MREInfo.com

Hi everyone! I've got something of a rarity here, this is a 2013 Seafood Chowder Meal Cold Weather ration produced by The Wornick Company. I've had this menu before, but I figured a review would be fun to do. Here's everything out of the packaging:* And the accessory packet. As you can see, it's dated "3317" reaffirming that this is from 2013. I also know because I have a few cases of MCWs all of which have 2013 production dates labeled on them. Here's the seafood chowder main before I added water to it. And after I added hot water to it. It steamed up my camera a bit, hopefully it still gives you a good idea of what it's like. And here's everything ready to eat! Hmm, where to start? How about the drink? The cherry beverage base had the perfect balance of tartness and sweetness. It did a great job curing my thirst. The nut raisin mix combined with the smoked almonds added were a great protein supplement. Both were very tasty. The vegetables crackers tasted very good on their own. I'm a bit surprised they didn't include cheese spread or peanut butter with this ration. I don't think it was QC because someone here on MREInfo by the name of "norge" did an overview of this meal back in 2012 and his didn't come with anything like that either. Very strange. Anyway, I put some of the seafood chowder on the crackers and ate it that way, and that tasted amazing! Speaking of which, the entree itself was also very tasty. I'm no fan of seafood by any stretch of the imagination, but for some reason, military rations have a weird way of changing my tastes and typical eating habits. For example, I usually try to follow a vegetarian diet in my daily life, but I make an exception for rations.

Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed this review of the 2013 Seafood Chowder MCW!

* When you click the image to view it full size, it's flipped for some reason. I'm not sure why that is - on my computer (Windows Photo Viewer and Google Chrome), everything looks completely normal. I've had this issue a few times, and I notice other people around here having the same problem. Perhaps I'm not doing something right? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Good review and pics! With the MCWs, they are very strict with protein and sodium content, due to the potential to dehydrate quickly in cold weather environments, so I'm guessing that they had already hit their limits with the entree and other items and were unable to include a spread without going over.

Nice review! I never knew there was a seafood MCW before.

parafireboy wrote:Good review and pics! With the MCWs, they are very strict with protein and sodium content, due to the potential to dehydrate quickly in cold weather environments, so I'm guessing that they had already hit their limits with the entree and other items and were unable to include a spread without going over.

I appreciate the comments! And thanks for the explanation, that certainly makes sense. I can see potential for the cheese spread, and especially the peanut butter to make you pretty thirsty. Luckily for me, I have a few stashed away for such occurrences, but I didn't feel a need to get them out for this because dishing the seafood chowder onto the crackers made it really enjoyable, and dare I say, better than any cheese spread or peanut butter would.

FREMONT wrote:Nice review! I never knew there was a seafood MCW before.

Thanks! If memory serves, I read somewhere on the internet that the seafood chowder is only available in the military rations. And I know it's true, because I read it on the internet!

Okay, here's some proof: https://web.archive.org/web/20160731184 ... itary.html
That link is still alive, but nothing is listed right now. http://www.mountainhouse.com/m/category/military.html

I can't say whether or not that is the case, but seems pretty valid to me. Maybe someone here can say otherwise.

I think the only other time I've ever seen this was stickyfingaz doing a review... which may have been a LRP, but it was probably the same main entree. Certainly is interesting, the US certainly uses A LOT less seafood components than many European countries do.

BTemple wrote:Certainly is interesting, the US certainly uses A LOT less seafood components than many European countries do.

I definitely agree. I'm no culinary expert, but I do know that seafood was much less popular growing up in the central US than when I lived in Washington State. I guess it makes sense though, seafood would be much fresher and more easily obtainable to those living nearer to the oceans. When I started trying international rations in recent years, I was amazed how many included seafood, especially tuna. I honestly had never even eaten tuna until six months ago.

BTemple wrote:I think the only other time I've ever seen this was stickyfingaz doing a review... which may have been a LRP, but it was probably the same main entree

You bring up a good point. I also wondered if the entrees used in the MCWs are the exact same as those in LRPs. My assumption is that they are. There's really only one way to confirm as far as I know. On the back of the entrees, there's a 12 digit UPC code. As shown below, the UPC for the Seafood Chowder is 041133671439. So if the two entrees from both types of rations match UPC codes, we know they are the same. I don't have any LRPs on hand to confirm, but I suppose it's something to watch out for those who are curious enough.

parafireboy wrote:

BTemple wrote:Certainly is interesting, the US certainly uses A LOT less seafood components than many European countries do.

I definitely agree. I'm no culinary expert, but I do know that seafood was much less popular growing up in the central US than when I lived in Washington State. I guess it makes sense though, seafood would be much fresher and more easily obtainable to those living nearer to the oceans. When I started trying international rations in recent years, I was amazed how many included seafood, especially tuna. I honestly had never even eaten tuna until six months ago.

And like Sentient said above, eating rations has made me more adventurous in my food choices. I would never have eaten pate before I started buying rations, or certain types of meat. But if you pay the money for it you don'twant to throw it away right.
I hadn't eaten tuna in many years until I started getting it again in rations, and now it's one of my favourite components.

awesome MCW review. man, i really want to try one of these! I can only imagine hot re-hydrated clam chowder in -10F weather after a calorie-deprived arctic circle snow-packed day , lol. Probably would taste amazing.