Team Korea Repeats Top Honor at 31st Annual U.S. Army Culinary Arts Competition

FORT LEE, Va. - Soldier-chefs from Team Korea pulled off the repeat as they claimed the Installation of the Year title for the second straight year during the 31st Annual U.S. Army Culinary Arts Competition.

Team Korea and winners in other categories were recognized at an awards ceremony held today concluding the two-week long competition.

“We really were not sure if we were going to win again this year,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Travis Smith, team manager. “It was a really close competition right up until the last day when we won the student team skills competition. Our team really worked well together.”

Fort Bragg placed second followed by Team USAREUR (US Army Europe) finishing third in the Installation of the Year competition.

Winners in the other major competition categories were:
Senior Army Chef of the Year: Spec. Jeffery Lagyak, Fort Bliss, TX
Junior Army Chef of the Year: Cpl. Randy Agno, Team Hawaii
Field Cooking Competition: 1st - Fort Riley, KS; 2nd - Fort Bragg, NC; 3rd - Team USAREUR
Student Team Skills Competition: Team Korea

Winners in special categories were:
Best Exhibit Cold Food Buffet: Sgt. Jason Pratt, Team Korea
Best Exhibit Hot Food Shown Cold: Staff Sgt. Bernard Book, Team Korea
Best Exhibit in Pastry and Confection: Spec. Alicia Hight, Team USAREUR
Best Exhibit in Culinary Showpiece: Spec. Jowanna Carroll, Team USAREUR
Special Judges Award Most Artistic Centerpiece: Spec. Carmen Rosario, Fort Bragg
Best Team Table Exhibit: Team USAREUR
Highest Score in Contemporary Cooking: Sgt. Joshua Speiss, Fort McNair
Highest Score in Contemporary Pastry: Spec. Joanna Carrol, Team USAREUR
Best Two Member Team, Nutritional Hot Food Challenge: Team Hawaii
Baron H. Garland Culinary Knowledge Bowl: Team Korea
Best Centerpiece in Ice: Sgt. First Class David Russ, Fort Bragg

Fort Lee is the host for the most prestigious culinary competition in the military. The competitors are Soldiers first and culinary artists second with many of this year’s competitors serving in combat operations overseas.