We are lucky to be served warm, home-cooked food in the middle of such a harsh environment.
The Agulhas II is a South African ship, so many of the crew members are South African. South Africans love to have barbeques, which they braii. On my first night here, we all met on the back deck of the ship and cooked chicken, sausages and lamb on the grill. It was the most incredible experience. South African culture prides itself on the enjoyment and social aspect of eating. Each dinner is table service, which allows us to catch up with all of our friends, unwind and chat over an evening meal. This is especially enjoyable because it gives the expedition team time to relax and discuss the research they have been doing during the day.
The food is prepared in the ship's kitchen (the galley) by the ship's chef and stewards. There are strict hygiene rules on ships because everyone is living in such close proximity that germs can spread very easily. Everyone is required to sanitize their hands as they come into the saloon (the place where we all gather to eat). The chefs also maintain very high sanitation and cleanliness levels in the galley. The food is then served to us at the table and cleared away by the stewards, much like in a restaurant.
There are very strict rules in Antarctica about food waste. We want to protect our environment, especially such a pristine environment like Antarctica. All waste is stored on the ship and disposed of once the ship arrives back in South Africa.
