Marine Corps News Room

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/051106/nysu025.html?.v=22

Sunday November 6, 4:38 pm ET

Command of the Grill(TM) Competition Spotlights Recipes from Marines to Be
Included in Fundraising Cookbook

MARINE CORPS MOBILIZATION COMMAND, KANSAS CITY, Mo., Nov. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Sgt. Michael Clawson claimed the Command of the Grill semi-final title after edging out five other contestants in Weber's first grilling competition created solely for the men and women serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. Recipes from Master Gunnery Sgt. Harold Lang and Sgt. Keith Thompson earned Honorable Mentions.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20051106/NYSU025 )

Weber is hosting a total of 12 semi-final final grilling competitions at Marine locations across the country between Oct. 14 and Dec. 16, 2005, to help raise awareness of-and funds for-charities that directly assist Marines wounded or killed in the line of duty and their families.

Clawson's Western Steak recipe, which features rosemary, sage, celery salt, and balsamic vinegar-along with a 50-word essay-earned him a spot in the semi-final Command of the Grill competition held at Marine Corps Mobilization Command. Based on original recipes, Clawson and five of his fellow Marines were chosen to participate in the semi-finals held on November 6, 2005. Armed with a grilling mitt and tongs, each Marine grilled two New York Strip steaks during the heated one-hour battle. A panel of judges ranked each contestant on creativity of the entry essay, and visual appeal, presentation, and taste of their strip steak.

Clawson's Western Steak recipe will be published in a new cookbook, Weber's Command of the Grill(TM), available nationwide May 2006. All proceeds from the sale of Weber's Command of the Grill cookbook will go to the following charities:

-- Wounded Warrior Project: The Project seeks to assist those men and
women of our armed forces who have been severely injured during the
conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other hot spots around the world.
http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org

-- Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund: The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund was
formed to provide supplemental assistance to our Marines, sailors, and
their families as they face the road to recovery.
http://www.semperfifund.org

-- Fisher House: There is at least one Fisher House(TM) at every major
military medical center to assist families in need and to ensure that
they are provided with the comforts of home in a supportive
environment. Annually, the Fisher House program serves more than 8,500
families, and has made available more than two million days of lodging
to family members since the program originated in 1990.
http://www.fisherhouse.org

-- Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation: The organization primarily
renders assistance to children of Marines or Federal law enforcement
personnel who were killed on duty or died under extraordinary
circumstances while serving the U.S. at home or abroad.
http://www.mclef.org

Clawson and 11 semi-finalists will be flown to New York City to compete in the national Command of the Grill finals on May 26, 2006, during Fleet Week. The winner of the finals will take home a prize package worth more than $5,000 that includes a new luxury Weber® gas grill and a grilling lesson with national grilling expert, Chef Jamie Purviance.

Clawson, a native of Salt Lake City, said, "I'm really honored to go to New York City for the final competition, and that my recipe is going to be featured in a cookbook that will benefit the Marine Corps."

Weber-Stephen Products Co., headquartered in Palatine, Ill., is the premier manufacturer of charcoal and gas grills, grilling accessories, and other outdoor room products. In 1952, founder George Stephen designed the Weber® kettle with a lid that allows outdoor cooks to grill in all kinds of weather. A family-owned business for more than 50 years, Weber has grown to be a leading exporter of outdoor grills worldwide. Weber charcoal and gas grills are available at select home centers, hardware stores, department stores, patio stores, and other retail outlets. Weber has the strongest consumer outreach program in the industry with its all-year, round-the-clock Weber Grill-Line(SM) (1-800-GRILL-OUT®) and a content-rich website with grilling tips, techniques, and more than 200 original Weber recipes at http://www.weber.com(TM).