FORT DRUM — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., was on post Thursday to celebrate the opening of the Belvedere Bistro.
This is the Army’s third Campus-Style Dining Venue after 42 Bistro at Fort Hood and The StackHouse at Fort Carson. The bistro is managed by the Compass Group. It’s similar to a university dining hall or food court.
Soldiers walk up to kiosks to place their order. Once they place their order, they enter their phone number and receive an order number. After their number is called they grab the food and bring it up to the front register to pay. Soldiers can use a $39 a day meal plan at the bistro.
Lt. Gen. Chris O. Mohan said this is a concept the Army would like to expand to installations across the country.
“To the soldiers and the leaders of the 10th Mountain Division and Maj. Gen. Scott Naumann, thank you for allowing us to be part of this ceremony,” Mohan said. “We really appreciate the partnership that we have.”
Mohan also thanked celebrity chef Robert Irvine, who has been a consultant for the Army for more than 20 years.
“It has been his life’s work to help us feed our servicemen and women better,” Mohan said. “He is not merely a consultant. He is part of the Army team.”
Kennedy called it “an honor” to be on Drum Thursday.
“Today is much more than just about opening a new dining facility,” Kennedy said. “It’s about investing in the health, strength, and readiness of the men and women who defend our country every day. Chef Robert Irvine didn’t just redesign the menu. He helped redesign how the Army thinks about feeding soldiers.”
Spc. Tay Lewis said she loves the bond that this will create with her teammates. She plans to stop at Belvedere Bistro every day.
Spc. Carson A. Gant said that it’s a major improvement compared to what soldiers used to have.
“It’s a step in the right direction for a healthier, more well prepared war fighter,” Gant said. “The quality of food has improved drastically.”
Gant said the old dining facility food could be “bland and repetitive.”
“This gives you many options that are much healthier and taste way better, which is important,” he said. “If you eat good, you’re going to feel good and that’s very important for the soldier doing PT every morning.”
Kennedy said the facility will serve meals that are cooked from scratch with fresh ingredients.
“My hope is that what begins here becomes a model for military installations across the country,” Kennedy said.
Compass Group CEO Peter Fetherston said they are excited to be working with the Army.
“When I think about all that we do, I can’t think of anything that has more meaning and more purpose than delivering our level of food, our level of hospitality to our soldiers that keep us safe,” he said.
Irvine said that more of these facilities are needed.
“We need every installation to have a minimum of two or three of these facilities, so our soldiers, our sailors, our airmen…get the nutrition that they need with the real food that they need,” he said.
Kennedy also announced the start of a new YouTube series on his channel, called The Real Food Show, aimed at helping Americans cook healthy, affordable meals using real, everyday ingredients that are aligned with current dietary guidelines.
