Plans For Making Army Meals More Attractive

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28267, 3 May 1957, Page 14

Plans For Making Army Meals More Attractive

*We eat with our eyes,” was the theme of the annual twc-day Army catering conference which ended in Christchurch yesterday. The last conference in Christchurch was in 1952. “This is something we are thumping home to all our catering personnel,” said the Army’s chief catering adviser (Major W. Wilson, of Wellington) yesterday. “The idea behind it is that no matter how much thought, care and preparation you put into food before it reaches the soldier all can be spoilt by having it thrown haphazardly on a plate.” Major Wilson said that the secret had been learned by hotels and restaurants and was being “thoroughly preached throughout the Army.” “We are insisting, as most food specialists insist, that the appearance of food on a plate plays a very large part in the enjoyment and digestion of it,” he said. Waiouru Cooking School

Major Wilson said that the destruction of the Waiouru cooking school by fire last month had not been allowed to interrupt the training work of chefs “in the best catering training centre in the southern hemisphere.” Until • new school is built training will

be carried on in a nearby building. The new school would have the most modern equipment obtainable —equal to or better than the best hotels in New Zealand. Although emphasis was on serving improvements and in the preparation of food a greater variety in menus with rations as supplied at present, is envisaged by the conference.

The business of the conference on Wednesday was to review training of Army caterers during the last year. Yesterday, arrangements were made after discussions for training and general catering to be carried out at camps this year.

Officers attending the conference included the Army’s chief catering adviser (Major J. W. Wilson) and Captain W. H. Mallasch, of Army headquarters; Captain E. Parsons and Warrant Officer W. Griffiths, from Northern Military District in Auckland: Captain G. K. Mills and Lieutenant G. V. Paget, from Central Military District; and Captain P. A. Arcus, of Southern Military District.

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