Who’s your culinary daddy?
Well, folks, it’s that time again: Father’s day. Time to celebrate the man who was there for the fun part of your creation, then served as cheerleader for the rest of the process. Some dads are the best and some are the worst. But, most fall somewhere in between. Growing up, they seemed like idiots until they suddenly weren’t. We should learn to appreciate the gargantuan task our parents faced, raising us. Imagine having to always explain things like you are talking to a 4 year old. I know, sounds like what we do in work. But, kudos need to go to our fathers for everything they did for us, from teaching right and wrong to grilling burgers on holidays. Even the ones who can’t cook, somehow find a culinarian inside when it comes to a grille. So, let’s think about: Who’s your culinary daddy?
Around the kitchen, he’s the guy who sits and reads the newspaper or comments on the time when food isn’t on the table. He can be downright chauvinistic. But, when it comes to the grille, the woman he expects to make all his food is not qualified. She has no idea what to do with a burger, hot dog, or any other piece of meat. She is too dainty to work with an open flame in the outdoors. What a crock! Yet, there is a fascination with cooking in the open air for many fathers and it seems to be the fatherly thing to do. They can’t all be Randy Marsh addicted to food porn. If your dad really wants to grille on Father’s day, let him. But, it is a day when you should take care of him. Show him that you appreciate all he has done for you.
Who’s your culinary daddy? Reach his heart through his stomach.
They say, “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” I don’t know who they are. But, they are talking out their… Although, as his offspring, a little cooking goes a long way. Even if he says he would be happy with a hot dog. You know better. Surprise him with a fancy meal that he usually wouldn’t indulge in. Going out for a fancy dinner is something usually reserved for date night or family milestones, like a graduation or wedding. Usually, these occasions involve going to a fancy restaurant. But, you can give him a restaurant quality meal, right in your or his own home. And, it will be more casual and inviting.
Of course, every father is different. And, your relationship with him is different. But, one thing is true to all fathers. They like to eat. Most of them actually eat everyday. Sometimes, they even eat multiple times per day. It’s an amazing thing known as physiology. We are what we eat. So, you can either be a bag of Doritos or a gourmet meal. The choice is yours. Just beware of Kanamits. You don’t want to be on the menu.
Speaking of menus…
Here are some ideas sure to thrill any father or father figure on his day of relaxation. It’s time you useless kids did something to show Dick some respect! Here we have some recipes that run the gamut from heavy meat eaters to the more enlightened New World man who eats more sustainably. We will take you around the world in one sitting with an eclectic international buffet honoring our veterans. Each item is from a part of the world where the USA was involved in wars.
- Vietnamese Fresh Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce
- Japanese Eggplant and Daikon Radish Salad with Miso Wasabi dressing
- Mexican Chorizo and Corn Empanadas with Cumin Chili Sauce
- German Schnitzel with Lemon Riesling Sauce
- Middle Eastern Saffron Couscous with Dried Apricots
- The British are Coming Beef Wellington
Most fathers in America are happy to sit back with a full belly and watch war movies on father’s day. Here we bring the good things from the wars. We fought the British in the revolutionary war. Then came the Mexican war. We fought the Germans and Japanese in WWII. Then came the Vietnam war followed by the Conflicts in the middle east that continue to this day. I know, we missed the Korean war and several other conflicts. But, these wars changed us fundamentally as a country.
The revolutionary war established the USA. The Mexican war expanded our territory. WWII changed us and the world for ever. Vietnam taught us to hate war. And, 9/11 and the middle east have made us re think what freedom is and how to achieve and protect it. And, now we beg the immortal question: Who’s your culinary daddy?