Topic: Coming soon to a ration pack near you: poutine in a pouch?

[milnews.ca]

One of the highlights from this MERX posting for pouch entrees and sides (also attached if link doesn't work for you):

.... Poutine 240g x 60 032 ....

Wonder how those fries'll reheat in the bag?   Mmmmm......

[Pandora114]

I don't know if I should be excited...or grossed out...

The fries won't be crispy....the whole point of eating Poutine is to scarf it down before the fries turn to floppy limp sticks.

[milnews.ca]

The fries won't be crispy....the whole point of eating Poutine is to scarf it down before the fries turn to floppy limp sticks.

Sorta what I was thinking - and I've seen what retort pouching technology has done to "bread", so I'm curious what "poutine in a pouch" will be like.

[Pandora114]

It'll have "Pou" in it..

as in Poo...I'm thinking.

[Noctis]

I always figured ration packs were full of healthy, full, and nutritious foods -- like cherios and pop-tarts.
Guess I wasn't that far off 

[Journeyman]

It's nice to see some outcome from the money we've invested into "embrace cultural diversity."   

....the whole point of eating Poutine is to....

.....soak up some of the beer at last call.   



Therefore, phase 2 for the ration packs:

[Shamrock]

I don't know if I should be excited...or grossed out...

The fries won't be crispy....the whole point of eating Poutine is to scarf it down before the fries turn to floppy limp sticks.

Doesn't matter, has gravy

[Jim Seggie]

Sooner have poutine in a pouch than what my troops were fed this morning.

[Pandora114]

Sooner have poutine in a pouch than what my troops were fed this morning.

Wait!  You guys get cereal in your box lunches???

At least the box lunches from CFB Greenwood have been improving for flight crews.  Meat isn't green any more and the cheese isn't fuzzy. (no joke) Husband still brings his home since he doesn't really eat them.  Kids love em...except yesterdays...egg salad..that was kinda gross.

(Husband saves his box lunches to give to the kids, they'll eat anything)

[milnews.ca]

It's nice to see some outcome from the money we've invested into "embrace cultural diversity."   

.....soak up some of the beer at last call.   



Therefore, phase 2 for the ration packs:

Mmmmm - the only thing better than poutine in a pouch is beer in a bag, right?

[PMedMoe]

Mmmmm - the only thing better than poutine in a pouch is beer in a bag, right?

JM would probably like it in an IV bag....   

[milnews.ca]

JM would probably like it in an IV bag....   

Better that bag than others in the news ....

[PMedMoe]

Better that bag than others in the news ....

Ewwwww!  I so did not need to see that.   

[Journeyman]

Better that bag than others in the news ....

     I'm a 'new testament' type of guy -- "it's better to give than to receive"   

[milnews.ca]

     I'm a 'new testament' type of guy -- "it's better to give than to receive"   

[Colin P]

Wait!  You guys get cereal in your box lunches???

At least the box lunches from CFB Greenwood have been improving for flight crews.  Meat isn't green any more and the cheese isn't fuzzy. (no joke) Husband still brings his home since he doesn't really eat them.  Kids love em...except yesterdays...egg salad..that was kinda gross.

(Husband saves his box lunches to give to the kids, they'll eat anything)

In the 80's Air Forces box lunches were leagues above the army ones. We were constantly amazed at what we got in a AF box lunch, fried chicken is one of the things I remember, army ones were quite forgettable.

[milnews.ca]

In the 80's Air Forces box lunches were leagues above the army ones. We were constantly amazed at what we got in a AF box lunch, fried chicken is one of the things I remember, army ones were quite forgettable.

If you're interested, you can check out some recent specs (September 2012) for bids on box lunches for Trenton vs. Pet here (PDF).  Who knew a “Big Jim” sub contains “Bologna, salami, pork & bacon loaf, processed cheddar, mustard”?

[SeR]

Anyone think they could have picked anything less nutritious? 

[Pandora114]

In the 80's Air Forces box lunches were leagues above the army ones. We were constantly amazed at what we got in a AF box lunch, fried chicken is one of the things I remember, army ones were quite forgettable.

I heard from a chef, who volunteered at the Annapolis mess, that Flight Feeding was considered a punishment for the cooks there for quite some time.  Comox FF is much better than Greenwood FF I guess.  It has improved since we got here at least.  No green meat, or fuzzy cheese...

[Pandora114]

In the 80's Air Forces box lunches were leagues above the army ones. We were constantly amazed at what we got in a AF box lunch, fried chicken is one of the things I remember, army ones were quite forgettable.

Husband wants to know if you ever roasted a pig on a spit during an argus flight. 

[ObedientiaZelum]

Sooner have poutine in a pouch than what my troops were fed this morning.

I've been told box lunches are pretty expensive. Does anyone know how much they cost out of idle curiosity?

[milnews.ca]

I've been told box lunches are pretty expensive. Does anyone know how much they cost out of idle curiosity?

Don't have all the data in the right computer, but given how specific the assembly & packing instructions are in the bid documents, all that labour/processing can't be cheap - or automated.

[ObedientiaZelum]

Don't have all the data in the right computer, but given how specific the assembly & packing instructions are in the bid documents, all that labour/processing can't be cheap - or automated.

I throw out most of the stuff in my box lunch. I've seen guys take garbage bags of stuff home to thier kids after ranges. I wonder if it would be me economical if we paid guys a little meal claim and told them to brown bag their own lunch.

[SOES_v]

Oh, that is so gross... And they are procuring 60,000 of these!?

Nasty

[milnews.ca]

Oh, that is so gross... And they are procuring 60,000 of these!?

Nasty

Not to mention "hamburger pouch" x ~100K - what part of the hamburger IS the pouch, anyway?

I'm also kinda curious how chicken cordon bleu ....

.... will translate into pouch fare.

[PuckChaser]

Husband wants to know if you ever roasted a pig on a spit during an argus flight.

Sounds like an awfully personal question..... 

[my72jeep]

Back in the day when I was Ordering them. 1994ish hay box $4 person, Bulk $9 per meal,(all in 1 or 2 big boxes). Box lunch $16 per box that was out of A153 in Borden for the Cadets.

[my72jeep]

Sounds like an awfully personal question..... 

Mil points for that one

[BeyondTheNow]

I haven't had the pleasure of trying these rations, and I'm truly not a picky eater--at all.  But......

.....I'm worried.  Is this why I was asked if I'm prone to IBS during my medical?

[SOES_v]

Not to mention "hamburger pouch" x ~100K - and what part of the hamburger IS the pouch, anyway?

Ugg, I can just see the frowns on the faces of the troops that get those... That's going to be great for moral when it's wet and freezing...

Btw, IIRC I have seen up to $11 per box lunch, being spent. Again, I am not entirely confident of that number because I have seen smaller numbers as well. I am not too sure of the variables at play but yes, box lunches are not cheap, and neither are MRE's. They are pretty dang expensive.

[milnews.ca]

Back in the day when I was Ordering them. 1994ish hay box $4 person, Bulk $9 per meal,(all in 1 or 2 big boxes). Box lunch $16 per box that was out of A153 in Borden for the Cadets.

.... Btw, IIRC I have seen up to $11 per box lunch, being spent. Again, I am not entirely confident of that number because I have seen smaller numbers as well ....

Thanks for those tidbits.  I'm curious - was that with CF staff making/assembling the box lunches?  I'm guessing yes, but I haven't been tracking MERX long enough to know exactly when the outsourcing of box lunches began in earnest.

Ugg, I can just see the frowns on the faces of the troops that get those... That's going to be great for moral when it's wet and freezing...

To be fair, I'm also going to guess the "Hamburger Pouch" would be similar to a Salisbury steak (as was done in boil pouches, with mushroom gravy if memory serves, in previous ration pack iterations).

[BernDawg]

Since we're slightly off topic anyway you haven't lived until you've had a Brit box (bag) lunch. Not the ones the officers get either, I'm talking about the 2 mystery meat sangys and bottle of fizz the squaddies get to sustain them through a hard days work. (at least that's what we got back in the 90's)

Poutine in a bag? Could be worse. Plain omelette anyone? 

[ObedientiaZelum]

Since we're slightly off topic anyway you haven't lived until you've had a Brit box (bag) lunch. Not the ones the officers get either, I'm talking about the 2 mystery meat sangys and bottle of fizz the squaddies get to sustain them through a hard days work. (at least that's what we got back in the 90's)

Poutine in a bag? Could be worse. Plain omelette anyone? 

British officers get different types of meals than their men?

[BernDawg]

British officers get different types of meals than their men?

From what I've been told, yes. Do I have first hand knowledge of this? No. There may be others here with first hand experience.

Anecdotal evidence is that the Officers get a box lunch several grades higher than the men and it comes with silverware included because gentlemen do not use their fingers to eat. At least that's what we were told back in the late 80's early 90's.

[SOES_v]

To be fair, I'm also going to guess the "Hamburger Pouch" would be similar to a Salisbury steak (as was done in boil pouches, with mushroom gravy if memory serves, in previous ration pack iterations).

Let's hope so... I honestly don't mind IMP's that much... After a couple of weeks it gets a bit awful but otherwise, meh. I will say though, when getting food is the highlight of your day, it can really sap you, when you get something that just turns your stomach.....

 

*edited, used MRE rather than IMP, had a brain fart

[my72jeep]

Who here were lucky or not, and got to try the Pizza pocket they trialed back n the 90s?

[Sadukar09]

Ugg, I can just see the frowns on the faces of the troops that get those... That's going to be great for moral when it's wet and freezing...

Btw, IIRC I have seen up to $11 per box lunch, being spent. Again, I am not entirely confident of that number because I have seen smaller numbers as well. I am not too sure of the variables at play but yes, box lunches are not cheap, and neither are MRE's. They are pretty dang expensive.

When I worked with QM, the RQMS MCpl told me an IMP was around 20 bucks a pop.

Then again he may be joking with me.

[Tango18A]

Last I heard IMPs ran 25ish per meal. Vern would know for sure.

[PPCLI Guy]

From what I've been told, yes. Do I have first hand knowledge of this? No. There may be others here with first hand experience.

Anecdotal evidence is that the Officers get a box lunch several grades higher than the men and it comes with silverware included because gentlemen do not use their fingers to eat. At least that's what we were told back in the late 80's early 90's.

I have served with the Brits, and saw no evidence of that practice.

[slayer/raptor]

Did an op with the Brits in Kandahar, me (an officer) and my men (NCOs/NCMs) had the same rations.

[Pandora114]

My husband routinely flies with an RAF officer, he gets the same box lunches as everyone else.  Including the same plastic cutlery packet that everyone else gets.  I think the only difference is he's able to have the seafood lunch...whereas most of the crew at that unit is allergic to seafood. (including my husband)

Luckily for me, I can eat anything if it's been swimming, oinking, mooing or clucking. 

Sucks for the allergic people in the fall when lobster is $3/lb and the seafood eaters get lobster rolls.  (the smell drives my husband to throw up)

[ObedientiaZelum]

Did an op with the Brits in Kandahar, me (an officer) and my men (NCOs/NCMs) had the same rations.

Sounds like it's probably a case of "US Rangers can lose 1 weapon a year as a write off" kinda fact.

I could see something like that happening in the past though.

Poutine in a bag doesn't sound appetizing at all

[-Skeletor-]

Poutine in a bag sounds pretty gross... no doubt it'll turn out to be another meal with 75% of your daily fat intake all in one 200g meal...

I see the Maple dessert is still there... anyone actually eat those?  And the diabetic shock in a bag aka chocolate dessert is gone.  I'm dissapointed the chicken fajita meal is gone though,  was pretty good IMO.

[RemembranceDay]

Last I heard IMPs ran 25ish per meal. Vern would know for sure.

http://www.mealkitsupply.com/ca/catalog/index.php?cPath=21

[PuckChaser]

http://www.mealkitsupply.com/ca/catalog/index.php?cPath=21

That's MREs, which are probably made in huge numbers compared to our rations, and we all know government pays more for everything. I've always heard the 25-30$ range for field rations.

[Bird_Gunner45]

Poutine in a bag sounds pretty gross... no doubt it'll turn out to be another meal with 75% of your daily fat intake all in one 200g meal...

I see the Maple dessert is still there... anyone actually eat those?  And the diabetic shock in a bag aka chocolate dessert is gone.  I'm dissapointed the chicken fajita meal is gone though,  was pretty good IMO.

Maple dessert was actually pretty good when it was warmed up.... the last time I saw the chocolate desert, the troops were taking dares to see who could actually finish it...

[Pandora114]

Maple dessert was actually pretty good when it was warmed up.... the last time I saw the chocolate desert, the troops were taking dares to see who could actually finish it...

I am a woman...I would finish it because it was chocolate.

*nodnod*

I would be a disgrace to my gender if I did otherwise.  Bring it.

[Journeyman]

I am a woman...I would finish it because it was chocolate.

It's "chocolate" in the same way that "NDHQ is here to help" and "military intelligence" is....well, you see where this is going...

[Bird_Gunner45]

I am a woman...I would finish it because it was chocolate.

*nodnod*

I would be a disgrace to my gender if I did otherwise.  Bring it.

I like chocolate as much as anyone... but that creation is just ungodly rich

[SOES_v]

When I worked with QM, the RQMS MCpl told me an IMP was around 20 bucks a pop.

Then again he may be joking with me.

That sounds about right. I did some quick math and it looks like we budgeted it to be around 20 a piece. If I take into account the IMP's left over from our last excursion, which we are going to use, the number I get is a bit more than 20 for an IMP.

[Jimmy_D]

For those who are curious, this site has some of the past menu's.

http://www.mreinfo.com/international/canada/canadian-imp.html

[lacqui]

Maple dessert was actually pretty good when it was warmed up.... the last time I saw the chocolate desert, the troops were taking dares to see who could actually finish it...

Baked orange was ... interesting ... in the 90's.  My cadet corps were eating them on a sail weekend.  After everyone had a nibble of the dessert, we tossed the remainder to the seagulls.  You know it's quality food when even the shithawks reject it.

[BernDawg]

I have served with the Brits, and saw no evidence of that practice.

Then I stand corrected and graciously yield the floor.   

[Towards_the_gap]

Then I stand corrected and graciously yield the floor.   

Not trying to dogpile you but having served as a british soldier, I can confirm the 'officer ration' to be a myth, up there with 'if you do 25 years as a private you get an RSM's pension'  and 'you cannot be charged for punching someone between the time of 2359 and 0000'..

[daftandbarmy]

Then I stand corrected and graciously yield the floor.   

We always had the same (crappy) food as our troops. Fortunately, this particular item was a staple of most box lunches, which sustained our black humour if nothing else (they were also suprisingly good at starting fires, and don't ask me how I know that):

Hedgehog Flavoured Crisps : In the UK in 1981, Hedgehog Foods Ltd decided, as a joke, to produce Hedgehog flavoured crisps (potato chips). To everyone's surprise, the crisps were a huge success.

Hedgehog flavoured crisps were actually flavoured with pork fat and no hedgehogs were used in the manufacturing process. Consequently, it wasn't long before Hedgehog Foods Ltd was in court (1982), up against the Office of Fair Trading, on a charge of false advertising.

Bizarrely, a settlement was finally reached when Mr Lewis, of Hedgehog Foods, interviewed gypsies who actually did eat baked hedgehogs, to ascertain the flavour of hedgehogs. Mr Lewis then commissioned a flavourings firm to duplicate the flavour as closely as possible and changed the labels from "hedgehog flavoured" to "hedgehog flavour" and all interests were satisfied!

http://www.doyouremember.co.uk/memory.php?memID=4286

[Scott]

I wonder how much he had to pay the Pikeys to get them to give their account.

"I'm here to ask about the flavour of baked hedgehogs"

"I bet you have a driveway that needs paving"

I can just see it.

[SOES_v]

Bizarrely, a settlement was finally reached when Mr Lewis, of Hedgehog Foods, interviewed gypsies who actually did eat baked hedgehogs, to ascertain the flavour of hedgehogs. Mr Lewis then commissioned a flavourings firm to duplicate the flavour as closely as possible and changed the labels from "hedgehog flavoured" to "hedgehog flavour" and all interests were satisfied!

http://www.doyouremember.co.uk/memory.php?memID=4286

Reality really can be stranger than fiction....

[BernDawg]

Not trying to dogpile you but having served as a british soldier, I can confirm the 'officer ration' to be a myth, up there with 'if you do 25 years as a private you get an RSM's pension'  and 'you cannot be charged for punching someone between the time of 2359 and 0000'..

Aaw Crap! there go all my best war stories.... 

[Kilo_302]

I don't know if I should be excited...or grossed out...

The fries won't be crispy....the whole point of eating Poutine is to scarf it down before the fries turn to floppy limp sticks.

This comment made Power and Politics with Evan Solomon last week. He mentioned the story and this discussion. Awesome.

[Pandora114]

oooh got a youtube for that?  >.>  I dont' watch much TV

[Kilo_302]

naw sorry. I doubt it will ever appear on youtube. Not much from that show does.

[milnews.ca]

I've been told box lunches are pretty expensive. Does anyone know how much they cost out of idle curiosity?

Took a bit of digging, but here's one example from MERX (docs attached):  (if I added up properly) 65,190 box lunches for St. Jean coming in at a bid of $430K = ~$6.60 per box lunch on that bid (that's just the cost of getting the box lunches to the receiving door of the mess).  Once I get more info on other successful bids, I'll share it here if folks are still interested.

[warrior vegetable]

Not to mention "hamburger pouch" x ~100K - what part of the hamburger IS the pouch, anyway?

I'm also kinda curious how chicken cordon bleu ....

.... will translate into pouch fare.

Have you ever seen Chicken with Ham & Cheese?  It's the same CF standard 'chicken' breast, just floating in ham and cheese soup.  I imagine Cordon Bleu will float the same way...

[newwifey]

oooh got a youtube for that?  >.>  I dont' watch much TV

If you can determine the date, you can view it on the cbc player. http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/TV+Shows/Power+%26+Politics+with+Evan+Solomon/ID/2336658524/?sort=MostRecent