Galley Wars Returns To LA Fleet Week By Writer and Contributor Emily McGinn
At high noon, five teams faced off on the fantail of the Battleship IOWA in San Pedro for Galley Wars — the FOX Entertainment culinary competition on the first day of LA Fleet Week — on May 24.
LA Fleet Week has taken place at the Port of Los Angeles since 2016 during Memorial Day weekend to celebrate the U.S. Armed Services. This year’s celebration honored the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy, Army, Marine Corps and Merchant Marines, which were founded in 1775.
In line with the theme, the teams participating in Galley Wars represented branches of the Armed Forces and local first-responders, including the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Marine Corps, the Los Angeles Fire Department and the Los Angeles Port Police.
John Bagakis, the owner of Big Nick’s Pizza in San Pedro, and Ms. America 2022-23 and U.S. Coast Guard veteran Athena Shintaku, co-hosted this year’s Galley Wars.
The 30-minute culinary clash saw the five teams working quickly, in front of a panel of judges and eager onlookers, to produce the best burgers on the ship, along with side dishes and desserts. And for the dessert concoction, the teams faced a twist: each dessert would have to include a hardtack, a dense bread similar to a cracker that has long been a staple of sailors and soldiers who could not rely on refrigeration.
After the time wound down, the spotlight swiveled to the judging panel, featuring local chefs and leaders including Chef Alma Ortiz of Hojas Tea House, which has locations in Wilmington, San Pedro and Long Beach; Chef Dustin Trani of Trani’s Dockside Station in San Pedro; Los Angeles City Councilman Tim McOsker; and Los Angeles Harbor Commissioner Lee Williams. The audience and participating teams awaited a verdict as the judges tried the burgers and discussed among themselves.
Finally, the results were in…
For the third time in a row, the U.S. Coast Guard walked away with the hand-carved Galley Wars championship plaque, and the bragging rights — at least until next year.
In addition to the riveting annual cook-off, LA Fleet Week brought a variety of other activities and events to the Port of LA, including active-duty ship tours, military displays, equipment demonstrations, live entertainment, neighborhood activities, welcome parties, aircraft flyovers, military band performances throughout LA, and other competitions such as dodgeball and Military Has Talent. The Port of Los Angeles and Battleship IOWA Museum host the Memorial Day weekend event annually to help connect Southern California residents with the men and women serving in the U.S. Sea Services, according to a release.
Bio:
Emily McGinn is a journalist based in the Los Angeles area. She enjoys reporting on and writing about a variety of topics from lifestyle to news, especially in her areas of specialty, environmental science and political science.