This weekend we celebrate Father’s Day, and I thought it was only fair that we do some kind of tribute since we offered up our thanks to Moms. It seems fair to say that although Dads are certainly an important part of our everyday life, their special day is much less of a fuss than the one that fêtes mothers. Why is that, I wondered?
Mother’s Day brings advertising about taking Mom to the spa, or out for brunch, or in some other extravagant and special way showing her that you appreciate the work she does. The National Restaurant Association in the US says it is the most popular day for dining out of the entire year, which obviously says we think Mom should have a day off from cooking and doing the dishes. Fair enough, but where does that leave Dad? The advertising tells us to buy him tools, and research shows that 56% of Dads get ties, which seems to say they should go back to work. Where the tradition of Mother’s Day by some accounts goes back to a Christian practice in the Renaissance era, Father’s Day does not seem to have any historical connection. Does this mean that fathers are less important?
I think it goes back to the primitive concept of hunters and gatherers, when the men folk went out to get the meat for dinner and the women folk stayed home and took care of the home front. The folks at home are very appreciative when their men return (especially with the prize) but the time they are gone is just considered a necessary evil. It is when they don’t come back that a tribute is paid.
Well, in my usual vein of trying to appreciate that life is short and we need to make the most of it, I propose that we honour Dads now, while we have them, and not wait until later, when we wish we had done more sooner. Whether you are someone who is a long-since older child (I hate to use the word grown-up as I am still trying to avoid it!), or if you have young children of your own, try this weekend to pay tribute to the Dad or Grampa or special male role model you have by showing them what makes them special to you. You could just give them a call if they live far away, or maybe send them a treat in the mail. If they are around, then what could be a better tribute than that traditional man’s meal – a steak! Martin will give the hints below to do the cooking, or perhaps it’s just best to hand Dad a beer and let him do it himself? You could stand by and be a “helper” though, or just hang out and chat. How often is it that we take the time to simply enjoy someone’s company?
Remember, sometimes special moments come when you least expect them. A simple evening by the barbecue may become a cherished memory you hold for many years to come. You will not regret it, and I’ll even share a secret for those of you that don’t like all this mushy stuff – if you get caught up in it all and have a little tear, you can always blame the smoke!
He says:
As for myself, I plan to spend the day resting with my German shorthaired pointer preparing my BBQ for next weeks competition…
The perfect steak!
Major heat for extra searing, that's the secret! Juicy inside and crispy outside is how you want the final product.
Whether you use your BBQ grill or your stovetop, you will need the maximum heat available and the hotter the better.
Put a touch of oil, salt and pepper on your meat right before you cook it, especially on the grill!
Even your best BBQ can use more power when it comes to steaks. You can improve your searing by turning an old metal tray upside down on top of the grill for 10 minutes at maximum heat. Just take the tray off at the last minute, brush your grill and drop your steak on it.
When it comes to the stovetop, you need to have a thick high quality pan, very thick (cast iron works well). Turn your burner to high, place your pan on top and wait until it is really hot. Add a touch of vegetable oil and drop your steak in the pan and make sure that your overhead fan is operating. Any kind of good healthy oil will burn eventually, so as soon as you put your steak in the pan it will start smoking.
The meat you buy will have a big impact on the possible results you can reach! Since the caveman cooked the first piece of beef, Tenderloin, T-Bone, Rib Eye and New York are still the best steaks to buy!
Happy Father’s day!
This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.