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thedrifter
10-26-05, 07:24 AM
GRILL SERGEANT Quantico Marines get fired up for barbecue challenge
October 26, 2005 1:06 am
By BEN SELLERS

Editor's Note: In addition to writing about this event, reporter Ben Sellers served as a judge.

QUANTICO--Some of the recipes were passed down from Marines' fathers. Others were honed the night before. One even travelled all the way from Okinawa.

In the end, however, it was a skillful technique rather than flashy ingredients that most impressed the three-judge panel Saturday at grill manufacturer Weber's semi-final "Command of the Grill" competition.

The event was the second in a series of grill-offs taking place at 12 Marine Corps bases nationwide. The winning recipes will be published in a cookbook by Weber, with all proceeds benefiting four charities for Marines wounded or killed in the line of duty, said Weber representative Joel Kessel.

The Marines themselves had no problem getting behind the idea, said Carol Garland, head of food and hospitality operations at Arlington's Headquarters Marine Corps.

"Marines love a challenge and they love competition, so that's a neat thing to do," said Garland, who helped coordinate and judge the grill-off.

Though cold air and overcast skies loomed menacingly in the parking lot of the Marine Corps Exchange shopping center, all 10 participants seemed ready for the approximately 11 a.m. start time. Scattered family members lent their support, while media crews watched as each of the "grill masters" basted, rubbed and marinated two thick New York strip steaks provided by Weber. The company also provided the grills and cooking equipment.

Among friends and the tantalizing charcoal aroma, Gunnery Sgt. Maryland F. Jones joked that the only thing missing was a beer. Jones said she had her co-workers test eight steaks before deciding on the recipe she used and had spent the morning "praying a whole lot."

While all competitors were instructed to cook their steaks to medium rare, the resulting tastes were remarkably varied.

Cpl. Jonathan C. Hall (who did, in fact, have a Bass beer among his ingredients) said he developed his subtly sweet Honey-Beer steak from an existing chicken recipe.

Others went for the strong stuff, like Sgt. Joshua Fisher, whose spicy, chili-powder rubbed beef was accompanied by a Jack Daniels-based sauce he made grillside.

Gunnery Sgt. Bob Critcher opted for a simple marinade of salt, pepper, garlic and Worcestershire sauce.

"Some people overpower their steaks," Critcher said. "That's gonna be key today."

But it was Capt. Robert Burton's simple Chunky River Brisket recipe that had judges both marveling at his meat-smoking prowess and thinking about second helpings. Burton's mesquite-flavored, juicy submission used chili powder, brown sugar and spicy honey mustard.

"I wouldn't say he's cocky, but he's pretty sure of himself," said his wife, 26-year-old Julianne Burton, who looked on from the sidelines with their two young daughters.

According to Julianne Burton, the road to glory began in 2003, when she bought her husband a smoker for Father's Day. She estimated that Burton, 29, grills two to three times a week, and uses the smoker at least once.

"It's almost like a normal weekend, except it's got a competitive edge to it," said Robert Burton before the contest.

While a normal brisket takes about six hours to smoke, Burton said the one-hour time limit called on him to employ a "heavy smoke quick" method and to use extra hickory chips.

In addition to having his recipe published in the cookbook, Burton won a Weber grill for himself and one for his unit, and a trip to the finals, to be held in May in New York City.

Honorable mentions went to Master Sgt. Billy Knowles, whose onion- and pepper-topped steak was the most visually striking of the day, and Sgt. Isaac Gonzalez, whose elaborate blend of spices and marinades produced an appealing yellow-tinted steak with peppery traces.

Though her sweet, onion-accented steak did not win, Jones echoed her fellow Marines' sentiments that it was all in good fun.

"It's something to get me out of bed on a Saturday morning."

To reach BEN SELLERS:540/374-5423bsellers@freelancestar.com

Ellie