FORT LEE, Va. - With more than 250 competitors and 788 competitive entries, this culinary competition is the largest of its kind in North America. It was also the closest for Installation of the Year Candidates, with first through third place being separated by only 1.06 points. The point spread between second and third was an astonishing .0063 points.
"The fact that the results were so close, just shows how extremely competitive it was this year," said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Russell Campbell, chief, Advanced Food Service Training Division, Joint Culinary Center of Excellence. "We had extremely talented professionals fighting for every point and it showed in the quality of their food throughout the week."
The culinary program is sanctioned by the American Culinary Federation and managed by the Combined Arms Support Command's Quartermaster School. In all, 547 medals were presented at the culminating award ceremony held March 11. The 122 gold, 217 silver and 208 bronze medals received from federation entries can be used toward chef certification.
Installation of the Year: Team Pentagon
- Second Place: Fort Bragg, N.C.
- Third Place: Team Coast Guard
Winners in the other major competition categories are:
- Armed Forces Chef of the Year: Sgt. Billy Daugette, Team Pentagon
- Armed Forces Junior Chef of the Year: Senior Airman Ghil Medina, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
- Army Enlisted Aide of the Year: Sgt. 1st Class Steven Broome
- Field Cooking Competition: Team Coast Guard
-- Second Place: Team Pentagon
-- Third Place: Fort Carson, Colo.
- Best Decorated Table for Field Competition: Fort Riley, Kan.
- Student Team Skills Competition: Team Coast Guard
- Nutritional Hot Food Challenge: Staff Sgt. Orlando Serna & Spc. Sarah Deckert, Team Pentagon
- Baron H. Galand Culinary Knowledge Bowl: Fort Bragg, N.C.
- Best Ice Carving in Show: Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jeffery Lein & Master Sgt. Travis Jones, Fort Bragg, N.C.
Winners in Special Categories included:
- Best Exhibit in Show (Cat A, Cold Platter): Spc. Sarah Deckert, Team Pentagon
- Best Exhibit in Show (Cat B, Cold Appetizers): Pvt. Chelsea Karr, Team Europe
- Best Exhibit in Show (Cat. C, Patisserie/Confectionery): Pfc. Martha Cobble, Fort Riley, Kan.
- Best Exhibit in Show (Cat. D, Showpiece): Spc. Samantha Gaytan, Fort Carson, Colo.
- Most Artistic Exhibit in Show: Staff Sgt. Orlando Serna, Team Pentagon
- Best Team Buffet Table (Cat E): Team Pentagon
- Judges' Special Award (Cold Food Table): Team Fort Hood, Texas
- Best in Class - Contemporary Cooking (Cat K): Chief Petty Officer Derrick Davenport, Team Pentagon
- Best in Class - Contemporary Pastry (Cat P): Spc. Thomas Richberg, Team Hawaii
The competition is open to active duty members of all services, Department of Defense Civilians, and United States Army Reserve and National Guard personnel.
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