Maxim Does MREs a Disservice
After a number of recommendations from other mreinfo.com visitors, I picked up a copy of January 2005’s Maxim Magazine to check out their article on MREs from around the world.
For those of you who haven’t seen it, it’s on page 98 and is a two-page spread. They have pictures of a French RCIRon the left page - all the pieces opened and displayed - and a US MRE on the right page with all the parts opened and displayed. At the bottom of the page, they have pictures of the outside boxes of a German Einmannpackung, a Norweigian ration, a Canadian IMP, and a British 24-Hour ration pack.
For each of the French and US ration parts, they have short comments. For the other rations at the bottom of the screen, they just have a short summary it. I suppose the comments on the French and US ration parts are suppose to be funny and stereotypical. For example, every comment about the RCIRs are complementary…but in a backhanded manner. For example, the apricot energy bar is described as “excellent for eating while running away” and the crackers as “perfect for refreshing the palate during a wine-tasting battle”.
But lest you think the article was pro-US article, check out the comments about the US MRE:
The spoon - “The color of this spoon camouflages perfectly the shit you’re eating”
Beef w/ Mushrooms - “looks like vomit so you don’t have to wait!”
What’s funny is that they described the IMP spoon as a “prize inside” that actually reaches the bottom of the bag - and the IMP spoon and MRE spoons are very similar.
Most of the other ration packs (with the exception of the British ration pack) got glowing reviews and it should come as no surprise that they picked the RCIR as the winner. I won’t argue the point with them - it’s a personal thing which rations you prefer and I understand that the article was mostly tongue-in-cheek anyway. But the whole tone still came off as “all other rations are great and the US MREs are shit”.
I just think the MREs deserve a better break than that. A lot of people put a lot of work into improving those things - we’ve gone from “Ham and Lima Beans” and “Turkey Loaf” to “Cheese Tortellini” and “Spaghetti w/Meat Sauce”.
Dont worry, maxim does that crap to everything. Its common nature to make fun of Beef With Mushroom MRE’s! :D
But yeah I still kinda hate the backhand remarks everyone has been giving the french, its starting a whole type of rascism against them, I’ve seen alot of “Anti-French” stuff here in Florida.
But yeah, its Maxim.. they’re lame, noone is going to think of Military rations as anything but - Military Rations.
Comment by Steve — 1/10/2005 @ 6:34 pm
I did not care for Maxim’s article about the US MRE. I think it was reviewed by some “snooty-snot-nosed” valley guy type that is use to eating $100.00 cuts of Filet Mignon with the finest mushrooms sauteed in wine sauce, complete wieth creme brulee for dessert. Kman made a very good point in that it is a military ration and needs to be seen as that and not something that can be compared truly to modern civilian delicaciies. Today’s Military person sure eats a hell of a lot better than the WWI and even the WWII soldier, so a lot should be said for advances in the quality of food. Maxim, head over to France where you belong!!!
Comment by DIRTYDAVE — 1/10/2005 @ 8:05 pm
Dave, what you just said is in my opinion completely correct, the person who did the review on Rations probably weighs 297 pounds and is eating the fat and grisle off of a grilled filet of Panda or Matt Damon or something.
Sorry, I have a problem with talking too serious right now, but yeah dude the guy who wrote that article has no idea on the advancments of our rations.
What would you rather have Mr. Maxim Reviewer? A nice tin of WW1 rations of the hardest damn bread you have ever eaten - so fuckin’ hard that you gotta use your springfield to crack a piece of it off so you can it it - OR - A MRE : Beef stew with Mexican rice and a nice cup of tea and a brownie - to top it off you can heat your rations now.
I’ll bet you everything I own that 99.999% of every dude in WW1 woulda rather had Chili Mac or some Vegetable crackers with strawberry jam on em then those tins of emergency ration tins jammed with old cocoa or something.
I am just going to say this, that guy who wrote the article either 1. Is doing it just so he can get some extra and easy money for some goof reading material.
2. Has never been in the Military or anything near it…. not even camping (Not including his Starcraft 2003′ $450,000 RV out at Universal Studios in Orlando).
3. Is a stupid prick, who could never have the stomach to even EAT an MRE, so he just made it all up.
MRE’s are good as hell, and fun as hell to eat. They are also very convieniant, you can just make one in like 5 minutes, all you need is water and the knowledge to be able to read the instructions on the MRE heaters…. and a mug for tea/coffee! (Gotta have some coffffeeee!)
Sorry I type and ramble alot.. thats what dumb teens do these days like me… ramble alot.
Comment by Steve — 1/10/2005 @ 11:24 pm
>I just think the MREs deserve a better break than that. A lot of people put a
>lot of work into improving those things - we’ve gone from “Ham and Lima Beans”
>and “Turkey Loaf” to “Cheese Tortellini” and “Spaghetti w/Meat Sauce”.
Not to mention, Chicken in Thai Sauce (which is one of my faves) and Ham and Shrimp Jambalaya. These things aren’t fine cuisine by a long shot…but they’re not at all bad.
Comment by Jenn Dolari — 1/12/2005 @ 2:10 am