New contract adds flavor to Club, Mulligan’s restaurants

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Heather Stanton
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Airmen were invited to the Hodja Lake Golf Course Mulligan's Snack Bar March 13 and 14 to sample the cuisine supplied by Incirlik's new food contractor. 

Erol Altun was chosen from many competitors as the new contractor for the Incirlik Consolidated Club Complex and golf course restaurants, both of which have been closed since Feb. 1. 

"We picked Mr. Altun because of his general knowledge of food," said Mike Baker, 39th Services Squadron Business Operations Flight chief. "He brought more to the table than his competition with a western-style menu versus a Turkish menu." 

The golf course and club will offer many of the same menu items: roast beef sandwiches, chicken pomodori Panini, steak and arugula or grilled salmon salads. 

"The chicken Caesar salad was pretty good," said Senior Airman Sara Wieneck, 39th Air Base Wing paralegal. "The other items looked and smelled good. Overall, the food has great eye-appeal." 

Exclusive to Mulligan's Snack Bar are gourmet burgers and specialty pizzas, while the club will offer Italian-themes entrees and appetizers. 

"The Italian theme was chosen for a variety of reasons," said Mr. Baker. "There is no Italian food in Adana and we found that Italian food is the number one ethnic food favored by Americans." 

According to National Restaurant Association statistics, Americans claim they visit Italian restaurants almost three times as often as other ethnically-themed restaurants. 

Among the club's Italian appetizers and entrees are tomato bruschetta, calamari fritti, shrimp Portofino and spaghetti carbonara. The club will also serve grilled items such as rib-eye steak and pork chops. 

To go along with its new menu, the club dining area is getting an interior face-lift. 

"We're changing the atmosphere with minor remodeling such as new chairs and tables with no tablecloths," said Mr. Baker. "The club is going to be a more family-themed restaurant." 

Mulligan's Snack Bar is currently open for business; the club restaurant is scheduled to open March. 31.