His practice paid off: Navarre was
named Commander of the Grill.
Grilling Tips
“I didn’t expect to win the com-
petition,” he says. “There were guys From Col. Stewart Navarre, USMC-Ret.:
participating who were defi nitely my a73 Consider buying Command of the Grill: A Salute to Steak. It’s
equal as far as grilling goes. I par- a really straightforward book about grilling. The book costs $10, and
ticipated to make sure enough other every penny goes to four charities.
people participated, because Weber a73 I learned this through bitter experience: Stay by the grill. We’ve all
was doing a great thing.” burned stuff. It’s one thing to undercook food, but if it’s burned, it’s
Since the competition, Navarre burned. If you want to keep the meat moist, close the grill and check
has cooked his winning Combat on it every few minutes.
Steak recipe for many people. “We’ve
provided Combat Steak dinners for From Capt. Eric Dominijanni, USMC:
fundraiser events,” he says. “I’ve en- a73 Make sure the meat isn’t overly moist, or you’ll end up boiling it.
joyed doing that.” a73 Only flip the meat once or twice.
But at home, Navarre and his wife a73 Know your meat. If it’s a lower-quality cut, marinate the meat.
split the cooking. “I work the grill, If it’s a high-quality cut, use a dry rub.
she works the inside stuff,” he says.
“And trust me, there’s a lot more
going on inside than outside.” he was going to be on a show about the cooking fi eld. It wasn’t a chal-
Dominijanni says he was not dis- great grill masters,” Benson says. lenge for me, it was an honor.”
appointed with the result of the fi nal “Throwdown” followed Domini- Benson says Flay was touched
competition. “I advertised my steak janni in the Commander of the Grill by the competition: “Bobby is a real
as being a spicy steak,” he says. “The competition and then to Twentynine supporter of all the men and women
judges said it was too spicy for the av- Palms, Calif., where he was training who fi ght for this country. It was re-
erage person. It’s not the winning that in early June 2006. ally a feel-good day for all of us. In-
matters. All you can do is your best.” Dominijanni was told to re-cre- cidentally, we were shooting a show.
However, Dominijanni soon had a ate a typical day where he had the We were blessed.”
chance to redeem himself on the grill. time to grill for his fellow Marines Dominijanni says Flay was a great
During the Commander of the Grill — nothing out of the ordinary for competitor, but “he just wasn’t used
competition, he received a call from him, because he barbecues for one to the 113-degree weather in Twen-
the Food Network channel asking of his platoons every month. tynine Palms like I was.”
him to be part of a show about grilling “So I started cooking, and [I] see my Since the show aired in the sum-
— and, unbeknownst to Dominijanni, Humvee rolling up, and Bobby Flay mer of 2006, Dominijanni has received
part of a throwdown with chef and comes out. I was shocked,” he recalls. frequent requests to cook for others.
Food Network star Bobby Flay. Flay challenged Dominijanni to a “I teach my neighbors. My
According to Emily Benson, a pro- steak-grilling throwdown. Flay used friends even sometimes ask me to
ducer and director for “Throwdown a dry rub, while Dominijanni made teach their wives,” he says. “But I’m
with Bobby Flay,” show researchers his marinated steak recipe from the not a chef, I’m just a guy who loves
learned about Dominijanni during Weber competition — with a few to cook.” Dominijanni describes the
the Weber grill competitions. minor changes. He used a lesser cut throwdown as the “greatest experi-
“We look for passionate people of meat, because he couldn’t buy New ence of my life.”
in regards to food and [people who York strip at the local commissary, and “But if it weren’t for the Marine
are] very talented with food,” Benson he cut down the spiciness because he Corps,” he says, “I wouldn’t have had
says. “We loved that he was so into couldn’t get habanera peppers. the opportunity. If there’s any[one]
food, and he has such a culinary bent After an intense competition in to thank, it’s them.” MO
that even when he was stationed extreme heat, judges named Domini-
overseas, he would try to make meals janni the winner.
RESOURCES
better for his troops.” “[Competing against Bobby Flay a73 For more information about the chari-
In keeping with the show’s format, on the grill] is like going against
ties supported by sales of Command of the
Dominijanni was set up for a surprise Muhammad Ali if you’re a boxer,”
Grill: A Salute to Steak or to purchase the
book, visit
www.commandofthegrill.com.
competition against Flay. “He thought Dominijanni says. “He’s an icon in
M AY 2 0 0 8 M I L I T A R Y O F F I C E R 6 3
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