Cooks: Kuttabul team rates best
The winners now go into the National Salon Culinaire

By Rachel Hickling, POCK Michael Oleksyn and LSCK Travis Lovell

Aan enthusiastic team of cooks and stewards from HMAS Kuttabul (CMDR Brian Eagles) won the prestigious Catering Excellence Awards competition in Sydney recently.

In conjunction with the Australian Culinary Foundation (ACF) Defence Catering contractor Serco Sodexho Defence Services introduced the awards to promote competition between Messes and improve service standards and morale.

According to CAPT Michael Horne, Regional Manager, NSW CSI-SC, the aim of the competition is to bring Defence catering to industry standards.

From a place for social drinks to formal dining-in, service Messes form a significant part of ADF life. Defence catering and hospitality staffs play an essential role in maintaining the fine traditions and customs associated with Mess life in a demanding and challenging environment.

Catering staff perform the never-ending task of planning, preparing, cooking and serving meals for a multitude of hungry customers every day-a difficult job to accomplish in the commercial world, let alone within the confines of a ship at sea.

The 2003 competition was between four teams from HMA Ships Kuttabul, Watson, Waterhen and Penguin and Endeavour House, and combined teams from Randwick and Victoria Barracks.

Each team comprised kitchen staff and table service staff.

Individual and team events were held over a two-day period, with the climax seeing teams prepare and serve a three-course meal of choice in a restaurant environment.

WO “Shakey” Lake the Regional Catering Liaison Officer acted as Maitre d’hotel for 180 invited guests, headed by CDRE Syd Lemon.

While some of this year’s competitors participated last year the 2003 competition saw enthusiastic new faces, some fresh from training.

“This was my first competitive experience and I found it very exciting,” SMNSTD Jackie Moore (HMAS Kuttabul) said. Jackie was part of the winning team and also won an individual bronze medallion.

Competitors were assessed on “mise en place” and cleanliness, organisation, timing, hygiene, work methods and the overall condition of the kitchen upon completion.

CAPT Michael Horne (Regional Manager CSI-SC) thanked Serco and the ACF for their continued assistance and support for the award scheme.

“The aim of the competition is to bring Defence catering up to industry standard,” he said.

In reply Mr Hans Schings of the ACF said he had judged staff from hotels and industry and was most impressed with the high standard shown by the contestants throughout the competition.

Encouragement Awards and bronze and silver medallions for both table and kitchen staff were spread across all four establishments, indicating the universally high standards of catering excellence enjoyed in the RAN.

Kuttabul’s winning team now receives automatic entry into the National Salon Culinaire and Restaurant of Champions competition, to be held at Darling Harbour from September 9-12, where they will compete against industry, including catering staff from leading Australian hotels.

Winners of the 2003 Catering Excellence Awards

Encouragement Awards

Kitchen Individual Event

Merit Award

• Matthew Tuck, Sandy Price and Scott Singles (Randwick Barracks and Victoria Barracks).
• Aldo Vaquera and Rodney Blanch (HMAS Waterhen, HMAS Penguin and Endeavour House).
• Cain Slater and Steve Love (HMAS Kuttabul).