April 2008

Fellow Cooks and Chefs,

It's been another great month for military food service.  IFSEA held their Annual Awards conference at the Adam’s Mark Hotel in Denver
Colorado.  

-IFSEA Conference-
I wasn’t able to make it out this year but from what I hear everything went as usual.

Congratulations to all the Winners!
Army Winners
Navy Winners
Military Sealift Command Winners
Coast Guard Winners
Click here for the IFSEA Hotline Magazine Including the Event Brochure and pics of all the winners.

What I would like to do, using our forum, is open a dialog on how you think the conference went. The Military paid good money for you
to attend this event. Did see anything that could have improved your experience? 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: Chef Robert Irvine)?  Many Military Food Service Affiliates frequent this board on a regular basis; this is the thread to get
your voice heard..

For more information click here for our new Military Food Service Awards Page..

-Freedom Chef Challenge-
Next week I will be attending and hopefully grabbing video footage of the Beehive Chef’s ACF Western Regional.  You are probably
wondering.. What does this have to do with Military Chefs???  -->  “For the first time ever in recorded history of the world every branch
of the United States Armed Forces will send the cream of the crop, two man culinary teams to enter the Pentagon and do battle,
against each other. The Pentagon will be stationed in the middle of the convention hall with the trade show booths in a circle around the
Pentagon.

The teams will be armed with chef knives, pots, pans and ovens and a mountain of food, including a feature item food product to
choose from. The judging panel will consist of highly decorated military Generals, local celebrities and culinary judges. Two roving
cameras and reporters will catch the action and interview the teams while cooking and the action will be displayed on giant screens
hanging above the pentagon. “

- ACF Beehive Chefs Chapter Web Page

Can’t wait to see (and film) the competitors in action.

Check out more here.

-How to Become a Military Chef-
I receive many emails from junior cooks and potential recruits asking what they need to do to become Chefs in the Military. Example:

“I am currently attending the California Culinary Academy. I am interested in being a chef for the Military. I want to serve my country in
the best way I know how by serving them great food from all around the world. I am 18yrs old started the CCA when I was 17. I have
been working in restaurants since I was 13yrs old. I got my first sous chef job when I was 17yrs old. I may be young but I have an old
soul. Thank you for taking time to read my letter.”

I usually respond with the path I feel a Coastie should take to become a chef and give them the contact information for Chefs in all the
other services.

Instead of responding to potential recruits/junior cooks this way, I was hoping to create a thread that explains the process, for each
service, on how a young cook can work their way to becoming a chef through the military. When I receive these emails I will be able to
send them a link to this forum where they can read your views on what options they have to reach their goals.

Please help us out by responding here with your opinion on the correct path for a potential recruit to become a Military Chef in your
service.

Thanks!

-Chef of the Month-
Congratulations to Marine GySgt. William J. Allison Jr. the Military Chef of the Month for April

The Culinary Institute of America is going to provide a free class to the winner of the May 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.  Being in the Navy will play a large part in our selection process next month.  So get those packages
in today!  Click here to apply:

-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!

-Jimmy Z

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

National Restaurant Association
May 17th – 20th
NRA RESTAURANT AND HOTEL/MOTEL SHOW
McCormick Place
Chicago, Ill.
312.853.2525
www.restaurant.org

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


Research & Development Associates for Military
Food & Packaging Systems
June 2nd – 4th
R&DA 62ND ANNUAL SPRING MEETING AND
EXHIBITION
Naples Grande Resort & Club
Naples, Fla.
Fax: 210.493-8036
www.militaryfood.org
Ice Carving
By Jimmy Z
Culinary Contest
By Army Newswatch
Navy Chef Shares Skills
By Pentagon Channel
‘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...
Marine chef takes care of business  3/27/2008  
MCRD PARRIS ISLAND/ERR, S.C.  — Professional chefs are well known for being highly temperamental individuals. Marines are not exactly known for their
friendly demeanor, either.
Click here to read more of this Marine Corps Food Service Specialist news article...
Corps' fancy new mess hall first of its kind  2/22/2008
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.  — If you are tired of the same old mess hall food, relief has arrived in the form of a new and improved mess
hall that offers a revamped menu.
Click here to read more of this Marine Corps Food Service Specialist news article...
EATC debuts Advanced Culinary Class 2/15/2008
ANDREWS AFB, Md. -- The Executive Airlift Training Center recently introduced an Advanced Culinary Class as part of it's curriculum.
Click here to read more of this Air Force Services news article...
Army Cooks in Afghanistan Provide a Taste of Home 04/01/2008
FORWARD OPERATING BASE SHARANA, Afghanistan, April 1, 2008 – Army cooks from Task Force Pacemaker in Afghanistan are providing their own
unique touch and a taste of home with each hot meal they serve to soldiers throughout Regional Command East.
Click here to read more of this Military Food Service Specialist news article...
Enlisted Aides Support Mission Behind Scenes 3/15/2008
Fort Lee, Va - If the general looks sharp in his uniform, they'll beam with pride. If the admiral's official quarters are clean and orderly, they'll gladly take credit.
And if the ambassador to Japan is floored by the hors d'oeuvres, the hospitality knockout is all theirs.
Click here to read more of this Army Food Service Specialist news article...
DFACs Take Nutrition Challenge 3/09/2008
The spirit of competition continues at Fort Lee’s dining facilities. As part of March’s National Nutrition Month, four dining facilities faced the challenge of
educating patrons about nutrition as much as they provided nutritious choices.
Click here to read more of this Army Food Service Specialist news article...
Outstanding Food Service Winners Named 02/29/2008
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. (NNS) -- Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter has announced the 2008 winners of the Navy Captain Edward F. Ney Memorial
Awards for outstanding food service.
Click here to read more of this Navy Culinary Specialist news article...
Navy Luncheon Honors 50th Ney Award Winners 4/8/2008
DENVER (NNS) -- Experts in Navy food service gathered in Denver, to recognize first-place winners of the 50th Captain Edward F. Ney Memorial Awards for
Outstanding Food Service.
Click here to read more of this Navy Culinary Specialist news article...