Royal Navy chefs beat off competition from the Army and RAF to be crowned cookery champions – for the first time in eight years.
A 26-strong Catering Services team delivered a mouth-watering display of culinary art and fine-dining skill at the two-day Exercise Joint Caterer, held for the first time as part of the Public Sector Catering Expo at the NEC in Birmingham.
The team returned with 32 medals and 15 best in class awards, picking up the team ethos award in the process.
Team captain, Warrant Officer 2 Si Geldart, said: “I’m immensely proud and humbled to have led such a professional and passionate team; whether preparing remarkable food in the kitchens or delivering outstanding service front of house they’ve all done incredibly well.”
Chief Naval Logistics Officer, Rear Admiral Andy Kyte, praised the team’s outstanding result as just rewards for all their hard work and a fantastic reflection of the immense talent that sits within the branch.
This year’s Exercise Joint Caterer saw several changes to the way the competition was run. One of the senior team members, Petty Officer Shaun Willis, who is normally an instructor at the Defence College of Logistics, Policing and Administration at Worthy Down in Hampshire, said: “This event is a great opportunity to benchmark our high-end skills with the very best the hospitality industry has to offer.
“As we continually evolve the way the Royal Navy delivers Defence Engagement events, Mixology, including Mocktails, is just one of the latest things we’re exploring so it’s great to be competing these sorts of skills this year and really show what we can do.”
One of the junior team members, AB (Catering Services) Molly Rowe, currently serving in HMS Prince of Wales, said: “I’ve loved my time at Exercise Joint Caterer. Not only have I seen amazing work produced but I’ve also learnt so many things in the short time we have had to train as a team.
“Being a competitor has definitely boosted my confidence; the whole experience has been nothing short of spectacular and I’d love to be part of the team again.”
