JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. -- –
This Valentine's Day, evaluators from the National Restaurant Association (NRA) are scheduled to make their third stop of a world-wide tour to the Freedom Dining Hall here for the Air Force 58th Annual Hennessy Trophy Awards Program Competition tour.
"It is an honor to be nominated," said Honre Batie, Freedom Dining Hall food service officer. "This is the first time, since I've been here, that we've been nominated."
Batie, a retired Naval culinary specialist, has been working at the facility for the past three and a half years.
Ten installations will be evaluated on the tour. Freedom Hall is one of five competing in Region 1, with five more in Region 2.
The other Region 1 competitors also are Offutt Air Force Base, Whiteman AFB, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, and Ramstein Air Base.
"We are here for the Airmen and their needs," said Batie. "As food service professionals, we strive to build customer-oriented programs by creating innovative solutions responsive to meeting them."
There will be two evaluators for Region 1: Joseph M. De Rosa, Chairman and CEO of the De Rosa Corporation and Jara N. Allen, Executive Director or the International Military Community Executives Association (IMCEA). Both members of the NRA, De Rosa and Allen will evaluate the facility based on five overall categories.
The categories include kitchen operations, serving and dining, training, personnel and readiness, and sanitation and maintenance. There are 48 subcategories in which the final decision will be based on the highest score in each section and overall ratings.
Additionally, evaluators look for customer service, management and senior leadership involvement in the food service operation.
De Rosa and Allen will observe meal services on Feb. 14 and ask customers for feedback about their dining experience.
The evaluated meal will be the Valentine's Day menu titled Love Feast, offering: Cream of Mushroom Soup, Barbequed Pork Ribs, Five Spice Chicken, Meatloaf, Scalloped Potatoes, Ranch Style Beans, Egg Noodles, Corn on the Cob, Southern Style Greens, Sweet Peas, French Bread, and Fresh Strawberries with Whipped Cream.
Evaluators will record their scores the next day and prepare for their next visit to Ramstein AB, Germany.
The award recipients reflect the dedication, pride, and fellowship of the civilian food service industry and the Air Force, thus improving the Air Force way of life. The winning facility will be recognized and awarded a trophy during an awards ceremony in Chicago this May.
Airmen are encouraged to dine at Freedom Dining Hall for the special meal and give evaluators their honest feedback.