Five Unique Gift Ideas for Father’s Day.  Because We Deserve It!

It’s June.  Yardwork, home repair, baseball, grilling out and Father’s Day; what’s not to like.  Think of all the reasons to appreciate dad…and then remember how hard he usually is to buy for!   It has been years since the kids have selected ties or belts for dear old dad as a perfect gift. (There is a God!) They’ve learned over the years that dad has hobbies.  A couple of dad’s hobbies are really perfect for gift ideas.  So here are five unique, creative, unusual and totally cool gifts for Father’s Day that dads (like the wine oaf) would richly appreciate.  (Besides, who wears ties anymore?)

Father’ Day Gift Idea One: Dad’s own Branding Iron for grilling out

Perfect for: Dad’s who grill out.  Which is almost every dad I know! 

So here is the idea…dad has the family gathering out on the deck and he is at his usual post…he’s manning the grill.  And what’s on the grill? …dad’s famous steaks, chops, burgers, salmon fillets… just fill in the blanks.  It’s all about tradition.  This is comfort food from the masculine side of the family.  What would be cooler than dad bringing in a platter of burgers or chops and there…right on top…”Dad’s own brand” seared right into the meat.  Alma mater, favorite driver, something clever like “Roadkill” or just a branding iron induced monogram, kind of like a guarantee or trademark cooked into the grill fare. 

Where do you find such a creation? SteakBrands.com Inc.

Father’s Day Gift Idea Two: Cool glassware for enjoying wine

Perfect for: Dad’s who enjoy wine and/or entertain those who do
Crystal is not dad’s “thing”. It looks funny in the hearty hands of the guy who used to put your bicycle back together after you tried to jump the creek with it…for the third time. What does a dad like that deserve to drink wine from.. a much cooler glass. Part tumbler, part wineglass and perfectly built for the enjoyment of wine. Especially red and all dad’s drink reds, right?  Also, decanters improve the wine experience but most of them look a little less than exciting, doesn’t a really cool decanter make a good conversation!  Don’t good cheap wines look even better in a styling decanter?  The one pictured above looks like it came out of a modernistic sci-fi flick..and dad introduced you to sci-fi flicks, remember?  Where do you find pop-pleasing glassware? I found these on wine.com:  Glassware

Father’s Day Gift Idea Three: Great coffee

Perfect for: Duh, dad’s who like coffee maybe?

I wrote about this coffee in an earlier article.  I promised to let you know if I liked the coffee made by Mystic Monks.  I didn’t like it…I loved it!  You don’t have to be Catholic to enjoy coffee made by the monks of  Mystic Monk Coffee. I had a dark roast, my own preference, but there is a great selection of fair trade, organic and lighter fare.  This is kind of a payback for dad staying awake those nights before Christmas’ putting together that bike (you kept wrecking) the first time!

Father’s Day Gift Idea Four: High quality wine tools

Perfect for: Any dad who likes gadgets and enjoys wine

Remember when dad used to have heart-warming talks with you like, “Don’t use my tools if you’re not going to put them away right!” and, “Are you nuts? You can’t use my ratchet as a hammer!”  Ah yes… dad likes his tools.  He has a garage full.  But I bet you he is still opening his wine bottles with a corkscrew similar in quality to a cheap 99 cent plastic handled imported mass-produced screw-driver you would never catch him using to fix a broken mower.  Help dad use the “right tool” for his wine enjoyment.  Rabbit 6-Piece Wine Corkscrew Tool Kit – Corkscrews Accessories

Father’s Day Gift Idea Five: Healthy beef for the grill
Perfect for: The same dad as in every gift idea above!

Dad likes his meat on the grill (and so do you, admit it) but everyone should eat healthier and red meat, sometimes…well, you feel like you need to “sneak a steak“ onto the grill.  (it’s a conspiracy by big-chicken, like big-tobacco only..you know with chicken)  So how can you enjoy your red meats and still eat healthy?  I found La Cense.  They say on their site, Montana raised, no hormones, no antibiotics, no pesticides, no feedlots, no grain..these are grass fed cattle that produce leaner healthier meat.  So, you got to use that new branding iron from Steakbrands on something right?  Here’s a deal from La Cense listed on their website:  
Lacense® Grass-Fed Beef
Buy Delicious Grass Fed Beef. Free Shipping on Orders Over $45!
And  if you succumb to the idea that one should be grilling tuna or salmon instead of steak (not really a compromise, just change the wine!) check out this offer:

Of course there is always the obvious gift of WINE or something more unique like the Wine Club membership programs we reviewed in our article Wine Gifts for Mother’s Day.  Either way, give dad’s gift some thought! (hint, hint) Here is a special from Wine.com:
Get 20% off any 12 month wine club membership at Wine.com! Enter code DAD20 at checkout. Offer expires 6.15.08

Personally speaking, as a father, as a brother and as a son…thanks for everything guys…thanks dad!  Thanks for being last and making those you love first!  Happy Father’s Day from the wine oaf.  And to my kids this message, “Thanks for making me a very proud father!”

Cheers

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Wine Necessities in Ballwin, MO

Well, last Saturday I made wine at a great little winery in Ballwin, MO named Wine Necessities! Well, I mostly made a batch of  wine…technically I performed the first few stages of the wine making process. I put the batch through primary fermentation. Technically… I did what owner Jacque James told me to do. (She allowed me no creativity.) And I guess it really wasn’t home-made since we made it in their very sterile and organized winery area, so anyway…It was fun to be hands on and see the process. Wine Necessities had a great variety of wines in various stages of production and actually a great many varieties ready to be sampled, which….of course… I did. I sampled a 2006 Domestic Cabernet that was really smooth yet also full bodied. I like the reds you know. Also, sampled a Chilean Merlot that was really excellent. I would rate both as:

SERVE TO GUESTS!

My friends (tip:always make friends with people who make wine) that own the shop, Jacque and Jen, were fun, energetic and passionate about their trade. How cool was that to find! They also were throwing a wine tasting party when I was there and everyone was having a riot. Wine Necessities throws parties, tasting events, wine and food pairing parties and bottles special wine for special events like grand openings, weddings etc… where you can pop on your own label (tastefully designed by Jen). The wine may be a little above my $10 Quest focus but hey, entertainment costs money and I was entertained! Also check out the stores cool wine gadgets on the shelves. Great stuff for all wine lovers. (HINT!)

Neat discovery. Check out their entire inventory. For my next visit, (Oh yes…there will be a next visit!) I am making a sign to display , “Will Work For Wine”. What do you think? Could work, right?

Cheers.

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