Tag Archives: father’s day

Make dad feel like a king with ribeye crown steaks

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On Father’s Day, dads grill steaks. So why not give dad a gift of premium beef that he can enjoy at leisure?

unnamed-2We sampled the ribeye crown from Omaha Steaks Private Reserve, with packages starting at $59.99. The steaks arrive in individual frozen portions so you can treat a crowd or treat yourself.

The ribeye crown is the smaller part of the steak that sits atop the eye of the rib. It’s beautifully marbled, so the steak is tender. And it’s aged for at least 28 days, which enhances the rich flavor. I appreciate that it’s a manageable 5-ounce portion, a serving that is satisfying yet doesn’t tempt me to overindulge. (The ribeyes also are available in 7-ounce cuts.)

IMG_5539The beef is the star of the show, so I focus on great supporting players: a yellow onion, sliced thin and cooked long and low with a smidge of olive oil until it caramelizes. Bring it home with a red wine reduction. For a bit of crunch, I grab a leftover ear of corn from a previous go-round on the grill, take a knife to the cob and sprinkle the kernels over the steak and onions.

IMG_5546It’s a simple, lovely dish, so I pick a table setting that is equally simple. This steak deserves more than a paper plate, so I serve it on a  Royal Doulton dinner plate in the Oxford Black pattern that is embellished with slender rings of black and gold. I further celebrate my repast with a white linen napkin in Grandmom’s silver napkin ring and pour a J.Lohr Cabernet Sauvignon from California with hints of black cherry and cocoa. We discovered the wine on Christmas Eve in Salamanca, New York, in the form of a generous pour from Shelley Finn, a childhood friend of my hosts who was home for the holiday from Buffalo. (Back in Delaware, I pick it up at Costco.)

A great steak, velvety red wine and a pretty table. Hey, we’re living.

You can send Omaha Steaks to wherever dad lives and you don’t have to wait for a special occasion. The beef arrives in a styrofoam cooler that dad can repurpose for brewskis.

A toast to dad, the Bloody Bay

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Think of everything your dad went through to bring you up.

Bloody-Bay-Credit-Jason-VarneyNo wonder he is bald.

On Father’s Day, say ‘thank you.’ And mix the guy a drink.

I suggest the Bloody Bay, a cocktail made with The Bay Seasoned Vodka, an elixir spiked with traditional Chesapeake Bay seasonings. It’s already hot and spicy, which makes mixing a Bloody a snap.

We put The Bay to the test, assembling a panel of tasters at a recent brunch at our house, with our own variation on the recipe on a tag attached to the bottle. Here goes:

Mix 1.5 ounces of the The Bay Vodka with 4 ounces of extra spicy V-8 and a squeeze of lemon juice. Mix vigorously with ice, then pour into a footed ice tea glass with more ice. Add a stalk of celery. (Substitute wedges of cucumber when you run out of celery.)

unnamed-1We found The Bay ideal for entertaining. The company recipe suggests using your favorite Bloody Mary mix but we thought the vodka and V-8 added sufficient zing. Zesty and delicious.

The Bay is made by Philadelphia Distilling, whose co-founder Andrew Aurwerda was inspired by his days at the University of Maryland, where I suspect there was a whole lot of drinking going on.

Don’t tell dad. But do buy him a bottle of The Bay. Expect to pay about $25 for a one-liter bottle outfitted with a cool hinged china stopper.

Sock it to Dad

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No Father’s Day should pass without the patriarch of the family receiving a new pair of socks. After all, tradition is important.

ss13_charcoal_garden_dot_socks_crew_socks_mens_pact_1Granola grandpops and earth-friendly dads will appreciate PACT socks, fun and funky footwear made from organic cotton in a factory powered by wind power. If dad’s underwear drawer is bare, you also can buy him classic tees in crew and v-neck styles, as well as briefs.
Dad can feel good about you spending your hard-earned money on him because this spring  PACT helped build 100 urban gardens in low-income communities through its partnership with Whole Foods’ Whole Kids Foundation.
PACT gift options range in price from $12 to $48. You can find selected products at Whole Foods, Nordstrom and other retailers. To shop online or locate a store that carries PACT near you, visit www.wearpact.com