I know there are thousands of barbecuing and grilling gift ideas for Dads on Father's Day, but here's my Top 10 list for 2015.
If you have a gift idea you want to share (or maybe something you want to ask for!) post a reply and let us know what it is.
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1) KCBS Membership
If Dad wants to learn more about competition barbecue, or fantasizes about becoming a competitor himself, then a membership to the Kansas City Barbecue Society may be just the ticket. A one-year individual membership is just $35 and comes with a variety of benefits, including the monthly Bullsheet newspaper, free day passes to Restaurant Depot where he can buy a great selection of barbecue meats, and discounts on meat, wood pellets, coolers, hotel rooms, and more. And as a member, Dad can take a Certified BBQ Judge class (for an additional fee) and participate in competition barbecue as a judge.
2) Cast Iron Skillet + Cookbook
Cast iron cooking is not just for the stovetop or the oven, it's also great on the grill! Whether it's griddling burgers or baking corn bread, it can all be done with cast iron in a kettle grill or gas grill. And Lodge makes a great variety of cast iron cookware right here in America that will last for generations. Combine a pre-seasoned 12" skillet with the Lodge Cast Iron Cookbook and Dad will be enjoying CI cookery for years to come.
3) Inhale BBQ Pit Smoked Seeds
Does Dad love sunflower seeds? Is he disappointed by the flavored seeds he gets at the gas station or supermarket? Then amp-up his taste buds with some flavored sunflower seeds from Inhale BBQ Pit Smoked Seeds. These are made on a Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker by our friend Mike Adams. Mike sent me some samples to try, and I've got to say, he's come up with some amazing flavors like Spicy BBQ, Garlic, Sweet Heat, and Ghost Pepper. Mike sells mostly at street fairs and farmer's markets in Southern California, but if you email him I'm sure he can hook up your Dad with some tasty seeds!
4) Boning Knife
If Dad trims any meat, from steaks to chicken to briskets, he needs a good, sharp, flexible boning knife. The Victorinox Cutlery 6-Inch Curved Boning Knife is the one I use and recommend and I know he'll love it. Stupid sharp, makes quick work of all trimming jobs big & small, and not a fussy knife you have to baby, just a workhorse that will provide years of good service.
5) TVWB T-Shirt
Dad will be ready to celebrate TVWBB GrillFest 3 in style with this commemorative t-shirt, available in a variety of colors and styles. Looking for more cool and funny BBQ designs? Check-out our Cafepress t-shirt page for more gift ideas!
6) Burger Press
I never gave much thought to burger presses until I tried the Weber 6483 Burger Press. It stamps out perfectly shaped burgers from 1/4 to 1/2 pound with a dimple on top that ensures even cooking every time. No more burgers that grill-up shaped like baseballs! Just throw it in the dishwasher to clean. Dad will love it!
7) Grill Brush
Dad's grill brush is probably old and beat-up and missing half its bristles. Did you know that Weber recommends that grill brushes should be replaced every Spring? Not just because they want to sell more brushes, but because old brushes can shed bristles into your food and cause internal injuries. Yikes! Do dad a favor and get him a new grill brush!
8) Instant-Read Thermometer
Dads need a top-notch instant-read thermometer for grilling and barbecuing, not some dinky mechanical dial-faced thingie! Two of the best are the ThermoWorks Thermapen and the Lavatools Javelin. The Thermapen is the more expensive, "buy the best and only cry once" choice for foodservice professionals and serious backyard & competition cooks, while the Javelin is the more affordable, not-quite-as-fast-but-still-very-good alternative instant-read therm. Either would make a great thermometer for the Dad in your life!
9) Injector
If Dad wants to experiment with injecting pork butts and briskets for barbecue, then the Bayou Classic 5011 Stainless-Steel Injector is just the ticket! Sturdy SS construction will last for years and includes with two different needles. Help Dad take his barbecue flavor profile to the next level by adding an injector to his bag of tricks!
10) Weber Performer Deluxe
Your Dad is the best dad in the world, right? He deserves the best of everything, right? Then give him the best charcoal kettle—the Weber Performer Deluxe. This 22" kettle features a 363 square inch cooking surface, electronic Touch-N-Go gas ignition system, aluminized steel One-Touch cleaning system with ash catcher, removable LCD cook time, built-in lid thermometer, Gourmet BBQ System, CharBin storage container, lid holder, wire bottom shelf and sturdy painted metal table. It's got it all!
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Like I said at the top, if you have a gift idea you want to share (or maybe something you want to ask for!) post a reply and let us know what it is.
If you have a gift idea you want to share (or maybe something you want to ask for!) post a reply and let us know what it is.
--
1) KCBS Membership
If Dad wants to learn more about competition barbecue, or fantasizes about becoming a competitor himself, then a membership to the Kansas City Barbecue Society may be just the ticket. A one-year individual membership is just $35 and comes with a variety of benefits, including the monthly Bullsheet newspaper, free day passes to Restaurant Depot where he can buy a great selection of barbecue meats, and discounts on meat, wood pellets, coolers, hotel rooms, and more. And as a member, Dad can take a Certified BBQ Judge class (for an additional fee) and participate in competition barbecue as a judge.
2) Cast Iron Skillet + Cookbook
Cast iron cooking is not just for the stovetop or the oven, it's also great on the grill! Whether it's griddling burgers or baking corn bread, it can all be done with cast iron in a kettle grill or gas grill. And Lodge makes a great variety of cast iron cookware right here in America that will last for generations. Combine a pre-seasoned 12" skillet with the Lodge Cast Iron Cookbook and Dad will be enjoying CI cookery for years to come.
3) Inhale BBQ Pit Smoked Seeds
Does Dad love sunflower seeds? Is he disappointed by the flavored seeds he gets at the gas station or supermarket? Then amp-up his taste buds with some flavored sunflower seeds from Inhale BBQ Pit Smoked Seeds. These are made on a Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker by our friend Mike Adams. Mike sent me some samples to try, and I've got to say, he's come up with some amazing flavors like Spicy BBQ, Garlic, Sweet Heat, and Ghost Pepper. Mike sells mostly at street fairs and farmer's markets in Southern California, but if you email him I'm sure he can hook up your Dad with some tasty seeds!
4) Boning Knife
If Dad trims any meat, from steaks to chicken to briskets, he needs a good, sharp, flexible boning knife. The Victorinox Cutlery 6-Inch Curved Boning Knife is the one I use and recommend and I know he'll love it. Stupid sharp, makes quick work of all trimming jobs big & small, and not a fussy knife you have to baby, just a workhorse that will provide years of good service.
5) TVWB T-Shirt
Dad will be ready to celebrate TVWBB GrillFest 3 in style with this commemorative t-shirt, available in a variety of colors and styles. Looking for more cool and funny BBQ designs? Check-out our Cafepress t-shirt page for more gift ideas!
6) Burger Press
I never gave much thought to burger presses until I tried the Weber 6483 Burger Press. It stamps out perfectly shaped burgers from 1/4 to 1/2 pound with a dimple on top that ensures even cooking every time. No more burgers that grill-up shaped like baseballs! Just throw it in the dishwasher to clean. Dad will love it!
7) Grill Brush
Dad's grill brush is probably old and beat-up and missing half its bristles. Did you know that Weber recommends that grill brushes should be replaced every Spring? Not just because they want to sell more brushes, but because old brushes can shed bristles into your food and cause internal injuries. Yikes! Do dad a favor and get him a new grill brush!
8) Instant-Read Thermometer
Dads need a top-notch instant-read thermometer for grilling and barbecuing, not some dinky mechanical dial-faced thingie! Two of the best are the ThermoWorks Thermapen and the Lavatools Javelin. The Thermapen is the more expensive, "buy the best and only cry once" choice for foodservice professionals and serious backyard & competition cooks, while the Javelin is the more affordable, not-quite-as-fast-but-still-very-good alternative instant-read therm. Either would make a great thermometer for the Dad in your life!
9) Injector
If Dad wants to experiment with injecting pork butts and briskets for barbecue, then the Bayou Classic 5011 Stainless-Steel Injector is just the ticket! Sturdy SS construction will last for years and includes with two different needles. Help Dad take his barbecue flavor profile to the next level by adding an injector to his bag of tricks!
10) Weber Performer Deluxe
Your Dad is the best dad in the world, right? He deserves the best of everything, right? Then give him the best charcoal kettle—the Weber Performer Deluxe. This 22" kettle features a 363 square inch cooking surface, electronic Touch-N-Go gas ignition system, aluminized steel One-Touch cleaning system with ash catcher, removable LCD cook time, built-in lid thermometer, Gourmet BBQ System, CharBin storage container, lid holder, wire bottom shelf and sturdy painted metal table. It's got it all!
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Like I said at the top, if you have a gift idea you want to share (or maybe something you want to ask for!) post a reply and let us know what it is.
