We love our dads, but they can be tough to shop for. Finding that perfect Father’s Day gift he a) doesn’t already have, and b) actually wants, is an even tougher task. But if your old man is into cooking and booze, you’re in luck. We have ten ideas to impress the toughest father-critics on June 17.
Nespresso Citiz Espresso Maker with Milk Frother
This is one of the best espresso machines around for solo shots and espresso drinks. Want to see it in action? Most area Williams-Sonoma stores stock demo models and make samples upon request. $300 at Williams-Sonoma, multiple area locations.
If Dad is in the driver’s seat of the bacon bandwagon, this is the accessory for him. Plus you can pick up a card at the same time. $20 at the Paper Source, multiple area locations.
Sagaform Rocking Whiskey Glasses
Both Dad and his glass will be tipsy after a pour of whiskey in these handblown, curved-bottom glasses that rest at an angle. $32 for six at Table Top DC.
Togiharu Hammered Texture Santoku
Ask a chef what dream knife he or she would pick, and the answer would probably be one from Korin, a Manhattan-based shop with an extensive collection of Japanese knives. You can really splurge on a $2,600 Togiharu chef’s knife, but we like the more reasonable equivalent. $149 from Korin.com.
Don’t want to go crazy on a blade? These colorful pairing knives are super-sharp, and plastics sheaths make them handy on a camping trip. $10 from Sur La Table, multiple area locations.
Blackbeard meets Red Beard (a.k.a Mario Batali) with this adjustable, splash-resistant apron by local artist Jon Wye. $36 online through JonWye.com, or purchase at Hill’s Kitchen.
Oneida Midcentury Crystal Decanter
For the dad who loves Mad Men and has everything, here’s a stately decanter for all his dark-liquor office-drinking needs. $295 from the Hour.
Eat With Your Hands by Zakary Pelaccio
If Dad’s culinary idols are David Chang and Anthony Bourdain—and he’s into scouring local Asian markets for ingredients—this cookbook from the New York-based Fatty Crab and Fatty Cue chef will fast become his favorite. $25 from Amazon.com.
On the flipside, if your dad is more into browsing farmers markets for seasonal vegetables than cooking suckling pig, check out the latest cookbook by restaurateur extraordinaire Alain Ducasse, the sometimes-local toque behind Adour. $25 from Amazon.com.
The most interesting man in the world isn’t the fictional Dos Equis character, but rather Martin Miller, the real-life rogue behind this smooth gin—a good role model who makes spectacular gin for dads and bachelors alike. $29 at Ace Beverage.
Related:
Father’s Day in Washington 2012
Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
