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Iron Chef

SPANGDAHELM AIR BASE, Germany – Tech. Sgt. Michael Nurse, 52nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, adjusts the heat for a dish he is preparing during the Spangdahlem Air Base Iron Chef competition. The scores were very close, but in the end, Sergeant Ireland captured the Iron Chef title. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Stephanie Clark)

Iron Chef

SPANGDAHELM AIR BASE, Germany – Airman 1st Class Lillian Perez, 52nd Services Squadron, stirs ingredients into a bowl during the Spangdahlem Air Base Iron Chef competition July 25. The participants were given a time limit of two hours to create a minimum of two entrees from a bag of unknown ingredients. All ingredients had to be used in some way. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Stephanie Clark)

Iron Chef

SPANGDAHELM AIR BASE, Germany – Airman Matthew Donlin, 52nd Component Maintenance Squadron, prepares plates for presentation to the judges during the Spangdahlem Air Base Iron Chef competition July 25. The participants were given a time limit of two hours to create a minimum of two entrees from a bag of unknown ingredients. All ingredients had to be used in some way. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Stephanie Clark)

Iron Chef

SPANGDAHELM AIR BASE, Germany – Staff Sgt. Jermaine Ireland, 52nd Services Squadron, prepares a dish during the Spangdahlem Air Base Iron Chef competition July 25. Sergeant Ireland has been cooking since he was young when he would hunt and fish then cook what he caught. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Stephanie Clark)

Spang holds first of many Iron Chef competitions

Published Aug. 3, 2007
By Ashley Mangin
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs volunteer

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- Spangdahlem Air Base's Services Squadron held the first of many Iron Chef competitions July 25 at the Mosel Dining Hall.

Much like the television show, Iron Chef on the Food Network, the chefs were given a time limit of two hours to create a minimum of two entrees from a bag of unknown ingredients. All ingredients had to be used in some way.

The three contestants were Tech Sgt. Michael Nurse, 81st Aircraft Maintenance Unit Maintenance supply NCOIC, Staff Sgt. Jermain Ireland, Mosel Dining Facility production manager, and Airman Matthew Donlin, 52nd Component Maintenance Squadron, who is an engine mechanic. They were assisted by Airmen 1st Class Sherry Mack, Vallan Fraley and Paige Minter, all food service professionals. The chefs were chosen in a blind drawing and all have different backgrounds.

Sergeant Nurse started cooking in the military at barbeques and now he cooks all the time. Sergeant Ireland has been cooking since he was young when he would hunt and fish then cook what he caught. Airman Donlin started cooking when he left home to start college. All three agree that they enjoy cooking mainly to see the reaction that their food receives. They like to make people smile.

"[The competition] went very, very well as I expected," said Master Sgt. Andre Tolliver, Food Services section chief. "We had some good competition and the people who came out really enjoyed it. I am looking forward to having [an Iron Chef competition] every other month to see who will be Spangdahlem's Iron Chef."

The competing dishes were judged by Maj. Michael Wyatt, 52nd Services commander, Toni Lynch, Officer Civilian Spouse's Club treasurer, Diane Widow, OCSC president, Chief Master Sgt. James McNeer, 52nd Communications Squadron chief, and Sergeant Tolliver.

The scores were very close, but in the end, Sergeant Ireland was the winner.
"It was a humbling feeling. The other guys were excellent. It was good competition," Sergeant Ireland said about the contest.

The competition helped prove that no matter who enters, from the Wu Tang Clan to a Cubs fan, anyone can be an Iron Chef.