YOKOSUKA, Japan -- A Sailor assigned to Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet has won
Yokosuka's top culinary competition, Dec 5.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Juan Castilloadame, a culinary specialist, bested
four other Sailors in the finale to win the third annual "Chopped" Yokosuka
championship cooking competition, held by Morale, Welfare, and Recreation
and the Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka's (CFAY) Adm. Matthew C. Perry
"Jewel of the East" General Mess.
Castilloadame said he anticipates his win will motivate the Sailors he works
with. "They can't imagine someone like me winning a competition like this,"
he said, "so I think I'm motivating them to strive further."
The competition started Nov. 28 with 16 contestants from various commands.
The finale featured three rounds; Contestants had to prepare an appetizer,
entrée, and dessert under a time limit using must use mystery ingredients.
The competition, which is modeled after the popular Food Network television
program with the same name, aims to give opportunities for Sailors to use
their culinary talents in a creative way to express themselves.
"It gives the culinary specialists an opportunity to showcase their talent
they don't get to normally showcase on the ship," said Petty Officer 1st
Class Victor Alfonsomarrero, who's assigned to CFAY's general mess.
The other finalists were Petty Officer 2nd Class Reynald Laurentino,
assigned to the USS Benfold (DDG-65), Petty Officer 2nd Class Huy Pham,
assigned to the USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), and Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert
Flowers, assigned to Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet.