Six Things Your Dad Really Wants (According to a Dad Who Knows)
While I'm appreciative of gifts, Father's Day is about expressing gratitude to my family for the love they show every single day, says Bryant Terry, the chef, educator and author of Afro-Vegan renowned for his food activism as Chef-in-Residence at the Museum of the African Diaspora.When I'm working on a new cookbook I sometimes spend the whole weekend testing recipes and writing for months on end, and my family supports me wholeheartedly.
Terry, who is currently working on a book called Vegetable Kingdom, out in 2020, has big plans for this Father's Day weekend. On Saturday, we often gather family and friends to break bread and celebrate in our backyard, and I'm happy to make most of the foodincluding grilling veggies from our garden and the farmers' market, he says. Then on Sunday, he will drive to Calistoga with his wife and two daughters and lounge in an Olympic-size mineral pool until the sun goes down. My wife and daughters love being in water, so if they are happy I'm good, says Terry.
But just because Father's Day is about celebrating the whole family doesn't mean Terry doesn't have a wishlist! Here, six Dad-approved ideas to gift the Dad in your life.
1. A killer soundtrack.
Whether hosting friends and family at a cookout, rocking out with my daughters at the park, or chilling on a beach with my wife, music is so important. Here's what I'm listening to on Father's Day this year:
Ancestral Recall by Christian Scott and Tunde AdjuahInventions & Dimensions by Herbie HancockThe Tree Act by Nappy NinaWhen I Get Home by Solange Jonny Greenwood is the Controller by Jonny Greenwood2. Grillmaster Gloves.
I've been doing a lot of grilling lately that requires me to move vegetables around often (like blistering kohlrabi) and get really close to the heat (i.e., roasting sweet potatoes in charcoal ashes). These gloves can withstand heat up to 475F, so rotating hot tubers for a few seconds is easy peasy. I also use the gloves in my kitchen for pulling things from the oven.
3. A Pan that Can Do Anything.
If I had one pan to cook in the rest of my life it would be a cast-iron skillet. Once they are well seasoned (read up on how to season and care for yours) they essentially function like a non-stick skillet. They also seamlessly transition from the stovetop to the oven. When well taken care of they last a lifetime. While I own one that my grandmother used, I most-often use this one from Staub.
4. An Old-School Tool.
Historically, mortars and pestles have been crucial to making food in traditional cultures around the world. While many opt for modern tools to crush and grind food, I encourage people to get a mortar and pestle and keep it old school. This mortar and pestle is a great starter for your collection.
5. A Special Bottle.
This Mezcal Vago Elote is not cheap, but it is worth the investment if you are looking for a delicious, bright mescal to drink neat. Great for sipping while you are pounding spices and such in your mortar.
6. A Smarter Kitchen.
I'm a gadget guy, so you can imagine how amped I was to get a refrigerator with a large touchscreen on it. If you are in the market for a new fridge, I highly recommend the Samsung Family Hub. I can look up recipes on the internet, check our centralized family calendar, and listen to music using Spotify. I can even look inside the fridge when I'm out shopping via an app on my phone.