Several Stories.
In college, we always lived in an apartment or a house. The freezer was usually stuffed with various game meats. And since my roommate delivered pizzas, we did pretty well on the food front. In fact I frequently would prepare elaborate meals for my girlfriend (I really wish I could find my Chicken breasts in white wine sauce over a bed of sauteed root veggies (turnips, carrots, and parsnips...it was really good.)
Anyway, get to MPOB at McClellan. We were warned to stay out of the trainee areas, although they were crawling all over the PX. So we would eat either off-post at McD's or the like, Go to WOJO's (Warrant Officers/Junior Officers Club), which was bar food. Go over to the permanent party Mess Hall. Meals were generally $2-$4 depending, and fairly filling and over all pretty good. Or you could throw on your Class A's and go to the "real" Officers Club. Which I only did twice. Simply because LTC's and above love nothing more then to chat with junior officers as they are standing at the position of attention watching their food get cold.
Get to Germany, unless we were traveling, we ate at home. (Since I was the Mess Officer I would eat one breakfast, one lunch, and one dinner there about one a week, just to make sure my soldiers were getting good grub.) I would also eat there on the weekends I had MPDO.
Amywho. after 3 years I'm due to get out in a few months. The now Ex- goes back to the states to get a job and an apartment, so when I get out we're both not broke and homeless at the same time.
The Army moves me out of married quarters and moves into the BOQ (Bachelor Officer Quarters) Okay, I got a couple of sinks (bathroom style), a crapper, and a tub/shower in the middle "room", living room in the "front" room, and bedroom in the back. I guess I can put the microwave on one of the dressers.
Take a couple days to get settled in, and discover that The Big Fancy Officer's Club (Had been Rommel's HQ when he was training the Afrika Korps there. It is the closest place to eat, but they are only open Friday Dinner until Sunday Dinner. And it's spendy. $10-$20 a person per meal (This is 1991 after all and as 1LT over four-E, I was making $2255/month).
All the headcount PV0's that were being "punished" by their 1SG's in 2/29FA and 2/68 Armor looked at me funny as I wasn't part of their unit, so why was I their mess line and trying to eat in their mess hall. And every single time they would have to stop the line, go find the Mess Sergeant who would have to take time out of his very busy day to explain to Private Numbnuts, that any officer can eat in any mess hall as long as they pay for their meal at whatever price the sheet said.
It got old very quickly and I got tired of making hungry soldiers wait, while PV0 Numbnuts was once again explained his job as headcount.
There was a Robin Hood (like a Subway) and a Burger King over across post by 4/29FA and the Mess Hall we used. So they "knew" me over there, but eating in the mess hall or the Fast Food Places all the time, especially ones where my soldiers hung out, was "awkward".
Or there was Jack Boys hot sandwiches and Pizza. The life blood of the CQ. The would also deliver to 8 digit grid coordinates out on the MTA.
Anyway, there were options, but all were going to be somewhat pricey if I ate out every meal. Even at the Mess Hall(s).
Anyway, go do some exploring in the Q after couple days, and discover that there's a stove (electric), but a real working stove, and kitchenette type table, in a small room, (think like a workplace break room) at the far end of the hall in the BOQs. YEAH !!!!
So, plan a few meals, and go hit the commissary, for ingredients. Nothing fancy just stuff I cook in a stove and on the range.
Grab my pots and pans, the ingredients, fire up the range, and the oven, and start cooking. Oops, I forgot something in my Q. Head back to my room(s). And suddenly all the doors in the hallway (about 7 total) suddenly slam close. Hmmm, that's odd. Get what I need, head back to the "kitchen". Ever get that feeling that folks are watching you ?? Yeah, I'd turn around , I could swear there 2-3 people peaking in the door watching me.
Anyway, after a while, it starts to smell really good. And they start to come in, even the guys on the second floor, and ask questions (#1 being, "Is there enough for me?")
Now, most of these guys a young LT's (we did have a Captain who we call the "Q Mommy"), and are all assigned to one of the maneuver battalions, so depending they could be at Graf or Hohenfels, or WildFlecken or even out on the MTA. Anyway I was the only officer that had a staff weenie job that didn't take me out to the field (Deputy Provost Marshal and Operations Officer). I worked 8-4 and out the door.
So what I did was agree to cook a couple meals each week. (Usually one or two week nights and then one or two weekend nights. If we knew that some was either doing a night shoot on range 32 or 35, or if the was and artillery night shoot, I would grill some steaks out back and we would watch the fireworks...) They'd give me cash for however many meals they'd be there for and I'd do all the shopping an cooking. I wasn't making gourmet meals, nut what could be called camp food. Good times, I really enjoyed it.