Culinary specialists assigned to aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) participated in the White House's "Chef for a Day" program June 3.

Culinary Specialists 1st Class James Parrott and Sonia Mance and Culinary Specialists 3rd Class Ebony Hudson and Christian Figueroa exemplified their culinary talents earlier this year by winning the 2016 "Best of the Mess" competition held in Virginia Beach, earning them a spot in the Chef for a Day program.

The three-day trip consisted of a tour of the White House, meeting the culinary specialist staff, as well as bringing their own menu and food for the entire White House staff.

"We got to the White House at 6 a.m. on Friday," said Mance. "After being given a tour by the president's chef, all the culinary specialists got together around 11 a.m. to explain our menu, to ensure that everyone in the front of the house and the back of the house were all on the same page when it came to things such as food allergies and what was in the products."

Serving meals for the president and White House staff is much different than serving more than 3,000 Sailors on the ship.

"They're more individual-based and [you] plate their food as if you were at a fine dining restaurant, and we have more of a cafeteria dining style on the Lincoln," explained Parrott.

There were many highlights for the Sailors as it was each of their first time visiting. Each expressed feelings of being overwhelmed, amazed and joyful for the opportunity.

"This was my first time even being in D.C.," said Hudson. "To go straight to the White House my first time, cook in the kitchen, see the president in person, and get a tour was amazing to say the least. I didn't know whether to look in awe, take pictures, or record."

The Best of the Mess competition is held annually with numerous military participants each year. Lincoln Sailors look forward to participating in the 2017 Best of the Mess competition and maybe another visit to meet the commander-in-chief.

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