JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Both the Wilderness Inn and Iditarod dining facilities are scheduling thanksgiving meals, and if service members play their cards right, they can double-dip this year.
The Wilderness Inn is scheduled to have Thanksgiving on Nov. 23, from 11 a.m to 2 p.m. while the Iditarod Dining Facility is to be on the holiday itself from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. At both feasts, base leadership will be present to serve the service members who may be spending Thanksgiving away from their families this year.
“I’m hoping for a big turn-out,” said Sergeant First Class Michael Mathis, of the United States Army Alaska Headquarters and Headquarters detachment, 725 Brigade Support Battalion, (Airborne) Wilderness Inn Dining Facility manager. “This will be my first Thanksgiving as a dining facility manager here. I just want everybody to get fed and enjoy a home-cooked meal away from home.”
Wilderness Inn will have a fixed meal price, while the Iditarod Dining Facility will serve the items a la carte, said Michael Thornton, assistant manager for the Iditarod Dining Facility.
“There’s no change to meal card holders, and cost doesn’t change,” Thornton said. “The only reason our cost doesn’t change and the Army’s does is we are a la carte. Each item is priced accordingly, whereas with them you’re paying for the full meal; either way it’s a cost-effective meal.”
Both facilities will be offering a continental breakfast to free staff up to prepare for the feast at lunch on their respective days. For Wilderness Inn, this will be from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. and for the Iditarod, it will be during normal breakfast hours.
According to tradition, base leadership will be present for both Thanksgivings, serving the service members, Thornton said.
According to both managers, there’s always a bit of friendly rivalry between the two dining facilities and there are not many better opportunities for them to flex their culinary muscles than Thanksgiving.
“We work together quite well. We’re both under the same leadership,” Thornton said. “Their Thanksgiving is worth looking at. They really put on a big spread. I don’t know what they’re going to do this year, but I’ve seen what they do in previous years and they do a phenomenal job.
“There’s always a difference though -- We’re better.”
With the two meals happening on different days, perhaps JBER service members can judge for themselves this year.
“But you won’t get lobster tail and crab legs over there,” Mathis said.