MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- Weapons and Field Training Battalion Mess Hall wants to 'Hoop it up' with a college basketball theme throughout the month of March.
March is the month college basketball holds its annual national champion tournament, nicknamed March Madness, pitting 64 of the nation's best teams against one another in a free -for-all until one team is left standing.
Keeping in the spirit of the March Madness theme, the mess hall is having a contest on March 30.
"We will have buffalo wings, and there will be a contest to see who can eat the most wings," said Nicholas McCall, food production manager at WFTBn. Mess Hall, adding that souvenirs will also be given out during the contest.
"For the past month, we had a special event for March Madness," said McCall.
Weapons and Field Training Battalion Mess Hall earned itself a reputation by serving popular menu items such as 'The Gunny Burger' and 'Gas Chamber Chicken.' That reputation leads Marines from across the Depot to the WFTBn., Mess Hall to see what the fuss is all about.
"Everybody loves coming out here to get the 'gas chamber chicken,'" said Sgt. Ismael Santa, coxswain, Small Crafts Section, WFTBn., adding that most of the Marines he works with come every Tuesday specifically for that menu item.
The mess hall works hard to provide a wide variety of meals for its patrons and a varied menu selection has led to an influx of patrons to the mess hall. On Tuesdays, the messhall handles double the clientele because of one favorite menu item.
Sgt. Jimmy Buzo, coxswain, Small Crafts Section, WFTBn., joked saying they dip the chicken in CS gas, or 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile, to get it that hot.
"Tuesday seems to be the best day to come here," said Buzo.
Even though he has a favorite day, Buzo said he likes to see the wide variety week after week.
"A lot of the drill instructors come out here on Tuesdays for our buffalo chicken," said McCall, referring to the affectionately named 'gas chamber chicken.' "That's what the DI's call it."
The mess hall is striving to provide a better variety for the service members who frequent the establishment, as well as attract new patrons through contests, games and a large menu selection that features heritage-themed menu items such as Irish-American or German-American cuisine.
The mess hall will also be changing its menu with more new items and themes during April, so stop by the mess hall for more details.