The new face of army food

by Tom Johansmeyer on

The U.S. Culinary Arts Team … yes, there is such a thing … faced an incredible challenge. The team had to cook 150 three-course meals in six hours without the benefit of a real kitchen. The crew had to work “in the field” – as the army calls being away from the plumbing, walls and heat of the barracks – which is never an easy task.

The IKA/Culinary Olympics, which occurred back in October, is where chefs come from 53 countries to vie for the top spot in categories such as community catering, regional and military. The civilians take advantage of state-of-the-art facilities, while teams in the military competition were shrouded in camouflage and fueled by propane.

Like any military operation, the team from the United States had rehearsed tirelessly, nailing down its menu.

Salad: seared tuna, smoked trout, and poached salmon over a seaweed salad

Entrée: herb-infused turkey breast with sweet potatoes, cranberry johnnycake, and bacon-wrapped green beans

Dessert: chocolate-mousse crunch cake with apricot-and-cherry sauce.

The military category consisted of 10 countries in total, including Hungary, Sweden, Germany and Slovenia.

The results? Our team finished a strong second, much to the surprise to anyone who has been assigned to Fort Sill, OK (trust me). The Swiss took top honors, and Great Britain shocked all by: (a) not finishing last and (b) serving something that the judges could actually taste.

[Via The Atlantic]

Scotland wants you to come home

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Even if you don’t have Scottish blood charging through your veins, you’re still invited to Homecoming Scotland. In 2009, the country will host more than 200 events … and yes, you can expect whisky to flow at a few of them.

The year kicks off with the Homecoming Burns Supper, part of an entire weekend (January 23-25, 2009) to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Scotland‘s national poet. Down some haggis and pour a few glasses of The Famous Grouse while celebrating what you didn’t bother to read in high school (or in college).

If dead writers don’t turn you on, there are plenty of other reasons to head across the Atlantic in 2009. You can track ancestry, watch people toss very large poles or take in 18 holes. You may even want to register for some free giveaways.

Need a place to stay? I’ve hit the Dakota Forth Bridge in Edinburgh and had a great time (the duck eggs for breakfast are a must), and rooms are available in January for less than $200 a night. If cities don’t work for you, head out to Loch Tay and spend a few nights at Ardeonaig (the owner and chef is an absolute madman, the genius kind) – you’ll have to call to find out the rates.

Just remember: Scotland isn’t easy on smokers, as I learned the hard way.

Churchill’s hotel inspires fashion line

by Tom Johansmeyer on

The Royal Horseguards is due to officially re-open in February 2009 following a £16m investment and refurbishment program. This landmark, famous for once housing Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s favorite bar-in its basement where secret passages link the building to Westminster and Whitehall-will be the central inspiration behind a haute couture fashion collection designed to bring some of London’s most iconic hotels to life.

Located on the river in Whitehall, The Royal Horseguards hotel is built in the style of a French Chateau and as a Grade 1 listed building has welcomed many Prime Ministers through its doors. It’s believed even the Secret Service used its eighth floor as a secret base during the Second World War and the building also boasts the largest free standing marble staircase in Europe.

As part of this grand unveiling, London-based fashion designer Aimee McWilliams, one of the UK’s leading young designers, will create the “capsule” bespoke clothing collection. McWilliams’ work is intended to convey the style, character and history of London’s most unique hotels: Charing Cross, The Cumberland (Marble Arch), The Tower (at Tower Bridge) and, of course, The Royal Horseguards. The effort will be unveiled in January and displayed at its namesake hotels before being auctioned for charity later in the year.
McWilliams set up her own label after winning the award for the best collection upon graduation and more recently won the Designer of the Year Award at the Scottish Style Awards 2007. She says that she has “been inspired by great interiors for most of my creative life,” and looks forward to “the opportunity to create high end luxury garments that reflected the diverse and stylish interiors of each of the hotels.”

Together, the four hotels will make Guoman Hotels, a new collection of deluxe London-based hotels each with an individual and unique history and character, brought together with a promise of exceptional service and customer experience.

Photo of the Day (12.16.08)

by Grant Martin on

I’m off to the UK today, pushing back from Detroit airport at precisely 6:15 to coincide with this article’s publication. After spending the tail end of the workweek at Loughborough University I’ve scheduled some downtime in London where the British Museum, captured above by ultraclay!, is one of my top destinations.

Though I’ve been there several times, you just can’t beat the feeling of walking into the central atrium to stare up at the magnificent ceiling above the main reading room. And once you manage to pry your eyes away? You’ve got about two weeks of content to browse through in the halls of the museum. How exciting.

Have any cool photos you’d like to share with the world? Add them to the Gadling Pool on Flickr, and it might be chosen as our Photo of the Day.

See you tomorrow in London, and thanks to Marilyn and Janelle at the ITB for the rest of my itinerary.

Britons Bring Bowel Bacteria Onto Buses

by Mike Barish on

I’ve never been much of a germaphobe. I don’t carry Purell with me. I don’t wash my hands obsessively. And I don’t walk around with a mask on. But then I come across a story like this one on the BBC News website and I start to question whether I should live in a bubble. A recent recent study by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (is there a better location for the study of tropical medicine?) has discovered that more than one in four commuters in the UK has bacteria associated with fecal matter on their hands.

Dr. Val Curtis, director of the Hygiene Center at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said, “If any of these people had been suffering from a diarrhoeal disease, the potential for it to be passed around would be greatly increased by their failure to wash their hands after going to the toilet.” That, quite frankly, is more than I need from my daily commute. I’m just looking to get from Point A to Point B. Point D(iarrhea) is not part of my plan.

I ride the New York City subways to work everyday and I will admit that I avoid holding onto the bars/poles in the trains as much as possible. If I have to hold on, I typically wrap my arm around the pole so as to keep my hands clean. But sometimes you just have to grab on. However, I’m fairly certain that I don’t have fecal matter all over my hands. Because I wash them after I use the toilet. It’s everyone else who is apparently wiping their asses barehanded and then touching everything.

So, as we approach cold and flu season, perhaps it’s time to remind ourselves to wash our hands often. And use toilet paper instead of just our hands. It’s a great big world out there but it’s the tiny bacteria that will kill you. Or at least ravage your GI tract. Be sure to wave at me when I pass by in my bubble.