European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 23, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Mariana much anal Veteran of 33 years in the Kitchen of the Heidelberg officers club by Effie Bathen staff writer when the foam fire system exploded Mariana Mischanski thought dinner was ruined for sure. This disaster which happened 12 years ago marked the worst night in her 33 years working the Kitchen of the Heidelberg officers club she said. The club in Heidelberg West Germany had been remodeler. Food was prepared in the cellar and the staff was moving everything upstairs. The new fire system had not been adjusted correctly though said Mischanski who is now in charge of the Kitchen. So when they turned on the ovens it seemed like the whole Kitchen exploded she said. The blast injured some of the staff. Everything in the Kitchen and ballroom was covered with smoke and White. An afternoons work it take about 30 part Elma servers to dish up a an 800-place banquet Brunhilde Lena above director of service and assistant Lee Maddy Rush during hectic Atter Mea cleanup Jerry Rodgers right peels onions while club chef Eberhard Friedrich in the background makes wine sauce. Had to be redone five Hundred place Mats napkins place settings and glassware. Quot we had to take it All Back and Start Over Quot she said throwing up her hands. A we cleaned the Kitchen until 5 . The next  but dinner for 500 went on As planned those who attend such Cinderella style parties usually done to see what goes on behind the scenes nor do they realize the months of planning required to put on a military Ball. Assistant club manager Lee Maddy said that about a dozen european wide army balls Are hosted at the club each year and that they re booked until 1992. The smallest is the judge advocate Spring formal with about 300 guests. Quot it s like a Small dinner party Quot he said compared to the aviation Ball with 1100 guests or the recent signal corps Ball with 800. Magical Evans nos for 1,000 people Are handled by a surprisingly Small staff two regular chefs three or four dishwashers and about 30 to 40 waiters and waitresses who Are hired just to serve for the event. A the first 20 minutes after a Ball it looks he a nuclear bomb hit the place Quot said chef Eberhard Friedrich in the Kitchen the afternoon of the signal corps Ball his thumb pressed firmly on top of a chefs knife he drilled through an  Load of shallots that would top the evening s main course Chicken in wine sauce. The food is cooked at the last minute so that everything will be fresh. If the shallots Are added before the moment the food is served he said they would turn Gray. The help comes in about 3 . As for How Long they work chef Eberhard said Quot it is written in the stars when we will leave when the Kitchen is clean we can go  As the first signal corps guests glided through the Glass entry Way the clash and Clatter of dishes started in the Kitchen. Waiters and waitresses hired for the evening spoke a cacophony of seven languages including italian Spanish and turkish said Brunhilde Lenz the club s service director. A Kitchen nato commander she deployed her forces to the left and the right Franks of the Candle lit and velvet curtained ballroom she has no magic Wand to make it All happen the easy Way. Along with her staff and the planners from the corps she tended to every detail. Each guest Wilt be served within an hour not Only an elegant meal but one that is hot. Quot each plate will be 140 degrees when it leaves the  said assistant manager Maddy. Quot you be got to use a Napkin to hold it or you la Jeave some skin  planning for the summer gala began months before meal preparations Quot i had a full head of hair before ail this started Quot said capt. Noel Boatswain of Heidelberg s 43rd signal in. He was this year s project officer for the european regimental signal Bali a $23,000, six month project. Coordinating the event with the Heidelberg club staff was Only part of his Job. An unending list of tasks needed to be dealt with including everything from invitations budgeting and protocol to doormen spotlights and flags. Juggling a limited number of tickets Between 60 brigade sized groups was a Tricky Job. Said warrant officer Trudy Duncan who was in charge of tickets. Even units needed to be verified one request came from Headquarters Baltic approaches a it s a Remote site but no one had Ever heard of it Quot she said of the Denmark unit. Signal soldiers who Pride themselves on Quot getting the message through Quot were also still calling Boatswain and his staff at Midnight the night before asking for tickets. Unanticipated changes were the hardest to Deal with said Boatswain who had planned for an extra table. The Day of the Ball he was found sequencing Quot an 18 minute video into an already tight itinerary and a half dozen More couples into an already packed dining room. The extra guests were accommodated. The video was not Lenz and Maddy wound up the evening unloading dishes out of the soggy Spray of the Kitchen s dishwasher. With so much to do everyone helps e service manager said. And remembering the infamous night of foam and smoke she added Quot we always make  Page 16 Iriri the stars and stripes monday july 23,1990