Chef performs culinary magic

Airman, March, 2005 by Chris Smith

BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- He is a magician of sorts. But he waves a spatula instead of a wand and uses a frying pan instead of a top hat. Mix in a little culinary artistry, and his "magic" is used to craft eggs, bacon, sausage and hash brown potatoes into cuisine for hungry dining facility patrons.

Food service worker Francis L. Aragon calls himself a "disco chef" because he makes dining a little more exciting for patrons by turning ordinary cooking into a spectacle. People who order food from Mr. Aragon will likely see him flipping it in the air, flambeing it or somehow making a show of it.

Although he's only been serving military patrons for about a year, his passion for combining culinary arts with his unique showmanship began at a fast-food restaurant in the Philippines in 1995.

In 1998, he began working at a hotel, preparing kitchen and dining utensils and ensuring proper hygiene and sanitation. A year later, his cooking had him sailing the seas on a cruise ship, where he worked as a galley steward. When he was promoted to assistant cook for the ship a few years later, he began perfecting his skills with different food preparation and presentation methods, including his disco chef skills.

By the time Mr. Aragon was back on dry land and making his way to Buckley, his talent in the kitchen was finely tuned, and it has only gotten better, said Tech. Sgt. Dave Beyer, 460th Services Division chief quality assurance evaluator.

"Francis came to us with fine culinary skills," Sergeant Beyer said. "However, they were enhanced at the [dining facility]. Francis took our display-cooking concept to another level as he experimented and learned both how to skillfully prepare items for customers and how to entertain at the same time."

"My aspiration is to give people happiness and for them to enjoy their food," he said. "[I also enjoy] showing them my showmanship in cooking, great plate presentation and the taste [of the food]."

Airman 1st Class Chris Smith

460th Air Base Wing Public Affairs