Back to the top with a sirloin...
Posted on 06/28/2002 8:28:48 AM PDT by AF_Blue
A contingent of 15 Outback Steakhouse employees from across America traveled to Kandahar, Afghanistan, on June 17 with food in tow to cook for the coalition forces deployed there.
On the flight between Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and Kandahar, Lt. Col. Gary Goldstone, 17th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron vice commander, described the delivery as a big surprise.
“This mission is special,” Goldstone said. “We’re delivering about 6,000 steaks to people who have been eating (Meals Ready to Eat) for the last three to six months. The look on their faces should be telling.”
A lot of planning went into the mission, which sprang from an idea by the chief executive officer of Outback Steakhouse Inc.
“It all started when the CEO met with Gen. Tommy Franks (U.S. Central Command commander) at a social event,” said Dave Ellis, director of research and development for the company. “He said he wanted to get ‘bloomin’ onions’ to the troops.”
Franks agreed with the idea, and USCENTCOM officials coordinated with company representatives to move the people and food to Kandahar via a Charleston-based C-17 Globemaster III. The company sent enough rib-eye steaks, filets, baked potatoes, French fries, onions, cheesecake and grilled shrimp to feed more than 6,000 people.
“We wanted to contribute in some way, to say thank you,” Ellis said. “The way we know how to do that is with food.”
The Outback Steakhouse staff, made up of service and food technicians, led teams of 10 coalition military people in preparing the huge cookout.
“We expected it to be rough environment,” said Ellis. “I’ve been impressed. Everybody’s been so nice to us. We were all stuck in the tent with nothing to do the first day we got here, but a tour was arranged for us, and we learned all about the base and how everything works.”
Other members of the Outback Steakhouse staff were also impressed with the troops at Kandahar.
“It’s amazing,” said Demi-Jon Merlina, a service technician from Phoenix, Ariz. “It gives me a new respect for our troops. I mean, we have the luxury of knowing we’re going home. Some of these guys have been here for six months. I just thank God there are men and women willing to do this for our country.”
Merlina said the friendliness of the troops really overwhelmed him.
“I thought we were supposed to be the hospitality experts, but everyone here’s been so good to us, I wonder who the experts really are,” said Merlina.
The meal was a welcome change to soldiers and airmen alike, whose daily meals consist of MREs.
“I really appreciated it, and it was excellent food,” said Tech. Sgt. Henry Haskell, from the 315th Maintenance Squadron. “It was really a great gesture and the perfect way to say thanks. It meant a lot to all of us.”
On Oct. 11, 2001, the local Outback Steakhouse gave the profits for that day to a Sept. 11th fund, and the waitstaff donated all their tips.
Back to the top with a sirloin...
'day,
"Thank you for contacting Outback Steakhouse regarding "Mission Outback". We are proud to confirm that fifteen Outback Steakhouse employees have just returned from feeding the troops in Kandahar, Afgainistan. We fed 6,400 United States and coalition troops. The troops were served a dinner of Bloomin' Onions, Victoria's Filets, Rockhampton Rib-Eyes, grilled shrimp on the barbie, aussie chips, jacket potatoes, mixed veggies, and Cheesecake Olivia.
For our brave troops, an Outback meal was a taste of home and a reminder of how much they are appreciated by us all. The troops were overwhelmingly pleased and excited to see Outback Steakhouse in the middle of the desert.
This effort would not have been possible without the support and contributions of the following purveyors:
Performance Food Group Excel Meat Company Standard Meats Kingston Produce Best Foods Tulkoff Foods Reckitt/Benkiser Dairy Farmers of America Newlyweds Foods Lamb Weston Andy Boy Produce Daisy Sour Cream Con Agra Jeff's Gourmet Pies Michaels Foods Milkco Cargill Oils Bun Basket Anheuser-Busch Pepin Distributing Matt Dietz Coastal Sunbelt
We were very proud to have had our Outbackers involved in "Mission Outback" and we were honored to serve those heroes protecting our freedom so far away from home.
Sincerely, Paul Avery President"
It's Outback, not outhouse. Actually I prefer Chily's Blooming Onions over the ones from The Outback Steak House
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