birite Foodservice Distributors
April 16th – 17th
BIRITE PRIME VENDOR FOOD SHOW
Club Alliance, FA Yokosuka, Japan
800.227.5373
www.biritefoodservice.com



U.S. General Services Administration
April 22nd – 24th
GSA PRODUCTS & SERVICES EXPO 2008
Anaheim Convention Center
Anaheim, Calif.
888.272.5565
www.expo.gsa.gov


Food Services, Inc.
May 7th
FSI PRIME VENDOR FOOD SHOW
Surfside Club, Camp Kinser, Okinawa, Japan
360.416.5132
www.foodservicesinc.com
Dinner Is  
Served
Created by Army Now
Grill Sergeants:
Greens
By Pentagon Channel
2006 IFSEA/MHA Military
Awards
Created by Jimmy Z
U.S. Army
Culinary Arts Competition
Where the Best Come to Compete
Congratulations to all of the Military Chefs who
participated in this year's competition
Armed Forces
Chef of the Year
GYSGT William Allison
The Following is From the Fort Lee Public Affairs Competition Web Page:
Thank you to Fort Lee for allowing us to attend and cover this event!
Installation of the Year
Fort Carson
Culinary Arts Competition Heats Up 03/13/2008
FORT LEE, Va  - The Army's top chefs gathered at the Army Center of Excellence, Subsistence, here this week to trade recipes, techniques, join the Culinary
Arts Team and become better chefs.
Click here to read more of this Army Food Service Specialist news article...
Food Service Instructors Savor Challenge 03/12/2008
Fort Lee, Va.  -- A last minute team cancellation at the Armed Forces Field Kitchen Event March 7 provided a group of Fort Lee food service instructors the
opportunity to showcase their skills.
Click here to read more of this Army Food Service Specialist news article...
Judges Ensure Military Culinarians Improve Their Craft 03/11/2008
Fort Lee, Va. - Chef judges do more than just grill the culinarians at this competition. They mentor them as much as they judge their work.
Click here to read more of this Army Food Service Specialist news article...
‘Standing Tall, Cooking Good’ 03/14/2008
The 33rd U.S. Army Culinary Competition capped two weeks of intense competition, training and camaraderie with an awards ceremony held Friday at Mifflin
Hall.
Click here to read more of this Army Food Service Specialist news article...
Always Ready Coast Guard Team Returns 03/10/2008
“Semper Paratus,” or “always ready,” is the Coast Guard’s motto.  And ready was just what they were as they competed for the first time in the Installation of
the Year category during the 33rd U.S. Army Culinary Arts Competition.
Click here to read more of this Army Food Service Specialist news article...