Nearly 200 military chefs are scheduled to compete at Fort Lee, Va., for the 33rd U.S. Army Culinary Arts Competition March 1-14. This is one of the largest culinary competitions held in the United States.

Members from every branch of the Armed Forces are bringing with them an arsenal of cutlery and recipes to aid them in this prestigious culinary battle royale.

During the American Culinary Federation sanctioned competition, military culinarians will exhibit their talents in preparing hot foods, cold buffets, pastries and chocolate works of art to earn individual and team gold, silver and bronze medals in more than 30 categories.

Categories include field cooking, nutritional hot food challenge, ice carving, culinary knowledge bowl, practical cooking and pastry, student team skills, team buffet, pastry and showpieces.

Here’s the Web site for the competition: http://www.ima.lee.army.mil/sites
/pao/08_CulinaryCompetition/home.html

Here’s a link to a pictorial of last year’s competition: http://www.ima.lee.army.mil/sites/pao/
2007_CulinaryComp_Dailies/2007_Culinary
_Competition_Review.wmv

Here’s a link to an Army News segment about last year’s competition: http://www.ima.lee.army.mil/sites/pao/08
_CulinaryCompetition/an_070320_2of2.wmv