Nourishing Young Mind

 

Cooking, Teaching, and Learning at Sea - The Adopt A Ship Experience

 

The Adopt A Ship program offers culinary educators and chefs a fantastic opportunity to share their skills and knowledge with the culinary specialists (CSs) of the United States Navy. It also provides participants a chance to experience life at sea, as well as a wonderful learning challenge for culinary educators and chefs to adapt to situations not typical of culinary classrooms or labs.

 

For the past 8 years, Sam Glass has been an active participant in the Adopt A Ship, having cooked on aircraft carriers, amphibious carriers, destroyers, cruisers, and yes, even a submarine. Each situation is unique, but at the same time, there is a commonality to the vessels. All of them work off of cycle menus and standardized recipes. One of the challenges for Chef Glass, as both a chef and educator, is to have the CSs think "in color," rather than the "black and white" of recipe cards. Another challenge is the galley itself. In most situations, bowls and small pots are non-existent. Everything is electric based, with convection ovens being the standard, although on some ships, induction cookers are slowly creeping in. That is why cooking in 'Coppers' (steam kettles) is the norm, and one must adapt quickly to this method. Imagine cooking chilli con carne on an aircraft carrier, where 6000 meals are required three times daily. In addition, 'Mid-Rats' are served up nightly, utilizing leftovers to feed those sailors working through the night.

 

Conversely, imagine cooking in the confines of a submarine galley, where 3 CSs are responsible for 140 meals three times daily. If you run short of product, you can't just step out to get some, especially when you are hundreds of feet below the ocean's surface.

 

Another benefit of the program is to experience life at sea, and until you have done so, few words can describe it. Despite man over board drills, fire drills, and of course GQ (general quarters), the food must be ready. The Adopt A Ship program challenges chefs and educators to get out of their comfort zone and to adapt to unfamiliar, and often challenging situations. It is a great program, and I encourage anyone who is able to participate to do so.

 

For more information on becoming part of the Adopt A Ship program call or e-mail

Chef Michael Harants, CEC, CCE, AAC
Corporate Chef/Chef Instructor
Navy Family Support
717-605-6323
michael.harants@navy.mil