A few of our regular blog readers recently asked us to give you a tour of our dining facility. That’s DFAC in military-speak, although some of our older readers might remember the military calling it a mess hall (ours is very clean….no mess here).
It took a few days, but I got permission to take pictures in the DFAC. Our facility is very nice — well lit, clean, and lots of room for all of us Soldiers, civilian employees, contractors and even some local nationals. It’s also a very secure building and well protected from enemy attack.
After you enter the building, the first step is to clean up. Signs announce that the best way to avoid disease is to wash your hands. From my personal experience, the DFAC is the cleanest place on the FOB (and it also has the cleanest latrines), so I am more than willing to follow through on that request. There are rows of soap dispensers, sinks and paper towels to get you on your way (I didn’t take pictures of the latrines…just take my word for it, they are clean).
Once you are giving permission to proceed, the world is your oyster (or veal cutlet). Your first choice — eat in or take out. Personally I like eating in. The place is always filled with laughter, the sound of televisions, pots clanging….lots of activity. My office is pretty quiet, so it’s a nice change of pace. It’s always a great place to sit with friends and talk about life (please, no talking about work in the DFAC!!!). But, if you really do need to get back to work quickly — and all of us are in that position sometimes — then you get the styrofoam 3-compartment container and some plastic utensils.
I must say at this point that all DFACs in Iraq are not created equal. Some are very small. In fact, some remote locations are pretty sparse. Our Soldiers there get very little (if any) selection. Luckily, those type of facilities are becoming rarer and rarer as the landscape of our presence in Iraq changes. I’d say the DFAC at FOB Prosperity is a good size, but I have been in bigger.
Since our DFAC is pretty good sized, we have a good selection of food. We have a main line with a special menu of the day. It might be steak and shrimp or it might be meatloaf. It seems that many of our Soldiers, including LTC Perez, like it when it’s Mexican night in the main line. However, our Executive Officer MAJ Lincoln nearly knocks people over on the way out of the office if he hears that pulled pork is on the main line. Personally, I am not a big main line fan.
Besides the main line, we also have a sandwich line with all the fixings, and they will even grill it for you (mmmmm, melted cheese on pastrami). Lots of our Soldiers take this line for lunch…and a cup of soup.
The next line over is the international line. I am not sure why they call it that since the only thing they have there is spaghetti, a taco bar, and a couple types of curry. Despite the misnomer, I do like the curry, and one of my new favorite foods is cauliflower curry. It soaks up the flavor….in fact, I am salivating now just thinking of it.
Just so you don’t think I hate vegetables, I will let you know there is a great salad bar with dozens of selections…and I have been seen grazing there. You would hardly believe you are in a war zone in a desert with all the choices of fresh foods there.
Before you sit down with that food you selected, don’t forget to stop by the drink area. Although alcohol is off-limits in accordance with General Order #1, you can get a non-alcoholic beer in the drink lines, as well as sodas, teas, coffee, juices, water and energy drinks.
Oh….I forgot to tell you my favorite part of the DFAC, didn’t I? Well, anyone who has been around me for even a few days knows my weakness for dessert….and the DFAC does nothing to help me curb that appetite for sweets. Yes, they do put a beautiful selection of fresh fruit next to the hot cherry crisp ala mode, but come on, do you really think I can pass that up? They also have a huge glass container filled with pies, cakes, and other desserts that changes every day. Finally, at the end of the dessert area is my bliss — the ice cream line. They ship in at least 8 different flavors of Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream….and then put a whole cart full of toppings right next to it. If you have never had strawberry ice cream with pineapple chunks, drizzled chocolate sauce and some crumbled sugar cookies, you do not know the meaning of nirvana.
1LT Joseph Larrew cleans up before entering the DFAC.
1LT Larrew grabs his tray, plate and utensils before choosing his preferred food line(s).
Lots of good food in the main line served by friendly staff.
Most of the staff in our DFAC are from outside Iraq. They run the facility almost non-stop (it shuts down only 2 hours every day).
A DFAC employee scoops up some mashed potatoes and gravy.
This is better than Burger King! Grilled the way you like while you watch (extra onions please).
Today's international line has spicy chicken curry and a mixed vegetable curry.
The taco bar is one of my favorite places....especially when they have guacamole!
This is only side of the salad bar. Lots to choose from...and very fresh.
I love broccoli!
Bacon bits, cheese, croutons? What else could a person want?
Every time one of these trays gets close to empty, a replacement is rushed out to fill the void.
Staying hydrated in Iraq is important...and the DFAC gives you plenty of options.
Coffee -- regular and decaf -- and next to this is a variety of creamers.
Just when you thought it was safe to sit down, you pass by these desserts.
I'm sure my mom is asking, "Why did he ask me to send cookies and fudge?"
After you get a scoop of vanilla ice cream, you might want to put some strawberries or caramel on it.
MAJ Lincoln is a "meat and potatoes" kind of guy.
1LT Larrew prefers his food a little more exotic.
Everyone from Birmingham will be glad to know that Soldiers like SGT Richardson can get sweet tea in Baghdad (well, at least you can at the DFAC).
SPC Clifton knows that nothing goes better with sweet tea than a hot slice of pecan pie.
Of course, you can choose to eat healthy at the DFAC. Every day we get a wide selection of fresh fruit.
The first thing you see when you enter the main hall of the DFAC, and the last thing you see as you exit are U.S. Soldiers. They maintain order, track numbers, and always greet you with a smile.
