Fort Bliss Monitor

Centennial Club hosts 12th annual Celebrity Chef Gala

Spc. Jason Stadel
Special to The Monitor

Jeffery Lagyak looks on as one of the students prepares a dish for a customer to the event. Students from around the area helped with serving during the event.

Sgt. Aaron Stuckey, right, discusses his ice sculpture with one of the customers at the Celebrity Chef Gala. Team Bliss was one of 13 teams at the event held at the Centennial Club.

Representatives from restaurants in the El Paso area were recently at Biggs Army Airfield’s Centennial Club for the 12th Annual Celebrity Chef Gala, which was presented by the El Paso Rotary Club, to give a taste of their culinary art skills.

Fourteen teams were at the event including the Team Bliss Culinary Arts team. Team Bliss was comprised of four Soldiers from the 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 31st ADA Bde. and 11th ADA Bde.

This is the second year in a row, Fort Bliss has entered a team, and they’re gaining popularity throughout the community. “[The Soldiers] are no different than anybody else here,” Chef Paul Belle-garde, chef coordinator for the event, said, “ They’re here putting out good food for El Paso, and this year they’ve really stepped it up a notch.”

Bellegarde said there’s a misconception of Army food service. He said most people picture Army chefs as just serving food in the chow hall; he added the Celebrity Chef Gala gives the public an idea of how talented the Soldiers are. “This allows for the public to see the military has more than just ‘cooks.’”

The chairman of the event, Terry Squire, said it was only natural that Fort Bliss have a team. “The Centennial Club is just a phenomenal resource for the community. And having the Celebrity Chef Gala here plus a team from Fort Bliss puts a good image of the Army and their relationship with El Paso.

“Last year they put on a splendid meal, and this year looks even better,” Squire said.

Members of the Team Bliss Culinary Arts Team have been working long hours for weeks to get ready for the Celebrity Chef Gala. They said they know they have the talent to be side-by-side with El Paso’s best. “We want to be the best, and I think our dedication shows,” Spc. Jeffery Lagyak, C Btry., 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery, said.

Team Bliss served a main dish of salmon. Sgt. Aaron Stuckey added an ice sculpture to the decor. Most of the customers were surprised about the style and how unique the Army chefs presented themselves. This is something Lagyak liked to hear, “This gives us exposure and lets the public know what kind of talent we have. We enjoy doing this stuff.”



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	February 10, 2005

	Centennial Club hosts 12th annual Celebrity Chef Gala Spc. Jason Stadel Special to The Monitor Jeffery Lagyak looks on as one of the students prepares a dish for a customer to the event. Students from around the area helped with serving during the event. Sgt. Aaron Stuckey, right, discusses his ice sculpture with one of the customers at the Celebrity Chef Gala. Team Bliss was one of 13 teams at the event held at the Centennial Club. Representatives from restaurants in the El Paso area were recently at Biggs Army Airfield’s Centennial Club for the 12th Annual Celebrity Chef Gala, which was presented by the El Paso Rotary Club, to give a taste of their culinary art skills. Fourteen teams were at the event including the Team Bliss Culinary Arts team. Team Bliss was comprised of four Soldiers from the 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 31st ADA Bde. and 11th ADA Bde. This is the second year in a row, Fort Bliss has entered a team, and they’re gaining popularity throughout the community. “[The Soldiers] are no different than anybody else here,” Chef Paul Belle-garde, chef coordinator for the event, said, “ They’re here putting out good food for El Paso, and this year they’ve really stepped it up a notch.” Bellegarde said there’s a misconception of Army food service. He said most people picture Army chefs as just serving food in the chow hall; he added the Celebrity Chef Gala gives the public an idea of how talented the Soldiers are. “This allows for the public to see the military has more than just ‘cooks.’” The chairman of the event, Terry Squire, said it was only natural that Fort Bliss have a team. “The Centennial Club is just a phenomenal resource for the community. And having the Celebrity Chef Gala here plus a team from Fort Bliss puts a good image of the Army and their relationship with El Paso. “Last year they put on a splendid meal, and this year looks even better,” Squire said. Members of the Team Bliss Culinary Arts Team have been working long hours for weeks to get ready for the Celebrity Chef Gala. They said they know they have the talent to be side-by-side with El Paso’s best. “We want to be the best, and I think our dedication shows,” Spc. Jeffery Lagyak, C Btry., 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery, said. Team Bliss served a main dish of salmon. Sgt. Aaron Stuckey added an ice sculpture to the decor. Most of the customers were surprised about the style and how unique the Army chefs presented themselves. This is something Lagyak liked to hear, “This gives us exposure and lets the public know what kind of talent we have. We enjoy doing this stuff.”