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Fine Dining, Bacon and BBQs – How to Spoil Dad This Father's Day

Fine Dining, Bacon and BBQs – How to Spoil Dad This Father's Day

by Mireille Kilgour

Father's Day is fast approaching and it's time to start thinking about what to do to spoil Dad. Father's Day is a time to show dad your appreciation, and one good way to say thank you is through a good meal. Be it home cooked or prepared by a chef, there's no faster way to a man's heart than through food.

Good food offers comfort and when carefully thought about can be a very touching tribute. Preparing Dad's favourite breakfast or baking his favourite dessert shows you pay attention to his loves and is something you can enjoy together. If your father has Italian heritage, a voucher for his favourite Italian restaurant shows you care about your roots or the offer to enjoy a night out at a grill will provide him with a long-lasting memory.

Here are some great food gift ideas to use for inspiration:

Wine him and dine him

Father's Day is a day to be shared and what better way to share an experience than through a delicious sharing menu such as that offered by Allium Food and Winein Melbourne. On Sunday September 7, round up the family and gather everyone at a table in the modern dining room to sample fresh, flavoursome palate sensations your dad will remember forever. Allium prides itself on being an eatery where families can feel comfortable and young children are welcome to come and enjoy colouring-in and toys. There are no time constraints and diners are made to feel relaxed and well cared for. The specially designed Father's Day sharing menu is available for both lunch and dinner and costs $65 pp.

Or, try the Black Swan Winery Restaurant, a restaurant with spectacular views, a wonderful ambience and live music to boot. Offering a Father's Day three-course set menu that costs $68 pp, Dad can relax, indulge, enjoy the views and tap his feet to the band. Children up to 13 years cost just $25.

Can't make lunch yourself? Send a Good Food Gift Card to let Dad know you're thinking of him. He can redeem his voucher at a number of fantastic Australian restaurants, including the Black Swan Winery Restaurant and Allium Food and Wine.

Homemade treats for the bacon lover

Mancakes for the Pancake King: What dad doesn't love pancakes? Pancakes warm the belly, offer a touch of sweetness and are a great way to start the day but for something really special, man up your pancakes with bacon and beer! Using a traditional batter of flour, sugar, baking powder and butter, swap the milk for your dad's favourite beer and add a touch of vanilla extract. While you let the batter settle, bake eight strips of bacon in the oven for ten minutes before sprinkling with brown sugar. Return to the oven and bake for a further ten minutes and repeat the other side. Once cooled, you'll be left with candied bacon you can chop into small pieces and add to the batter. Yum!

If it's dad that usually takes care of the pancakes, why not purchase a personalised hand stamped spatula which he can flip them with?

Bacon jam: If dad loves a good sandwich, meatloaf or cheese plate, a jar of bacon jam is the ultimate delicious treat. Bacon jam is a bacon-based relish, similar to the Austrian starter Verhackert.

Ingredients

1 lb thick cut bacon

2 large sweet onions, quartered and thickly sliced

½ cup brown sugar

⅓ cup strongly brewed coffee

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

Method

1. Cook bacon in a large frying pan for ten minutes. Try not to let it get too crispy.

2. Remove the bacon, leaving a small amount of bacon drippings in the pan. Add onion and cook for 8-10 minutes. Reduce to low, add sugar and cook for a further 20 minutes.

3. Add coffee, ½ cup water and bacon. Cook for 30 minutes, stirring every five.

4. Remove from heat and stir through balsamic. Season to taste.

Jam should last for approximately one week in the fridge, but it's so tasty, it's sure to gone quicker than that!

Maple candied bacon: For a dad with a sweet tooth, candied bacon is a major treat. While not the healthiest of foods, maple candied bacon is pure indulgement and delicious thrown into a bunch of brownies or scattered over ice cream. Making it is easy and consists of pouring maple syrup over bacon and roasting for half an hour in a glass baking dish. Turn it once and be careful to watch, as it can burn easily.

BBQ a feast

shutterstock_131022977 Most dads love a good BBQ and finding a great cut of meat and a delicious sauce to compliment is sometimes all it takes to get him smiling. Try opting for a bone-in ribeye steak and season with a blend of chipotle chile powder, smoked paprika and pepper. You could then try topping it with this flavoursome whiskey butter.

Ingredients

2 sticks unsalted butter

2 shallots soaked in whisky

3 teaspoons finely chopped parsley

½ teaspoon Dijon-style mustard

½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

3 teaspoons Jack Daniels whisky

salt and pepper to taste

Combine all of the ingredients and mix well. Put atop hot steaks. Store in the refrigerator for up to one week, or freeze for up to three months.

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Mireille Kilgour

Mireille Kilgour has been an entrepreneur for 35 years in the hospitality sector. French born, she has been an accomplished business owner and operator for a number of Sydney venues. Leading the industry with high profile institutions such as Lamrock Café Bondi, she has endless passion for the industry, and now has the pleasure of supporting restaurants to fill their tables with the new Good Food Gift Card program.