Father's Day

Father's Day, a holiday synonymous with grilling, is just around the corner. The image that comes to my mind is my dad having complete mastery over the grill with his grilling tools in hand. I'm sure this year there will be plenty of fathers wearing #1 Dad aprons standing by the grill ready to barbecue a number of different meats, hamburgers, and hot dogs. But how about taking over the reigns for dad this time around? Just tell him to relax and enjoy a beer while you grill up an impressive meal.

Lamb chops are perfect for grilling since the cut of meat is best prepared when seared on high heat. In this recipe, the lamb is marinated overnight in balsamic vinegar to give it that beautiful black crust once cooked. The vinegar also gives it a wonderful caramelized flavor. This recipe also works well for other meats too. And finally make sure to heat up the grill (or the pan) until it's sizzling hot. That's the key to perfectly seared meat. Go and fire up your grills for dad's day.

What better way to celebrate summer and your Dad than by making him something delicious on his special day. It may be hard to keep him away from the grill, but mix up his favorite, refreshing cocktail, sit him in front of the game and get to work. He'll be impressed. We just know it!

STARTERS:
Warm and Creamy Bacon Dip
Baked Crab and Almond Dip
Garlicky Roasted Red Pepper and Almond Dip
Crispy Corn Fritters
Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp
Taleggio-Stuffed Mushrooms

MAINS:
Charlie's Blackened Catfish
Lobster Tacos and Mango Salsa
Maple-Glazed Wild Salmon
Pomegranate Barbecue Ribs
Buttermilk Fried Chicken
The Best Grilled Chicken
Spicy Garlic Chicken Kabobs
Marinated Citrus Grilled Beef
Grilled Skirt Steak with Chimichurri Sauce
Surf and Turf Sizzle

SIDES:
Grilled Asparagus
Grilled Corn and Okra Salad
Baby Bell Peppers with Feta and Mint
Grilled Radicchio with Canellini Beans
Mini Loaded Red Potatoes
Roasted Radish & Potato Salad
Beer Bread
Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread

COCKTAILS:
The Bootleg | Greyhound | Long Island Iced Tea | Mojito | Old Fashioned | Watermelon Falls

EASY DESSERTS: (You'll be too busy to bake.)
Chocolate Peanut Butter No-Bake "Cake" | Icebox Cake | No-Bake Chocolate Turtle Cheesecake
Dark Chocolate Espresso Pudding | Strawberry Charlotte Russe | Pomegranate Granita

People would stare as we walked down the street. Not because he was famous but because he was different. He walked with a cane and a brace, tilting from side to side with each stride. Somehow he stayed upright. If someone stared too long, he might yell, “Whad’ya lookin’ at? It’s nothin’, it’s polio, I got it when it first came out!” Anyone else yelling at a stranger might come off as aggressive — he had a REALLY loud mouth — but Duke said it with a twinkle in his eye that set the person instantly at ease. It might even turn into a too-long stop-and-chat, but I was used to those.

I’d look up at him with pride and ownership. He was my daddy. Mine being the operative word. My mother told me the story many times. As a tiny preverbal baby, I had my arms thrown around my father’s neck, holding him as tight as I could, looking back at her with eyes that said, “He’s MINE.” As in, not hers. Her interpretation. Well, it was true.

Sometimes in late August or early September we’d go shopping for back-to-school clothes at Hank DeGoniff’s house. Hank’s “house” was a warehouse in seedy Hollywood. And unbeknownst to me at the time, DeGoniff wasn’t his family name. I wasn’t sure why Hank had clothes and winter coats for me along with lots of electronic equipment. But cash was handed over and I’d walk away with some new clothes. There wasn’t even a lot to choose from, but I wasn’t an overindulged child, so I was happy with what I got. I was in my twenties (maybe thirties) before I learned that Hank’s merchandise “fell of the back of a truck,” and goniff was Yiddish for thief.

In many families, grilling and barbecue are rites of passage. Son or daughter reaches the age when he or she can handle fire without disaster. Dad passes the tongs and secret family recipes and a new barbecue generation is born.

Well that’s how it works in theory, although in my family, my mother did the grilling and my father kept strangely silent on the subject.

So in honor of Father’s Day, I asked three barbecue masters what their fathers taught them about barbecuing and grilling. Whether you’re teaching or learning this year, Happy Father’s Day! You’ve earned it.