British Gourmet Soldiers

(Cross-posted from The Phantom Observer.)

It's a truism that an army does march on its stomach. And it's no coincidence that some gourmet dishes have roots in soldier's rations -- Chicken Marengo, after all, was invented when Napoleon's field chef was trying to figure out how to feed the general at the Battle of Marengo

Nowadays, in an age of Meals Rejected by the Enemy, you wouldn't expect that modern-day soldiers would expect their rations to be of gourmet quality. However, yesterday the British armed forces released a new cooking directive -- which happens to contain a foreword by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay (who's living proof that people do exist who swear more profusely than an American drill sergeant):

The celebrity chef declared Britain's military chefs as the "unsung heroes" in the foreword of a new military guide released Thursday aimed at turning grim military gruel into gourmet meals for the country's troops.

In his usual colorful language, the Michelin-starred chef, who has visited Afghanistan and cooked for the troops, said producing meals in such dangerous environments was "undoubtedly daunting" with cooks lacking the finest and freshest ingredients.

Actually, you don't have to take my word for it. The document, called Ten Man ORP Recipe Ideas, is available here in PDF format at the British Ministry of Defence website. And if you look at page 4, here's what The Ramsay had to say:

When I was ask ed to write the foreword to this book, I could not resist. Having been to Afghanistan and cooked in one of the main kitchens, I have nothing but respect for the huge effort you all expend to ensure that your customers get good food.

Many of you have no doubt contributed to the contents of this book. To the old hands amongst you, I’m sure the dishes are in your head and you will laugh at the production of another glossy publication. However, I would ask you to consider the young chef on their first tour in the middle of Afghanistan with little experience of the ration and even less of producing three meals a day in a combat situation. Producing variety in such a f***ing dangerous environment is undoubtedly daunting. Your help, through the submission of recipes, will go a long way to helping them produce variety in a difficult and austere environment.

I am immensely proud to be British, wholeheartedly support the work you do on behalf of the general public and salute the work you do on a daily basis to ensure the British servicemen and women eat a balanced and nutritional diet wherever they are in the world. You are without doubt the unsung heroes. I commend this book to you. Well done and keep up the good work!

Okay, so he's cleaned up his language a little (this is an official government document after all), but the recipes included herein are definitely not on the level of chipped beef on toast. Could you imagine an encamped pongo eating Tuna Paella? Garlic Naans? Beef Biryani?

It's definitely a fascinating document, and well worth looking at as an example of modern army life for the Brits.