European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 20, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday. February 20, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 9  pfc. James Fleming remotes Lef Luters from the setting line at Ray s diner. I v m �?1 i i j _"7t7 a. 1  it. John while iced Nils he drinks area at the weight watcher Delight Section. Master sgt. Sonny Ray stands proudly in front of his award winning facility. Bamberg Cook has appetite Tor excellence Story and photos by Tony Nauroth Nuernberg Bureau Bamberg Germany hello. Ray s diner. Sol. Travis speaking. May i help you that s what you get Over the phone when you Call the to troop 2nd so 2nd army Cav regt dining facility in barn Berg. None of this second squadrons   Eisnor secure business dutifully mouthed in one continuous mumble. There s a casual yet quite Correct Atmo sphere Here that takes Many other forms. From the live plants that crowd the Hall of trophies with its Cooks Roll of Honor to the fish Lank that soldiers Ratten their noses against. Ray s diner has Greasy spoon friendliness without the grease. Master sgt. Sonny Ray presides Over the eatery that won the Usa eur level Competition in the army s Philip a. Con Nelly awards program for food Excel once the oscars of army food  s diner is competing in the Large Din ing facility  has been shepherding Cooks through his Domain since the facility opened in 1980. It still looks As clean As the last rib served up at a unit picnic. Every Corner is touched by Ray s hand. Even the name is his. A wanted to Lake the mess Hall image out of  he said. Ray is a solid looking Soldier Low to the ground and set Square on his feet. A Tattoo occupies much of his right forearm and he wears a Mustache that makes him look like a circus strongman. His special to though is food service management and he s been doing it off and on for 14 years in the same unit at  few Days ago his food line included ital Ian sausage served up in a mess of sauteed a Capers and onions. Off to the Side were Ris sole potatoes and a Choice of steaming veg from left. Spec. 4 Alfredo Pacheco. Pfc. Modesto cent no spec. 4 Howard Borges and pfc. Derrick Mccullough beam with the smiles of satisfied regular customers while polishing off the last morsels of another meal at Ray s diner. A tables All garnished to please the Eye As Well As the palate. His Cooks wore Crisp Whites and stood proud As chefs polite As diplomats behind the serving line. Pfc. John Whitfield was loading up the weight watchers bar with Low calorie drinks and someone was trying to find a third fruit to Lay out on the dessert table. In the Large dining room spec. 4 How Ard Borges sat with some friends at one of the comfortable Booths Ray had installed. Borges was crunching on a salad. He had been with the unit two weeks. This food is great he said. That s Why we eat Here every Day. This in t dining facility it s a  pfc. Derrick Mccullough is an Melet Man. Ill cat pm three times a Day if 1 can he said. I think it Ray s diner stands up to its  the facility scats up to 208 at a time. The staff serves about 600 per meal. Ray attributes his diner s winning form to his staff his standards and a consistency achieved by keeping key positions permanently tilled by knowledgeable staffers. Without our standards he said we d be just another dining  when the inspectors come through they look for everything from sanitation to administration. They even look at How much food soldiers throw away a sure indicator of its Quality Ray said. There s not much waste Here. Ray said that a Cook working in his facility leaves for his next duty assignment with very High standards. When they go 1 want them to say with great Pride i cooked Al Ray s diner " pfc. James Fleming was stacking cakes on the serving line. When asked How he Felt about working at rays he said i m proud to be  first Cook. Staff sgt. James Osborn said much the same thing and added. And i d Tell a if i was  according to sol. Maj. Larry Martin of  s food service office the other two Usa eur winners bound for the army level Competition arc co a 8th combat aviation in. Kwh inf div Fin Hun army Airfield which won the Small Din ing facility category and cob 4lh in. 502nd inf. In Berlin for Best Field Kitchen. Army level Competition is scheduled to begin in May. Winners will be announced july i and will receive their awards in Philadelphia during the International food service conference in August