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A Greek, an American, a German and their dependents walked up to the bar — a salad bar.
The NATO compound International Dining Facility recently opened its doors to all personnel with access to Ramstein Aug. 6, offering vegetables, drinks and other food.
Until the recent change, an escort was required along with several days of processing time to dine at the NATO Headquarters Allied Air Command in Bldg. 313. The change came after a desire to not only offer a new dining facility but also a multinational experience.
“We eased the process of getting into the dining facility with the intent of increasing interaction and giving others a chance to experience the quality food they have here,” said Air Force Col. Mark Hering, NATO Headquarters Allied Air Command base support group commander.
The facility offers three different main options, from €4 to €6, as well as salads, drinks and a variety of other options.
The kitchen is open from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays to Fridays. A coffee bar is also offered from 8 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The international dining facility only takes euros, and to enter the facility, Ramstein members are required to stop by the visitor center in Bldg. 312 to obtain a pass. Once beyond the main gates and after a short walk into the building, the flags of NATO will come into view overlooking the facility.
Twenty-eight nations make up NATO, with 26 represented in the facility. With this in mind, the kitchen is slated to have one day a month dedicated to many of the NATO nations’ food and people.
“What I am most excited about is increasing the interaction between NATO headquarters and the entire base through this dining facility,” Hering said. “To be able to have a dining experience with other countries and meet their people is going to be a unique opportunity that I am proud of.”
Hering is not the only one satisfied. One French adjutant-chef (E-9 equivalent), who helped make an all-access dining facility a reality, is pleased with what it is becoming.
“I must admit, when I first entered the international dining facility I was impressed and proud, because you realize what you are part of,” said French air force Adjutant-Chef Yann Schweyer, Headquarters Allied Air Command real life support. “Right now in the same frame, I can see the planes in the sky, the NATO nations’ flags flying, hear all the different languages in the same area at the same time and taste some of their food. Then you really realize that this is a multinational environment. I am part of this, and I am in the middle of it.”
Once closed to all but a few willing to cook up the right paper work and find a sponsor, the kitchen has opened its doors to all with access to Ramstein and is scheduled to publish a weekly menu in the Kaiserslautern American newspaper and on the Ramstein Facebook page.
