Poor conditions in Italy
Unfortunately this alleged report does make us sound a bit precious! Having done 2 tours in italy, and sending a lot of time travelling through the country, the food is generally great, Rome notwithstanding. I've dined in both officers' and conscripts messes (however conscription stopped about 7 years ago) and the food is good and cheap - but not 'British' with red meat 'rare'. I am writing this whilst attending a conference about Libya, in Italy. I've never seen Italian troops suffering from malnutrition; indeed the equivalent Italian cohort I wager is leaner and healthier than the Brits (just look at UK's position in WHO obesity stats)
Again, this report does not reflect well on some of our personnel of our modern expeditionary RAF.
Again, this report does not reflect well on some of our personnel of our modern expeditionary RAF.
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Again, this report does not reflect well on some of our personnel of our modern expeditionary RAF.
They certainly earned their NATO gongs the hard way, those folk in Italy.
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The rotten food was in fact some oranges - hardly meat with maggots crawling out, which is the mental image conjured up by the headline.
I've eaten in NCO's and JR's messes in most European countries, and a few further away. Apart from sliced cheese and meats for breakfast in a German mess I can't think of anything I that wasn't very welcome, but I guess when you've just come back from a week humping a bergen and sleeping under one of HM's finest bashas, anything that's edible is an improvement over compo/MRE.
I've eaten in NCO's and JR's messes in most European countries, and a few further away. Apart from sliced cheese and meats for breakfast in a German mess I can't think of anything I that wasn't very welcome, but I guess when you've just come back from a week humping a bergen and sleeping under one of HM's finest bashas, anything that's edible is an improvement over compo/MRE.
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Looks like the poor dears might not need to worry much longer. Soon be home with their mum/wife/husband/steward wiping their noses again!
BBC News - Libya conflict: Italy urges Nato to suspend hostilities
Cheers now
BBC News - Libya conflict: Italy urges Nato to suspend hostilities
Cheers now
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I think a major point is being missed in all this 'poor diddums' reaction.
Someone has to pay for this food. I imagine the UK taxpayer.
I recall in the early '80's overhearing one of the fruit and veg suppliers to RAF Leeming bragging in Exelby pub about how he used to dispose of all his out of date / passed sell by date / semi rotten goods to the 3 messes at full market rates.
A quiet word in OC Caterings shell-like stopped that practice dead.
Someone has to pay for this food. I imagine the UK taxpayer.
I recall in the early '80's overhearing one of the fruit and veg suppliers to RAF Leeming bragging in Exelby pub about how he used to dispose of all his out of date / passed sell by date / semi rotten goods to the 3 messes at full market rates.
A quiet word in OC Caterings shell-like stopped that practice dead.
Good hotel, good food, good bar and good times.
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That particular person must have been looking very hard to find food that is not of good quality in Italy. The pasta, pizza, meat, veg and fruit are all excellent plus the locals are very friendly and helpful. Of particular mention is the superb grub served up by the Mobile Catering and Support Unit who supplement the host nation food and arrived a few weeks ago.
There are a few slightly more important military/political issues out there at the moment that demand a great deal more prune space than this subject...
There are a few slightly more important military/political issues out there at the moment that demand a great deal more prune space than this subject...
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Spent lots of time in GdeC with Harrier. Never had any problems with finding good stuff to eat. The meals provided on base were more than adequate with the catering staff getting lots of provisions fresh locally.
The Italian food at Deci', whether at Enrico's or at the Quadranazionale, was generally pretty good. As it was at the German mess.
However, virtually our whole ACMI detachment went down with gastroenteritis after some grubby RAF cook infected everyone who'd eaten breakfast at the RAF mess. Fortunately health and safety and food hygiene have come into being since those days.
As for 'food fraud' - I recall a case many years ago (I think it involved one of the first of the Navy's Fleet CPOs) where rubbish was being served and high prices paid, with the criminals skimming the profits.
However, virtually our whole ACMI detachment went down with gastroenteritis after some grubby RAF cook infected everyone who'd eaten breakfast at the RAF mess. Fortunately health and safety and food hygiene have come into being since those days.
As for 'food fraud' - I recall a case many years ago (I think it involved one of the first of the Navy's Fleet CPOs) where rubbish was being served and high prices paid, with the criminals skimming the profits.
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Beagle is doubtless referring to the scandalous procedure whereby Pursers were allowed to charge/supply at 14 oz to the pound, and the rations ('Salt horse and hard tack, dried peas') could have spent years in barrels travelling between stations.
Still, enough about 1805....
I suspect the original complainant was trying it on a bit, a rotten orange is hardly the pits, but perhaps some of the replies ("nonsense, there's a perfectly respectable restaurant in the hills, 2 Michelin stars and they do surprising things with local truffles in season...") aere a bit off base for what the average SAC encounters <g>
Still, enough about 1805....
I suspect the original complainant was trying it on a bit, a rotten orange is hardly the pits, but perhaps some of the replies ("nonsense, there's a perfectly respectable restaurant in the hills, 2 Michelin stars and they do surprising things with local truffles in season...") aere a bit off base for what the average SAC encounters <g>
Nope, it was around 1970-74 when the infamous 'food fraud' case cropped up. Some thieving git was billing the MoD for good quality meat and buying bits of old horse or something from the local villain. Between them they split the profit.
Eventually some Officer of the Day actually bothered to check up on the 'whingeing oiks
' who'd been complaining about their food - and found that they certainly did have a case. After some investigation, the fraudulent SNCO was arrested and court martialled.
I think that's what might have led to the archaic rule about NCOs being entrusted with Public Funds?
Eventually some Officer of the Day actually bothered to check up on the 'whingeing oiks
' who'd been complaining about their food - and found that they certainly did have a case. After some investigation, the fraudulent SNCO was arrested and court martialled.I think that's what might have led to the archaic rule about NCOs being entrusted with Public Funds?
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This clown should be embarrassed that he cried to his father. His father should be embarrassed that he spoke to his MP and his MP should be embarrassed for bringing it up in the House.
It sounds to me, that some classless norvern munkey is simply having a few problems adapting to having to eat forin muck! Poor little bear. Let's hope he comes home safe and sound, from that horrendous war zone that is Southern Italy.
It sounds to me, that some classless norvern munkey is simply having a few problems adapting to having to eat forin muck! Poor little bear. Let's hope he comes home safe and sound, from that horrendous war zone that is Southern Italy.
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I'm not rising to the classless northern munky jibe, you shandy drinking southern get!
The amusing this is, you can imagine that this chap is struggling to adapt to foreign food and would much rather some good old English grub, like a pizza or a kebab! Perhaps a good old English curry would go down well??!!
Some people adapt to 'foreign' food more readily than others!
Some years ago, when the Vickers FunBus used to visit Palermo quite regularly, one of the navigators ('Chuckles' - a real misery) decided that we should have a 'crew' meal with the groundcrew in a local seafood restaurant in Yes-Mondello. I suggested that perhaps they might not be too keen on the idea.
But Chuckles told me I was underestimating the groundcrew and would not be swayed. So, when the restaurant finally opened at around 2000, in we all trooped. Various wriggling things with tentacles, spiny shells, bones and fins were proffered in front of our reluctant diners; they were obviously less than enthusiastic but stuck with it. It also cost us a fortune.
The GE later told me that they'd far sooner have had a quick pizza or a 'bit of cow and chips' rather than weird Mediterranean sea monsters and pasta - I apologised and told him that, as a mere co-pilot, no-one had listened when I'd queried the suggestion. Next time we did our own thing - our Air Eng refused to have anything to do with seafood or pasta, so we found somewhere where he could get stuck in to his beloved "steak wiv' champi-nons and chips" as he termed it - whereas the groundcrew lads happily piled in to the excellent pizzeria nearby.
In flight rats were a good deal on the way home though - everyone was given an appropriate allowance (because the 'official' caterers had given another crew a nasty dose of the Palermo two-steps on a previous occasion); most then bought a donkey cock sandwich from the little shop next to the Arsolini. The hotel's water supply would often be turned off overnight, so everyone also had a water allowance. Those with any nous filled up an old Lambrusco bottle from the tap before the water went off - others actually went out and bought bottled water...
And everyone agreed that the Italians simply cannot make a good 'spag bol' in the true British manner!
Some years ago, when the Vickers FunBus used to visit Palermo quite regularly, one of the navigators ('Chuckles' - a real misery) decided that we should have a 'crew' meal with the groundcrew in a local seafood restaurant in Yes-Mondello. I suggested that perhaps they might not be too keen on the idea.
But Chuckles told me I was underestimating the groundcrew and would not be swayed. So, when the restaurant finally opened at around 2000, in we all trooped. Various wriggling things with tentacles, spiny shells, bones and fins were proffered in front of our reluctant diners; they were obviously less than enthusiastic but stuck with it. It also cost us a fortune.
The GE later told me that they'd far sooner have had a quick pizza or a 'bit of cow and chips' rather than weird Mediterranean sea monsters and pasta - I apologised and told him that, as a mere co-pilot, no-one had listened when I'd queried the suggestion. Next time we did our own thing - our Air Eng refused to have anything to do with seafood or pasta, so we found somewhere where he could get stuck in to his beloved "steak wiv' champi-nons and chips" as he termed it - whereas the groundcrew lads happily piled in to the excellent pizzeria nearby.
In flight rats were a good deal on the way home though - everyone was given an appropriate allowance (because the 'official' caterers had given another crew a nasty dose of the Palermo two-steps on a previous occasion); most then bought a donkey cock sandwich from the little shop next to the Arsolini. The hotel's water supply would often be turned off overnight, so everyone also had a water allowance. Those with any nous filled up an old Lambrusco bottle from the tap before the water went off - others actually went out and bought bottled water...
And everyone agreed that the Italians simply cannot make a good 'spag bol' in the true British manner!
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And everyone agreed that the Italians simply cannot make a good 'spag bol' in the true British manner!
In fact the Italians don't know what a 'Spaghetti Bolognese' is! And they do find those cans of spaghetti so loved by Brits very strange.
Lived 5 yrs in Puglia and cannot think of a time I got a bad meal.