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giving dad the gift of grilling

There’s something almost Zen about a man and his grill, the reverent flipping of the meat, the slow application of sauce and all the other things that makes a man the Master of the Tongs.

If your dad loves nothing more than the warmth of a grill and the smell of meat sizzling outdoors, then this father’s day you might want to appeal to that love with some must-have grill paraphernalia.

-Buy your grill and barbeque-happy-dad a meat subscription from one of the better providers, such as Niman Ranch (nimanranch.com). You can order a variety, or you can have dry-aged beef delivered to his door for several months.

-Go to some of the local BBQ joints and buy dad an assortment of sauces. If dad likes a specific sauce, get him that, if not, get him a variety. (See the sidebar listing of BBQ joints here in town on pages 13 - 15).

-Dad might already have a set of grill tools, but does he have a non-stick rib rack?

-For something a little different, get dad a grill-top pizza stone, best used with gas grills. He can cook up some pizza or a little flat bread to go with your barbecue.

-If dad’s got a propane grill but secretly longs for that crispy, wood smoked flavor, you can get him wood briquettes that work with propane grills, infusing the meat with the smoky flavor.

the biggest grill on the block

Maybe you have a bigger budget to spend when it comes to dear-old Dad, or maybe he’s had enough kids that all of you can chip in and buy him something really huge and special. If he already has that big screen TV, why not get Dad a custom outdoor grill, built right into the patio or backyard. Backyard Kitchen’s builders and specialty barbecue store can usually have his grill installed within a week. They do everything from chimney-shaped charcoal grills to huge gas-powered monsters, with many buttons and knobs to control different areas of heat.

the big grill debate: propane vs. charcoal

Even if you’re not going quite that deluxe, and you’re buying dad a standard grill to replace his old one, you might want to consider his preferences. Grillers can be incredibly passionate about their preference for charcoal over propane or vice versa. Ask dad what he prefers, but do consider the pros and cons of both types of grilling.

-Propane’s no fuss, no muss. Gas grills mean less clean-up and they’re ready to go when you need them, there’s no waiting for the coals to heat up.

-Charcoal grills are generally simpler and less expensive than similar propane models.

-Even though some taste-tests say differently, most charcoal users believe that the charcoal imprints the meat with a particularly savory flavor, superior to propane.

-Despite the convenience of propane, many grillers prefer the ritual of lighting the charcoal grill. They enjoy tending the coals and watching over them.

-With propane, there’s a more precise control of the heat, but for slow-cooked barbecue, there’s just nothing like charcoal.