ERFURT, Germany -- The U.S. Army Culinary Arts team has made an impressive showing at the 2016 Cooking Olympics, winning five medals in the regional cold food table category: three gold medals in the culinary arts program, and one gold and one bronze medal in the pastry arts program.
Hosted by the German Chefs Association, the World Culinary Olympics is the largest culinary exhibition in the world with more than 2,000 chefs from over 50 nations competing.
"Hard work always pays off, and only this group of Soldiers knows how much hard work they put in to earn these medals," said team chief Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jesse D. Ward.
Gold medal winners include Master Chief Petty Officer Derrick Davenport, the team's captain, Staff Sgt. Sarah Perry, Staff Sgt. Justin Gonzalez and Staff Sgt. Kevin Arwood. Staff Sgt. Marc Susa won a bronze medal. Arwood and Susa won their medals in the pastry category.
The team will next compete in the community catering category, when they will have to cook a warm meal for 150 persons. The meal must consist of soup, salad, one meat, one fish, two veggie, two starches and a dessert.
The team, which is from the Joint Culinary Center of Excellence at Fort Lee, Virginia, also includes competing chef Staff Sgt. Lagena Bogs and is led by CW3 Jesse D. Ward. Also part of this year's team are six apprentices and an operations noncommissioned officer.
The team is receiving logistics and language support from the German Liaison Team U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command and Sustainment Center of Excellence at Fort Lee.
"We enjoy great relations with the [Army Culinary Arts Team]," said Lt. Col. Stephan Euler. "Events like this enhance the partnership and camaraderie between our teams."
Euler and his NCO in charge, Sgt. Major Ronald Schiller, also accompanied the U.S. Team to Erfurt.
"In Erfurt, our additional goal is to strengthen the bonds between our national military teams," Euler said.
Before traveling to Erfurt, the team prepared for the competition at the Dragoon Inn dining facility at Rose Barracks, Vilseck, U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria.
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