Flight kitchen takes off at Barksdale

Staff Sgt. Jessica Becton, 2nd Force Support Squadron, prepares cheeseburgers for lunch at the Touch-n-Go Flight Kitchen on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Jan. 18. The flight kitchen is a smaller version of the Red River Dining Facility used to accommodate Airmen on the go. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Kristin High)(RELEASED)

Flight kitchen takes off at Barksdale

Airman 1st Class Bobby Noble, 2nd Security Forces Squadron, reads from the menu as Senior Airman Tommy Andres, 2nd Force Support Squadron, prepares to take his box meal order at the Touch-n-Go Flight Kitchen on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Jan. 18. The flight kitchen serves a variety of ready-to-go foods for Airmen who don't have time to eat in the dining area. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Kristin High)(RELEASED)

Flight kitchen takes off at Barksdale

Published Jan. 20, 2012
By Senior Airman Kristin High
2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Now that the Red River Dining Facility is closed, many Barksdale Airmen use the food court at the Base Exchange or local restaurants for a quick bite to eat during lunchtime. Others don't have the option of leaving their shops. The Touch-n-Go Flight Kitchen is a resource for Airmen on the run or looking for convenience.

The flight kitchen is a smaller version of the DFAC and it's located on the flightline side of Hangar 9.

"We feed a lot of the contractors and Airmen from the flightline," said Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Pellum, 2nd Force Support Squadron flight kitchen facility manager. "We also do box meal support mainly for security forces and maintainers who can't make it down to the flight kitchen."

With ongoing construction at the Red River Dining Facility, the Touch-n-Go Flight Kitchen is busier than ever.

"It can get hectic on the flightline, and we don't always have the luxury of eating at a dine-in restaurant," said Senior Airman Harold Watson, 2nd Maintenance Squadron aircraft pneudraulics specialist. "The flight kitchen is helpful when we can't get away and need a quick bite to eat."

The flight kitchen serves more than 500 meals a day to Team Barksdale members.

"We mostly serve fast foods like chicken sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs and weekly specials that we rotate throughout the week," said Pellum. "We also have fruits, salads and various cold sandwiches kept in the ready-to-go refrigerator."

All of the meals are prepared within an hour before serving time, and we continue to make fresh food as the orders come in, he added.

The Touch-n-Go Flight Kitchen is open 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., and 10 p.m. to 1 a.m Monday through Friday. Box meal support is served 24 hours a day. Anyone with flightline access can use the facility.