The U.S. built tanker, American Phoenix, arrived in Port Canaveral on August 20.  A proud moment for Port Canaveral and for this blogger.  You see, I was part of the setting up of the galley in the Mobile shipyard.  For the month of July, my crew and I purchased equipment, groceries, and feed the crew of 70 mariners, engineers, and contractors who were getting the Phoenix prepared for her maiden-voyage.  That was quite a month!  The American Phoenix was built in Mobile, AL as a U.S. flagged ship with a U.S. crew under the federal Jones Act.  This allows a ship to cargo from one U.S. port to another U.S. port without stopping outside of the country.  The Phoenix discharged 323,000 barrels of gasoline while in port.  That is the equivalent of 13.6 gallons of gasoline that will be distributed throughout Central Florida. 

     Chef Johnny on the American Phoenix

American C.H.E.F. Consulting, with Chef John E. Clark and his crew of two, did their part in getting the great U.S. vessel prepared to work in American waters with an American crew.  Chef Clark’s responsibilities were to order equipment, stores order, and prepare the Galley for service.  During sea trials, the Galley staff was responsible for the shake down of all equipment and preparing three meals a day for the sea trial crew.  Sea trials lasted for a period of 30 days with half of that period being out in the Gulf of Mexico.  This is not the first sea trial of a vessel that Chef Clark and his company have been contracted to participate.  Others have been for Military Sea Lift Command and Military Administration vessels.  Chef Clark’s consulting firm offers services pertaining to culinary, hospitality, education, and food (C.H.E.F.) and specializes in the Maritime industry.  Chef Clark and American C.H.E.F. Consulting are located on the Space Coast of Florida in Titusville, near the Kennedy Space Center.  For more information on the American Phoenix and the services available from the American C.H.E.F. Consulting, contact us at: 321-567-4408.