Fort Carson MP wins top culinary award

By Scott Prater (Fort Carson)April 2, 2015

Fort Carson MP wins top culinary award
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Fort Carson MP wins top culinary award
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT CARSON, Colo. -- Spc. Jessica Romero, 984th Military Police Company, 759th MP Battalion, won best centerpiece exhibit and most artistic exhibit for her Wizard of Oz centerpiece at the 40th Military Culinary Arts Competitive Training Event at For... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT CARSON, Colo. -- Cooking was a mainstay of family life for Spc. Jessica Romero. The New Jersey native was working in the kitchen as early as she can remember, so when it came time to choose an Army career path four years ago, she had no trouble deciding.

When she began working for the 984th Military Police Company, 759th MP Battalion, as a culinary specialist, she had plenty of practice and knowledge. She was a virtual novice, however, when it came to the decorative side of the culinary world.

"I didn't know I had a creative side," she said. "But, I liked decorating cakes so I started teaching myself those skills."

After years of experimenting and practicing, Romero said she got pretty good at creating elaborate centerpieces.

According to the judges at the 40th Military Culinary Arts Competitive Training Event (MCACTE), pretty good doesn't even begin to describe her skills. Romero hauled in multiple awards at this year's competition, held March 7-12, 2015, at Fort Lee, Virginia, including best centerpiece exhibit, and most artistic exhibit as well as four medals -- one gold, two silver and a bronze.

"I was really surprised because there were some big displays," Romero said. "My competitors had created some elaborate pieces. One was a 6-foot-tall masquerade woman and another was a day-of-the-dead statue that was at least 5-feet high.

After winning the best centerpiece award, announcers told her not to go far, because they had something special for her. Minutes later, she accepted the award for best artistic piece.

According to the Quartermaster Corps website, the MCACTE exists to promote growth in the culinary profession with special attention to the tenets of modern culinary development ability, practicality, nutrition, workmanship, economy, presentation, creativity and concept. The event recognizes individual and team efforts while providing incentives and recognition in the form of certificates, medals and trophies.

Romero was part of a team that represented Fort Carson at the competition.

She competed in most of the food-art categories and began working on her project as soon as team leader, Sgt. 1st Class Mark Vickery, announced the team's theme, "The Wizard of Oz," back in January.

Food artists in the competition worked with tallow, a type of lard that remains solid at room temperature. Romero had roughly two months to create her centerpiece, which included a spinning tornado and host of characters like the wicked witch and her monkey henchmen.

"The judges raved about my level of detail," she said. "I go as far as detailing eyelashes and eyebrows on my characters."

This wasn't the first time Romero has stunned her peers and supervisors.

"She made a life-size horse for a Thanksgiving competition," said Sgt. 1st Class LeVale McAdoo, 984th MP. "She stands out individually, as well as for our company. She has outstanding cooking skills and has even taught me a few things."

Sadly for the Army, Romero will be separating soon. She will attend a two-year culinary school in North Carolina and plans to open her own restaurant someday.

"I'll get some credit for the work I've done here, and I'm really looking forward to culinary school," she said. "It's kind of the logical next step for me."