Incirlik dining facility wins big, earns top AF food service award

Published April 15, 2010
By Senior Airman Alex Martinez
39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- The Sultan's Inn earned Incirlik the 2010 U.S. Air Force's John L. Hennessy Award as the number one Air Force food service operation in the single facility category.

The Hennessy Award program, established in 1956, is an annual competition to determine the best food service program in the Air Force. The award's name honors John Lawrence Hennessy, a hotel and restaurant executive who led a special commission task group to improve military food service.

"It's truly an honor," said Andrew Pastula, the Sultan's Inn manager. "I can most certainly say that our entire team is thrilled as we've competed for this award for five years out of the past six. I'm especially happy that our Turkish mission partners are being recognized as they continue to provide top quality support year after year."

Mr. Pastula said the United States Air Forces in Europe has not won the award for the past 16 years. Sembach Air Base, Germany, was the last to win the Hennessy award in the multiple facility category in 1994.

"The Hennessy Award win reminds all Team Incirlik members that we are truly one of the best bases in the Air Force," said Col. Eric Beene, 39th Air Base Wing commander. "I'm very proud of our dining facility team members, American and Turkish, for a job well done, ensuring we are recognized as a top-quality food service provider."

In fiscal year 2009, the Sultan's Inn served 620,901 guest checks, which translates to a monthly average of about 52,000 meals. The Sultan's Inn is the busiest dining facility in USAFE, and serves approximately 34 percent of all USAFE meals served in 17 dining facilities and flight kitchens reporting under Corporate Food Service.