The White stuff

Top chef Marco salutes our khaki heroes

OUR HERO: Troops love chef Marco's festive dinner

From Guy Basnett, 13/12/2008

IT'S not often fiery chef Marco Pierre White has prepared a Christmas turkey while realising his own goose could be cooked at any moment.

But the star got a taste of that fear when we took him to serve up Christmas dinner . . . in IRAQ.

For Marco had to work in a real Hell's Kitchen for a change. In a tent in battle-torn Basra. With about 50 hungry, brave frontline squaddies to feed.

CHOP: Marco cuts up meat

"There were times when I felt extremely vulnerable," said the Michelin star restaurateur. "But this is what our troops are going through every day.

His foray into hostile territory hit him even harder when he heard five British soldiers died in just one day in Iraq and Afghanistan last week.

"It brings it home to you just how dangerous and difficult their job is," he said. "And it's more important than ever that we show them Britain is right behind them-and thinking of them at Christmas."

Marco's mercy mission-organised by the News of the World -was to give the heroes of 1st Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment, a slap-up festive feast with seven crates of food donated by posh store Selfridges.

First Marco and the grub were flown to Kuwait, courtesy of Berks-based UCS couriers, before being airlifted in two Air Corps Lynx helicopters across the Iraqi border to Basra.

Marco Pierre White meets troops in Iraq

Then came the dangerous bit-the journey to the regiment's Forward Operating Base, Camp Stables.

At the crack of dawn on D(inner)-Day, the Leeds-born combustible cook was strangely subdued as he took his place among troops in a battle-ready RAF Merlin helicopter. The aircraft had to be protected by two gunners as it flew to a football pitch secured by troops.

SMASHIN' RATIONS: Dishing up

"I felt so exposed there," said Marco, 47, who was with his assistant chef Matt Brown.

The celeb chef was then quickly shepherded into a Mastiff 6x6-wheel patrol vehicle-specially reinforced against rocket grenade attacks-for the journey along the bomb-blasted road to Camp Stables . . . and his "kitchen".

A far cry from his restaurants back home, it was simply a 14x9ft tent containing a household-sized oven, one hotplate and two small prep tables.

Marco said: "When I first saw the oven I had to go away and stabilise myself. I had five turkeys to cook and dinner had to be ready for 2pm. I didn't see how I could do it. It was the hardest job I have ever had to do in my life.

"It really was Hell's Kitchen. But I couldn't let these soldiers down."

So he donned his chef's jacket and apron, leaving his navy blue body- armour and helmet lying nearby at the ready, just in case.

AT EASE: Joking in field kitchen

With no running water, Marco and Matt washed using bottles of water, propped against a bomb blast wall. And then he got to work.

"We only cooked for 50, but trust me, in a field kitchen on the floor, which is the desert, it was very hard, and very tough," he said. "These kitchens are designed to be transported around. You have to improvise."

But Marco still served up a mouth- watering feast including potted shrimp, followed by organic turkey with poached carrots, parsnips marinated in maple syrup and chestnuts, vegetable puree and roast potatoes. Dessert was Christmas pudding and custard, with vintage stilton cheese.

Afterwards, Pte Ben Hudson-Tallis, 19, from Sheffield-on his first tour- said: "It was really great of Marco to do this. You can tell he wants to be here, by the way he's talking to the lads. The food was great as well."

Pte Steve Burnham, 22, from Hull- who is on his second tour-added: "It just felt like Christmas."

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The battle-hardened soldier-who lost a comrade, Pte Luke Simpson, to a roadside bomb two years ago-added: "It can be tough, especially at this time of year. So something like this is really great for us. It makes a big change from rations."

The camp's CO, Major Mark Marshall, also praised Marco and the News of the World.

"There's no TV here, and just a satellite phone which they can use for 30 minutes a week to speak to their family. So it's nice for the guys to know someone's thinking about them. Marco came here to do a good thing.

"And the food was cracking."

Your comments

This article has 22 comments

Great to see the boys of 1 Yorks are having a touch of fun, ex serving member there with the blokes, take care men, a sterling effort your all doing! "Nec Asperra Terrent"

By Paul Weldrand. Posted December 24 2008 at 11:54 PM.

Thanks, Marco, and good luck to all the lads and lasses, on Op TELIC. I know its hard being away from your families over this period but keep your heads down and you will be home before you know it.
Its just a shame that the rest of the country dont appreciate you as they should. You all sacrifice your selfs and seperate from your loved ones to provide a Grade A service for this country and should be praise and rewarded a lot more than you are.
Keep Safe, Merry Xmas

By Steve. Posted December 23 2008 at 8:23 AM.

Good to see you smiling Titch, thinking of you at this time, you'll be home soon. Love you x x

By Judith Pepper (Nanna). Posted December 21 2008 at 5:01 PM.

Wonderful just the kind of support our Forces need as a mother whose son's in the Forces (thankfully he's home this Christmas) it makes me proud to know they have this support. Well done lads (and lasses) you're doing a fantastic job have a lovely Christmas, be safe and come home safe - GOD BLESS YOU ALL

By Janet. Posted December 21 2008 at 10:39 AM.

should have said he was going to Iraq would not mind going with him.Nice thing to do for our boys in that country.

geordie.

By thomas carr. Posted December 20 2008 at 9:36 PM.

GO ON TITCH, nice to see all is well. keep it up. see you soonXX

By Aaron Fletcher. Posted December 20 2008 at 9:08 AM.

2ND FROM LEFT MY COUSIN BEN LOTFI LOVE U HAVE A GUD CHRISTMAS 2 U AND YOUR TROOP LOOK ATER YOURSELFS AND EACH OTHER GLAD U ENJOYED UR CHRISTMAS DINNER! I COULD HAVE DONE IT JUST AS GUD AS MARCO U ONLY HAD 2 ASK!!!! X

By TERESA. Posted December 16 2008 at 10:38 PM.

THANX MARCO, U DID A BETTER JOB THAN ME HAPPY CHRISTMAS 2 ALL THE GUYS OUT THERE SERVING OUR COUNTRY

By TRE . Posted December 16 2008 at 10:26 PM.

that sexy little lady is my wife , and im so proud of her and its a shame that shes not got my home cooking this yr. but ill do her one wen she returns to me
xxx

By bekha fletcher-hunt. Posted December 16 2008 at 4:56 PM.

Well done to everyone involved. Marco, Selfridges and UCS all deserve great credit for bringing some much needed relief to our troops.

By Geoff Wilkinson. Posted December 16 2008 at 10:16 AM.

The "short soldier"-girl at the front is my daughter-thanks for cooking her dinner this year-and News of the World thanks for the photo and video-brought her closer.

By SUE PACE. Posted December 15 2008 at 7:00 PM.

Thanks Marcus, News of the World and Selfridges for doing this wonderful thing, my brother is Pte Steve Burnham who was quoted in the article and it is nice to know that something so nice was done for the soldiers, my brothers favourite part of Christmas is the dinner and i'm sure he enjoyed it very much. Thank you. Merry Christmas 1st Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment, stay safe. xx

By Stephanie Burnham. Posted December 15 2008 at 8:16 AM.

Good to see my sister (the little squaddie) is getting a christmas dinner as she won't be home till next year. Thanks

By Sarah H. Posted December 14 2008 at 6:28 PM.

Thank you very much Marco, Selfridges, and NOTW. We are delighted to see our son in the picture. He and his mates really enjoyed the meal. He can't be home at Christmas so this means a lot to us. Thanks and again.

By Phil & Sally. Posted December 14 2008 at 4:57 PM.

Cheers for the meal marco and your not a bad darts player either.

By Jock Cairns. Posted December 14 2008 at 4:55 PM.

Marco, you are an absolute legend, you knock all other "celebrity chefs" into a cocked hat. We have always thought you were, without a doubt in a different league to the others and this completely unselfish, genuine and unpublicised act has more than confirmed this for us.

By Stuart & Cath Holdsworth. Posted December 14 2008 at 2:34 PM.

While most TV chefs try to raise their own profile this Christmas with boring adverts and rubbish cooking shows, Marco rises far above them for the unselfish and generous act of comradeship towards our boys out there. Well done Marco.

By Bernard Lawson. Posted December 14 2008 at 11:42 AM.

well done marco. there`s a big heart in there. You are a credit to your country, happy christmas!

By geraldine Fitzpatrick. Posted December 14 2008 at 12:57 PM.

Marco obviously does not need any publicity, this was a genuine gesture that won't be forgotten.
Well done Marco, Selfridges and TNOTW.

By mike rodgers. Posted December 14 2008 at 11:53 AM.

I've always liked Marco. Maybe because he's from Leeds so I'm biased. But this shows the sincerity of the man. You can measure something like this by the remarks of the troops who felt he wanted to be there. Great to know he supports them!

By Katherine. Posted December 14 2008 at 10:48 AM.

We should do more for our men stuck out there, credit to Marco. Happy Christmas to all our troops, and a very safe New Year XXXXX

By Sarah Edgerton. Posted December 14 2008 at 10:25 AM.

what a great thing to do. He goes up a long way in my books. thanks

By Leslie Mortimer. Posted December 14 2008 at 8:42 AM.

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