[shroomgirl]

Thought you all would like to play.....funny until I was asked last week to make lunch for a Chaplin (Catholic Priest) on leave from Iraq and will be returning after the first of the year. It really had not hit home how incredibly rough his job has got to be.......

I've been around the military most of my life, either as a daughter/wife or mother.....so our friends were physicians in battle or AirForce Pilots etc.....

But a chaplin in battle....oh my.....

So, this man has been eating MRE's (meals ready to eat). Better than it used to be, but really not desirable unless really hungry.

So, lunch for 6 next Monday.....special guest is the chaplin....what would you serve?


(last month's lunch ....French onion soup, flank steak with hen of the woods, onion rings, haricot verte, cherry pie with vanilla ice cream)

(month prior.....fresh clam chowder, 4.5# hunk of Halibut with lemon, capers, dillweed/parsley, French bread, loaded out green salad, Poached bosc pears with caramel sauce and Amaretti almond cookies)

Gives you an idea of precidence......

[adamm]

if it was me i would want some nice good beef like prime rib. If there isnt a budget or anything maybe some crab cakes or crab imperial to go along. And theres nothing better than warm brownies and ice cream for dessert.

[greyeaglem]

Everyone I know who's been in Iraq has requested a big, fat, juicy steak as soon as they got home. I would give the chaplain a big fat porterhouse with whatever trimmings you think would go best with it. I'm sure he'll be very appreciative of it.
I didn't read your post very carefully and didn't note the other five guests. This could be a budget problem for you maybe. If steak isn't feasible, I would go with a traditional roast beef dinner.

[Jim]

I would reckon that fresh is in short supply over there, so I think along with a 32oz Porter, perhaps a fantastic salad, crispy green beans and overloaded baked potato would do nicely. Of course, nothing shouts "Welcome Home!" more than apple pie, served warm with a big ol' scoop of vanilla ice cream. And beer.

[shroomgirl]

pretty much have decided on Prime Rib, caesar salad, twice baked potatoes, green beans, pie and ice cream.....onions/mushrooms and horseradish sauce.


interesting take.....we all kind of went for upscale comfort food....nothing "fancy fruffy".

Though i was vacililating on a sundae bar with caramel, fudge, bananas, toasted pecans, good ice cream, possibly some cherries in boozy goo....
Warm chocolate chip cookies......

[foodnfoto]

I'd serve some nice juicy pork chops with caramelized onions, sauteed apples with roasted potatoes and a crisp, tasty salad. Pie and ice cream is a good dessert, but so is a nice chocolate layer cake.


Out of respect to Islamic dietary laws, I'm sure pork chops are in short supply in Iraq or Afghanistan.

After reading Imperial Life in the Emerald City by Rajiv Chandrasekaran I found out that very little consideration for cultural sensitivity is given in the Green Zone, though I have a hunch things are improving a bit. It's too bad that "for security reasons" military personnel and contractors have so little access to the beautiful food culture of Iraq. The available foods like fresh vegetables (cucumbers, chilies, beans etc) dairy products (cheese and yogurt) groceries (olives, nuts, spices) are roundly ignored by quartermasters that supply food service in the green zone. Most Iraqis that I'm acquainted with are terrific cooks-too bad for the Americans there.