- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Fort Hood Today
By the People, for the People
Army Debuts New Campus-Style Dining Venue at Fort Hood
42 Bistro is the first of five pilot dining facilities opening across Army posts, offering flexible hours and a la carte menus.
Published on Feb. 12, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The U.S. Army is testing a new 'Campus Style Dining Venue' (CSDV) called 42 Bistro at Fort Hood, Texas. The CSDV is part of a contract with Compass Group to transform the way troops are fed, moving away from traditional buffet-style dining facilities to offer more flexible hours and a la carte menu items. 42 Bistro features eight different food stations and a mobile food truck, with menus crafted by a chef and dietitian using local produce and proteins.
Why it matters
The new CSDV concept aims to provide a more inviting and modern dining experience for soldiers, offering greater flexibility and variety compared to traditional Army dining facilities. This pilot program could set a new standard for on-base dining across the U.S. military if successful.
The details
42 Bistro is the first of five pilot CSDVs opening up across Army posts as part of a contract with Compass Group, a food service company with experience in sports venues and college dining halls. The new dining venue features eight different food stations and a mobile food truck, with menus crafted by a chef and dietitian using local ingredients. This marks a shift away from the traditional buffet-style dining facilities, instead offering flexible hours and a la carte options.
- 42 Bistro will have its grand opening on February 18, 2026.
- The new CSDV concept is part of a pilot program testing five dining venues across Army posts.
The players
Compass Group
A food service company that has been contracted by the U.S. Army to transform on-base dining with its new 'Campus Style Dining Venue' concept.
Sgt Maj Kresassidy Mckinney
A sergeant major who spoke about how the new CSDV facility offers soldiers more flexibility and a different atmosphere compared to traditional dining halls.
PFC Matthew Avalos
A soldier who said he prefers the new 42 Bistro CSDV over other dining options on the Fort Hood base.
Robert Irvine
A celebrity chef who will make an appearance at the grand opening of the 42 Bistro CSDV on February 18th.
What they’re saying
“This facility allows the opportunity of that flexibility where the facility offers meals throughout the entire day until that closing hour. So, soldiers have the opportunity to come into an inviting atmosphere or something different from the traditional facilities.”
— Sgt Maj Kresassidy Mckinney (fox44news.com)
“If I had to pick between one. I think I see myself coming up 42 Bistro more.”
— PFC Matthew Avalos (fox44news.com)
What’s next
The grand opening for 42 Bistro will be held on February 18th, 2026, with an appearance from celebrity chef Robert Irvine.
The takeaway
The new 'Campus Style Dining Venue' concept at Fort Hood represents an innovative approach by the U.S. Army to modernize on-base dining, providing soldiers with more flexible, diverse, and chef-driven meal options compared to traditional dining facilities. If successful, this pilot program could reshape the future of military food service across the country.
