About two dozen culinary specialists savored the opportunity to learn fresh, authentic Asian cuisine preparation during a class hosted by NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) San Diego Oct. 20.

The Asian cuisine class, hosted by the command's Navy Food Management Team (NFMT), brought food service officers and culinary specialists from the USS Lake Champlain (CG 57), PCU John P. Murtha (LPD 26), USS Dewey (DDG 105), USS Pasadena (SSN 752), Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton and Littoral Combat Ship Crews 208 and 209 together to provide them with the techniques necessary for preparing and cooking authentic Asian dishes from scratch.

"Our main focus when we hold these types of courses is to help the culinary specialists hone their skills in a specialized, controlled environment," said Chief Culinary Specialist (SW/AW) Matthew Palafox. "When you're aboard ship and working in the galley, there are a lot of time constraints and workload demands you have to meet. Here, we take them away from those distractions and let them focus all of their efforts on perfecting the skills we're teaching them."

The Asian cuisine class is a one day course offered in addition to an array of other advanced courses such as nutrition, French cuisine, Italian cuisine, Japanese cuisine, fusion cuisine, Latin cuisine, hors d' oeuvres, baking, cake decorating and more, all held throughout the year. The day's menu included lumpia with chili sauce, bacon wrapped scallops, broccoli beef, chicken adobo, special fried rice and Asian salad.

"All skills are perishable," said Palafox. "So even though they've gone through their initial CS training, they're Sailors who may have also gone through yard periods, temporary duty assignments and other situations where they may not have been cooking for a while. These classes teach them additional techniques and keep their skills on point. This way, a Sailor that just finished a security stint can get back to work with skills that are still fresh and relevant."

The training offered by the NFMT is apart from and in addition to the basic skills and training Sailors in the culinary specialist rating receive in their "A" and "C" schools. All courses include dishes that are prepared using ingredients that are readily available aboard ship and easily implemented into the standard core menu, making the recipes practical, yet gourmet.

"When you invest this kind of training into fleet Sailors, you make a direct and deliberate contribution to the morale of our fighting force," said Commanding Officer Capt. John Palmer. "When you're out at sea, a good meal can make or break your morale. It doesn't take long to realize exactly how important something like high quality food service really is to the mission."

The San Diego team is one of six Navy Food Management Teams serving the culinary specialist community throughout the United States, ensuring Sailors in all corners of the globe enjoy the benefit of continued learning in the culinary realm.

"They took the training to heart, enjoyed what they were learning, and produced an excellent meal," said Palmer. "Hands down, the best lumpia I've ever had, and they're taking that back to their crews as we speak."

NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center San Diego, one of eight fleet logistics centers under NAVSUP Global Logistics Support, provides global logistics, business and support services to fleet, shore and industrial commands of the Navy, Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command, and other joint and allied Forces. Services include contracting, regional transportation, fuel, material management, household goods movement support, postal and consolidated mail, warehousing, global logistics and husbanding, hazardous material management, and integrated logistics support.

NAVSUP GLS comprises more than 5,700 military and civilian logistics professionals, contractors and foreign nationals operating as a single cohesive team providing global logistics services from 110 locations worldwide.

A component of the Naval Supply Systems Command headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pa., NAVSUP GLS is part of a worldwide logistics network of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel providing combat capability through logistics.

For more news from Naval Supply Systems Command, visit www.navy.mil/.