DeCA Traveling Chefs Will Help Solve Kitchen Mysteries

Commissary customers can learn from traveling chefs who will tour 30 stores from March 27 through April. The first "Meal Solutions for the Military Family" shows will be at Fort Bragg, N.C., and Fort Knox, Ky.

The "Traveling Chefs" are graduates of the Florida Culinary Institute. Their two-hour demonstrations in every store start at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Morning sessions feature breakfast and an appetizer, with dinner and dessert in the afternoon sessions.

"Customers will also learn how to present the dishes as well," said Debbie Coffman, marketing director for tour sponsor Overseas Service Corp. The chefs will hand out recipe cards and cents-off coupons from participating companies.

The "Meal Solutions" tour is a customer outreach initiative of Air Force Maj. Gen. Robert J. Courter Jr., Defense Commissary Agency director. It responds to commissary focus group participants worldwide who've asked for more information on how to cook and for quick, simple recipes.

The "Traveling Chefs" teams will visit commissaries in 12 states. Their recipes also will be posted in the shopping/promotions section of the Defense Commissary Agency Web site at www.commissaries.com.

Customers are advised to call their stores a few days in advance to confirm the tour schedule.

Tour Schedule:                Dates

Fort Bragg South, N.C.        March 27
Fort Knox, Ky.                March 27
Fort Bragg North, N.C.        March 28
Fort Campbell, Ky.            March 28
Camp Lejeune, N.C.            March 29
San Diego (Navy), Calif.      April 3
Fort Carson, Colo.            April 3
Fort Sam Houston, Texas       April 3
Lackland AFB, Texas           April 4
MCAS Miramar, Calif.          April 4
Peterson AFB, Colo.           April 4
Air Force Academy, Colo.      April 5
Camp Pendleton, Calif.        April 5
Randolph AFB, Texas           April 5
MacDill AFB, Fla.             April 10
McChord AFB, Wash.            April 10
Fort Lewis, Wash.             April 11
Anchorage, Alaska             April 12
Fort Meade, Md.               April 17
Fort Stewart, Ga.             April 17
Langley AFB, Va.              April 17
Fort Belvoir, Va.             April 18
Hunter AAF, Ga.               April 18
NAB Little Creek, Va.         April 18
Charleston NWS, S.C.          April 19
MCB Quantico, Va.             April 19
NS Norfolk, Va.               April 19
Fort Myer, Va.                April 20
NAS Oceana, Va.               April 20
Charleston AFB, S.C.          April 20

(Bonnie Powell works for the Defense Commissary Agency's Marketing Business Unit, Fort Lee, Va.)