Dining facility prepares for Air Force award Published Dec. 4, 2008 By Airman 1st Class Amber Kelly-Woodward 375th Airlift Wing Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- About 700 Team Scott personnel visit the Nightingale Inn Dining Facility every day, but little do they know that it is in the running for being the best dining facility in the Air Force. The Nightingale Inn Dining Facility went under the John L. Hennessy Award evaluation Nov. 24 and 25. "John L. Hennessy was an innovator in the hospitality field," said Randolph Rose, 375th Services Squadron Nightingale Inn Dining Facility general manager. The first preliminary was getting nominated by the wing commander. Scott and Travis Air Force Base in California were nominated for the single dining facility category and Fairchild AFB in Washington was nominated for the multiple dining facility category in the Air Mobility Command. Scott won the Air Force level competition in 1996 and 2004. Scott has also won the AMC level competition seven out of the last 10 years. During the evaluation, civilian restaurant professionals and military representatives with knowledge in food service used a questionnaire with questions ranging from two to 50 points which equaled a total of 1,000 points. The evaluation covered kitchen operations, serving and dining operations, training, personnel and readiness, sanitation, repair maintenance and management effectiveness. "A lot of work goes into the dining facility all the time so that we don't have to try and gear up for the evaluation," said Mr. Rose, who has more than 40 years of combined enlisted and Department of Defense civilian expertise in the food service industry. "As with all jobs, doing the basics very well as part of our daily routine allows us time to do the other things." The dining facility currently has a staff of 17 Airmen with five deployed and 46 civilians, 70 percent of which have disabilities. The dining facility is not only responsible for the Nightingale Inn hours of operation, but the hospital, flight kitchen and grab and go as well. "We do a good job every day, hopefully the evaluators saw that," said Mr. Rose. The results of the evaluation will be announced in about two weeks. The Air Force-level competition will be held in February with the winner being announced in early April. The winner is then presented the Hennessy Trophy in May during a restaurant show in Chicago. The trophy is displayed in the winning dining facility's lobby for the year. "I think the staff is very deserving and the food facility, as relayed to me by customers, is the best, so we are already winners," concluded Mr. Rose.