Army Chefs from Fort Bliss Claim Title

FORT LEE, Va. - Soldier-chefs from Fort Bliss, Texas claimed the Installation of the Year title at the 32nd Annual U.S. Army Culinary Arts Competition.

Fort Bliss team members and winners in other categories were recognized at an awards ceremony held today concluding the two-week long competition.

Team U.S. Army, Europe placed second followed by Fort Stewart, Ga. rounding out third in the Installation of the Year competition. This year's competition was extremely close with less than 2/10ths of one point deciding this year's winners.

Winners in the other major competition categories were:

• Senior Army Chef of the Year: Staff Sgt. Nolan Kniss, Team Pentagon
• Junior Army Chef of the Year: Pvt. 1st Class Robert Capazzi, Fort Bliss, Texas Field
• Cooking Competition: 1st - Fort Bliss, Texas; 2nd - Fort Bragg, NC; 3rd - Team Hawaii
• Student Team Skills Competition: Team Korea

Winners in special categories were:

• Best Exhibit Cold Food Buffet: Staff Sgt. Monica Roberts, Team Korea
• Best Exhibit Hot Food Shown Cold: Sgt. 1st Class Bryan Nixon, Fort Bragg, N.C.
• Best Exhibit in Pastry and Confection: Pvt. 1st Class Robert Capazzi, Fort Bliss, Texas
• Best Exhibit in Culinary Showpiece: Spec. Laron Smith, Fort Bliss, Texas
• Special Judges Award Most Artistic Centerpiece: Spec. Laron Smith, Fort Bliss, Texas
• Best Team Buffet Table Exhibit: Team Korea
• Best in Class - Contemporary Cooking: Master Sgt. Mark Morgan, Fort Benning, Ga./75th Ranger Regiment
• Best in Class - Contemporary Pastry: Spec. Leia Heeter, Team Europe
• Best Two Member Team, Nutritional Hot Food Challenge: Team Europe Baron H. Garland
• Culinary Knowledge Bowl: 1st - Team Alaska, 2nd - Team Hawaii, 3rd - Fort Carson, Co.
• Best Centerpiece in Ice: Sgt. 1st Class David Russ, Sgt. 1st Class Andre Rush and Cpl. Robert Lough, Fort Bragg, N.C.

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.