Air Force takes third in annual culinary competition

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Matthew Bates
  • Defense Media Activity-San Antonio
WASHINGTON, D.C. (AFNS) --  An Air Force team took third place in the Military Hospitality Alliance's seventh annual Military Culinary Competition at the Marine Barracks here Sept. 25.

The team of four Airmen and one Sailor ranked third out of 13 teams by a panel of military and civilian chefs who acted as judges for the competition.

First place went to a team from the Naval Support Activity-Washington and second to a team from the Coast Guard. The winning team received $1,000 and a certificate to attend a Department of Defense culinary course.

"It's a real honor to win," said Petty Officer First Class Carole Rose, the head chef for the winning team. "This is my third year competing and its awesome to finally win."

The competition brings top chefs from around the DOD together and allows them to compete against each other in a head-to-head cook-off.

"This competition brings the best military chefs together and lets them find out who's the best," said Master Sgt. Damion Peterson, an enlisted aide at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and MHA president.

During the competition, each team is given a mystery box containing the ingredients that must be used to create an appetizer and an entrée within two hours.

"While the teams are cooking, we look at how well they work together, how well they use time management, how their food is presented, and, of course, how good it tastes," said Adam Shapiro, a guest judge and chef from a local restaurant.

For the Air Force, this marks the second consecutive year the team has placed third.

"That's pretty good, considering the Air Force never even placed before last year," said Senior Master Sgt. Keith Smith, the lead chef for the Air Force team. "So, we keep getting better, and that's what matters."