Steve1989MREInfo / Steve1989 / Steve Thomas - that guy that eats old MREs

[WonderWino]

Steve grabs the goblet, takes a swig, swishes it in his mouth and promptly spits it out.
"Cyanide, my lord."

Steve is actually a vorta confirmed:

 

[wtfNeedSignUp]

Every modern military has a mobile kitchens. Anyone saying this needs narcan for their copium overdose.

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USMC expeditionary field kitchen.

The issue isn't mobile kitchens, is having a consistent access to fresh water and logistics to transfer food.

 

[a-Lager]

Im sure this is the unofficial MRE thread so I want to say that putting peanut butter on the chocolate banana bread muffintop might genuinely be the best desert Ive ever had, not just counting MREs. Its part of the pork patty menu, though I forgor the specific year

 

[Fishnumm]

Im sure this is the unofficial MRE thread so I want to say that putting peanut butter on the chocolate banana bread muffintop might genuinely be the best desert Ive ever had, not just counting MREs. Its part of the pork patty menu, though I forgor the specific year

i fucking adore the jalapeño cheese spread god its so good

 

[Dickbucketz 117]

Today's (actually a few days ago's, oops) dinner was a Lithuanian single meal Menu 2.

Spoiler: Review

The whole thing comes in a very dark olive package, roughly 12 by 25 centimeters. The label blends it quite nicely, but it's only in Lithuanian. There's a cut on top so you can easily tear it open.

The main is roasted beef with groats in sauce. Despite looking like genuine dogfood and having the aroma of the polish rubber meat, this turned out pretty good. It could definitely use a bit of spice though. I also have to mention the FRH, which started brewing the second I poured the water in.

The drink concentrate has a nice, mild strawberry taste, however the portion is small (300ml).

I'm definitely not a fan of hazelnuts in general, but it's nice to see something else than peanuts included.

The packet of rusks are the exact same as the polish ones, only difference being in the packaging. Aside from everything being spelled in lithuanian, it's also a unique package count, including 4 big rusks in single packet. However I hven't touched these and will keep them as a display piece.

The chocolate is very good. 75% cocoa strikes a very nice mix between sweetness and bitterness, and there is a very generous amount of it included (almost 40g!).

The chewing gum is nothing too out of the ordinary, aside from the extra minty taste and cyan color.

Where this ration stands out though, is including both an FRH as well as a single-use stove which you can use for heating drinks. Despite there being only one thing you can really heat up - the coffee - there is a generous amount of 3 fuel tablets. Also included in the accessory pack is a moist towel, sugar, a pack of matches and surprisingly a zip-tie.

The spoon is also unique, being made from that grainy, brown "recycled plastic" that you sometimes see bowls made of. Despite that it's very sturdy.

I didn't have the time to try the coffee and jam, but considering the rest of the ration they probably deliver too.

All this considered, there's s few nitpicks to have. First off there's no tissue of any kind aside from the moist wipe, no salt or pepper and no cup included.

Overall I was positively surprised by this one and can definitely see myself taking a spin at some other menus if the chance arises.
Therefore I can give this one a fine 8.5/10.
With a few minor tweaks, it can absolutely be an extremely good ration.

 

[AnOminous]

World War II US Army field kitchens are fascinating and TM10-412 (I typically use the 1944 edition) has some excellent recipes; my personal favorite being the biscuit recipe.

Well how about that. That very edition is on the Internet Archive.
https://dn790003.ca.archive.org/0/items/TM10-412/TM10-412.pdf (the pdf is pretty and represents the original but is not OCR'ed)

https://archive.org/stream/TM10-412/TM10-412_djvu.txt

I bet there are plenty of things in here that are cheap and easy to make, morale boosting, and good for food prep if you make it in the huge batches they have.

I bet this is the exact recipe my granddad used:

I'm glad to say that even though I hadn't had these since I was a kid, it sounds like I got the (fairly simple) recipe pretty much right.

 

[CIS White Droid]

Well how about that. That very edition is on the Internet Archive.
https://dn790003.ca.archive.org/0/items/TM10-412/TM10-412.pdf (the pdf is pretty and represents the original but is not OCR'ed)

https://archive.org/stream/TM10-412/TM10-412_djvu.txt

I bet there are plenty of things in here that are cheap and easy to make, morale boosting, and good for food prep if you make it in the huge batches they have.

The only real problem with using these manuals is most recipes make 100 servings since they're designed to feed a company of men so scaling them can be a pain in the ass. I love the addition of the measurements also being listed in things like "No. 56 dippers" and "mess kit spoons" that would've been more practical for cooks in the field.

I bet this is the exact recipe my granddad used:
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I'm glad to say that even though I hadn't had these since I was a kid, it sounds like I got the (fairly simple) recipe pretty much right.

I wouldn't be surprised if my grandfather picked up the "spanish" version of that recipe during his time in the Navy during WW2 and taught it to my grandmother who, in turn, taught it to my mother; although we always called it "swiss steak" and not "spanish". I still make it from time to time with cube steaks but instead of making the flour slurry and braising in the oven I just lightly flour the steaks and cook it on the stove. My father's father was supposedly a cook in the Airborne during WW2 but sadly didn't do much cooking by the time I came around and my interest in the subject hadn't been piqued before he passed.

 

[AnOminous]

The only real problem with using these manuals is most recipes make 100 servings since they're designed to feed a company of men so scaling them can be a pain in the ass.

Max Miller has done a couple of these institutional recipes (like old school recipes and these dipper and mess spoon recipes) and it'd be tricky to reduce to one serving, but pretty easy to reduce to ten or so.

 

[Aunt Carol]

tricky to reduce to one serving, but pretty easy to reduce to ten or so.

Sounds like the Thanksgiving menu is settled.

That would be such a neat reenactor event/get-together. Or like those Honor Flights where they take elderly veterans to see the memorials, except it's anyone from Korea or left from WWII and they get to bring their grandkids and eat together under a big tent that smells like bug spray.

 

[Waffle Iron]

Love Steve. It is incredible how positive he is about everything, and how he can describe food so well. The best part is that he's still loving it. It never feels like he's just struggling through a video to get something to upload.

 

[AnOminous]

I bet this is the exact recipe my granddad used:

I am currently eating this before it's even done. Delicious.

 

[MechanicusAdmin]

We have been gifted 2 new MRE reviews from Steve today. Kind of keen to look for the Korean one after such a rave review.

 

[Crypt Kicker]

Is Steve doing another Thanksgiving video like he's done in the past this year?

 

[Aunt Carol]

Those arctic rations always look so fun; I wish they weren't insanely expensive to buy as a civilian. Or that the freeze-dried camping food companies would do a Norwegian menu now and then.

It's interesting that the modern Korean rations have almond pound cake; seems very Occidental, at least compared to the Chinese rations.

The 1968 Korean ration would have been really neat if time had been kinder to it.
"It reminds me of the smell of a terrarium."

 

[Waffle Iron]

It's interesting that the modern Korean rations have almond pound cake; seems very Occidental,

When I was in Korea I was pretty surprised how much they love American culture. Like in this picture. There was also a mall milkshake bar with a giant American flag covering the entire back of the store which also had something like "American milkshake bar 100% American" as name. My guess is they look across the border, look at their own country, and decided that America is really fucking awesome for keeping them commie-free. (I also just noticed the sign forbidding you to bring firearms in. A very neat touch).

 

[The Un-Clit]

That 1968 kimchi looked damn near edible! Of course Steve wasn't stupid enough to try it and said it was pretty rank after taking a deep sniff. I'm sure not even the most perfectly fermented cabbage could survive 55 years in a can.

The modern Korean ration looked damn tasty though, and I'm with @MechanicusAdmin. I'd like to track one of these down to try it out too. The big self-starting FRH was particularly intreguing even if it has drawbacks.

I'd imagine being trucked around by soldiers on deployment, accidents with the metal parts getting exposed and slicing into the retort pouch happens a fair bit more often then one would like. You're legit taking a chance on getting a ruined ration if buying one online somewhere. Still considering taking a chance if the price is right.

 

[Aunt Carol]

Of course Steve wasn't stupid enough to try it and said it was pretty rank after taking a deep sniff.

This ration review got two on the "festering" count.

When I was in Korea I was pretty surprised how much they love American culture. Like in this picture.

Se7en Burger: what's in the bun?!

 

[WhatInTheActualFuck]

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When I was in Korea I was pretty surprised how much they love American culture. Like in this picture. There was also a mall milkshake bar with a giant American flag covering the entire back of the store which also had something like "American milkshake bar 100% American" as name. My guess is they look across the border, look at their own country, and decided that America is really fucking awesome for keeping them commie-free. (I also just noticed the sign forbidding you to bring firearms in. A very neat touch).

When I lived in Korea as a kid (this was quite some time ago, mind), I was always blown away by their bakeries. Awesome pastries that looked and tasted otherworldly and there were so many of them. I hope that they still keep that tradition alive today.

 

[King George III]

New Steve, It's a Thanksgiving Miracle.

 

[Brenda Holiday]

I think I have one of those in my basement. Makes me wanna go get it out and try it.