Navy Culinary Specialist serves up food and smiles

Photo By Chief Petty Officer Mary Popejoy | Seaman Vannessa Robertson, a culinary specialist with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion-40 Detachment-Horn of Africa, pours bottled water into a pan of uncooked rice before putting it on the stove.  

10.16.2007

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Mary Popejoy 

Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa

By Petty Officer 1st Class Mary Popejoy
Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa Public Affairs

CHARICHCHO, Ethiopia — Far away from the dining facility of Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, the Soldiers and Sailors of Forward Operating Location Charichcho look to Seaman Vannessa Robertson, culinary specialist, to serve up tasty treats that keep their bellies full and their smiles right side up when performing their daily missions.

Cooking for 32 people, thousands of miles from home with a very small kitchen, can be a daunting task, but for Robertson being the only cook makes the work constraints a little easier.

"There's not a lot of room to move around, so it's better to have one set of hands vice four, especially here," said Robertson.

There are many more challenges that come with being an independent culinary specialist, but Robertson considers each obstacle a blessing.

"Besides cooking, I am responsible for maintaining the records and inventory, stocking the shelves and cleaning the kitchen several times a day," said Robertson. "Those additional duties are giving me far more experience than I ever expected to get as an E-3 in a deployed location. This assignment has taught me a lot, and I know it will serve me well in the future."

According to Chief Petty Officer Michael Swallom, non-commissioned officer-in-charge of FOL Charichcho, Robertson has exceeded expectations.

"As a junior Sailor she has risen to the challenge of working in a combat kitchen and it's impressive to see her work because you'd think a senior petty officer was running the show," said Swallom. "She has unlimited potential and I know that this experience will help her whether she's working independently or with several culinary specialists in future assignments."

Without her, the Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion-40 Detachment Horn of Africa and the Soldiers of Delta Company 294th Infantry (light) would have to live off Meals Ready to Eat, instead of meals that remind them of home.

"I think they like my cooking because I make a variety of stuff, so they're not eating the same thing over and over again," said Robertson. "I've had several of them tell me that I have the best food in the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa area of operation, which is nice because it lets me know they like my cooking and look forward to eating three meals a day."

Robertson went on to say that her customers pay her many compliments, but she says the best compliment of all will come when its time to leave Charichcho.

"At the end of this experience, just a 'thank you Robertson, the food was great' will be good enough for me," she said.

• Date Taken: 10.16.2007
• Date Posted: 10.16.2007 08:19
• Story ID: 13024