Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) became the first destroyer to win the "Best of the Mess" competition since its inception seven years ago, Jan 27.

Best of the Mess is one of five annual events which support the Chief Petty Officer Scholarship Fund (CPOSF), which has awarded more than $1 million to qualified candidates since 1998. It is also an opportunity to showcase the work of the Navy's culinary specialists from commands across the waterfront.

"We love this event," said retired Command Master Chief Joe Schnurbusch, president of the CPOSF committee. "It really helps to bring more attention to community involvement and command support."

A highly competitive event, Best of the Mess only accepts seven teams to compete, and each team is given a list of key ingredients each year from which they create their menu. This year's ingredients were chicken thighs, Napa cabbage, green/black tea, and nectarine. Gonzalez's team demonstrated their culinary expertise by preparing loaded spam wontons with an Asian slaw and nectarine dipping sauce, Hulu Hulu chicken with scented rice, carrots and green beans with Hoisin butter sauce, and they baked nectarine cake with toasted macadamia and green tea ice cream for dessert.

Gonzalez's team consisted of several culinary specialists who work alongside food service attendants (FSAs).

"We work alongside FSAs as one team to ensure day-to-day operations go smoothly," said Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Ernesto Carvajal. "When it came to preparing for the competition, there was no thought of leaving the FSAs behind. Not only are they critical to ensure our success, but it also provided them an opportunity to step outside their respective rates and make a difference at a command level."

In addition to the FSAs, members of Gonzalez's wardroom, Chiefs Mess, and crew came out to show their support.

"Any time there is a function on Gonzalez, it is imperative that we all be a part of what is happening," said Cmdr. Les Sobol, Gonzalez's commanding officer. "It is of the utmost importance that we show our Sailors the type of support they deserve."

Gonzalez intends to return to Best of the Mess in 2017 to defend the ship's title.

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