John and Jonna Doolittle (In honor of their dad and grandfather Jimmy Doolittle)

Fifty guests gather for the grand opening of Travis Air Force Base Museum to honor aviator pioneer Jimmy Doolittle.

Impeccably delivered service with a carefully curated menu tells the inspiring story of Jimmy Doolittle’s legacy. A six-course meal theatrically showcases Jimmy’s journey, with Chef James explaining every dish and its significance relating to Jimmy’s life milestones. Several servers are assigned to each table so all courses are dropped in sync.

To start, guests enjoy Hamachi and Ahi hors d’oeuvres displayed on illuminated mini aircraft carriers and B-52 bombers, among mini wasabi soy fountains in the wine room.

The first course consists of lettuce wraps served inside mini bamboo steamer baskets, atop mini woks with dry ice and red LED battery lights to simulate fire and smoke.

Next, guests are treated to Lobster Tom Yum Soup Shots. Each server carries an elephant whose trunk holds a glass lantern with remote control LED lights and mini chef’s hat inside. The elephants are placed in front of every guest and servers open the lanterns to retrieve the hat, as another server pours hot Lobster Tom Yum Soup into the hat. Simultaneously, servers with glass trays offer guests a mini spoon filled with chicharrones, trumpet mushrooms, and butter-poached lobster.

During this time, Chef James narrates a story from the middle of the room, building to a pivotal moment when Jimmy’s fate was unclear. Just as Chef James reaches the peak of the anecdote, fifty lights abruptly illuminate and servers instruct guests to enjoy the soup shot and savory spoon crunches.

The grand finale features servers entering the room holding oversized books, with desserts secretly tucked inside. The hollowed books are placed in front of guests and feature an artistic collage illustrating Jimmy’s impressive career. As the books are dropped, servers open the lids to reveal the hidden treats: Chocolate Cheesecake B-52 bombers with mini mason jars of vanilla bean ice cream and mini spoons.

A perfectly orchestrated tribute to Jimmy Doolittle with heartwarming touches throughout the event. To further commemorate Jimmy, Chef James brings a special briefcase to Jimmy’s son John; a bigger, more unique collage, one that meaningfully represents his father’s journey. It includes a photograph of Jimmy at nineteen in a boxing stance, because, as Chef James says, “Jimmy has always been a fighter.” A hush washes over the room and guests raise their glasses to honor the military hero, the look in John’s eye one that Chef James will ever forget.