Army chow never looked like this: U.S. military chefs to compete at Las Vegas cook-off

What? KP duty in the military pays off? Some of the best chefs in the U.S. armed services will show off their talents at a stove-top smackdown in Las Vegas this month.

The Military Culinary Competition will be held Nov. 12 (over Veterans Day weekend) at the Tropicana Las Vegas and feature 50 serving members of the military plus a celebrity chef.

TV personality and fitness guru Robert Irvine will host the cook-off. Irvine began honing his culinary skills during a 10-year stint in Britain’s Royal Navy (he enlisted at age 15).

The cooking challenge kicks off at 7 a.m. in the resort’s Trinidad Pavilion and continues until 4:30 p.m. Working in teams of four, military cooks will prepare a variety of dishes.

Admission is free for folks who want to see cooks stationed at home and abroad shatter stereotypes about military chow.

Fans of Irvine can attend a free meet-and-greet from 1 to 3 p.m. He’ll be signing copies of his newest book, “Fit Fuel: A Chef’s Guide to Eating Well, Getting Fit, and Living Your Best Life.”

Irvine recently joined the Tropicana team and plans to open Chef Irvine Restaurant next year. In a stunt to announce the partnership, Irvine rappelled 220 feet down the hotel’s tower last May.

The contest is organized by the Military Hospitality Alliance, a charity that supports military food service personnel and helps them find employment in civilian life.

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