Support Force Chefs from RAF Wittering impressed the judges at the inter-services cookery competition, Exercise Joint Caterer, held at the NEC in Birmingham this week.
Regulars from No 3 Mobile Catering Squadron (3MCS), and Reservists from 504 (County of Nottingham) Squadron (504) put up a strong showing against rival chefs from the Royal Navy and British Army at the two-day event. Judging is severe, with all the entries evaluated by professional chefs.
Image By: SAC Daniel Smither
In the Defence Field Cookery Challenge, 3MCS won gold. Working with a pair of ten-man ration packs, the team created an innovative menu, which included Chicken 65, a dish originating from Hotel Buhari, Chennai, India.
The team was led by Sergeant Carl Findon, an RAF Chef of 21 years’ standing. He said: “This is a competition I’ve never done. It was hard because I was managing a team as well. We did two practises, got my feedback and adjusted my menu and then came in yesterday. It was great team, strong team, and we did the business on the day.”
Image By: SAC Daniel Smither
In the Defence Engagement Challenge, where fine food is prepared in field kitchen conditions, the 3MCS team led by Sergeant Dave Wright, also came took gold. The team was augmented by 504 Sqn Reservist, SAC Pete Wooton, who was on secondment to 3MCS. Fellow 504 Sqn Reservist, SAC Andrew Blezard, won silver in the celebration cake decoration category.
Image By: SAC Daniel Smither
SAC Jody Huteson won gold for 3MCS in the lamb category, and SAC Mark Dearlove took silver for the Squadron in the Great British Pie Challenge. 3MCS picked up another award when SAC Annie Nicol took the silver for the vegan category, an impressive achievement for a chef who has been in the RAF for only four years.
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She said: “I felt very happy about my award, very chuffed. I cooked vegan bao buns with hoisin glazed mushrooms, pickled Asian slaw and crushed peanuts. 3MCS is a good place to be, I really like the people that I work with and it makes the job really enjoyable.”
3MCS and 504 Squadron are both part of the RAF Support Force. The RAF Support Force brings together most of the capabilities and skills needed to sustain modern air operations and exercises; specialist engineering and logistics, advanced military communications and tactical medical services.
Image By: SAC Daniel Smither
Initially formed in 1975 as the RAF Mobile Catering Support Unit, 3MCS has been supporting deployed exercises and operations for over forty years. 504 Sqn is RAF Wittering’s logistic reserve squadron and employs suppliers, chefs, drivers and engineering technicians.
There is a fine tradition of inter-service rivalry and friendly competition at Exercise Joint Caterer. Sgt Findon said: “It’s always great at Joint Caterer, the banter is brilliant, but it is just good friendly banter between the Navy, the Army and the RAF, but when those guys are competing, that’s what really does it for me.”
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Air Commodore Neil Grant is Air Officer Commanding Support Force. He said: “Our team has done brilliantly. I know from personal experience how high the standard of cookery is at Exercise Joint Caterer, and how much work goes into preparing for this competition. But there are other benefits to this Exercise. We know that good food enhances the morale of deployed personnel, and events like Joint Caterer help the whole of defence by allowing our chefs to exchange ideas and learn from one another.”
