Father’s Day is easy to overlook, so it’s best to shop quickly and early, or you’ll end up getting him a box of screws at the last minute because he mentioned he needed a different size and you were going to the hardware store anyway. Hypothetically.
When selecting a gift, there are several easy ways to go right and very few to go wrong—dads are pretty simple that way. Below, we’re sharing our favorite gifts for dads who love food, fishing, and firing up the grill. Keep reading for several ideas that are, at the very least, much better than a box of screws.
For Dads Who Like to Look Sharp: Professional-Quality Knives
With elegant handles in red, black, or limited edition natural wood, our French-made Nakiri, Santoku, and classic speak for themselves. They’re designed to be razor sharp and precise—after your dad tries them, his old knives will feel like cooking in an Airbnb. (In fact, ours are so sharp we include a band-aid—tell him to be careful!)
For Dads Who Love Maintaining Tools: Carbon Steel Cookware
Carbon steel is a favorite among chefs everywhere, but there are few home cooks in the USA taking advantage of it. For the uninitiated, carbon steel is a halfway point between cast iron and Stainless Clad and comes with the benefits of both: it’s durable, lightweight, and can handle the highest temperatures. Like cast iron, it requires seasoning, but doing so will develop a very handy non stick layer (and anyway, dads notoriously love projects).
For Good Old-Fashioned Grilling Dads: Carbon Steel Grill Frying Pan
Just because it’s a stereotype doesn’t mean it’s not true: Dads love to grill. They do not, however, love watching half of dinner fall through the grate, nor do they love cleaning up the burnt remains of steak that have somehow fused themselves to the grill. A Grill Frying Pan remedies both problems, though being covered in holes means you should brace yourself for the dad jokes.
Another of our French-made Carbon Steel pieces, the grill frying pan can hold and retain the highest temperatures your grill can throw at it. A perforated bottom allows food to come in direct contact with the flames and smoke, while keeping everything contained and stick-free. Plus, the lightweight carbon steel body provides better temperature control—if things are getting a little too hot, simply move the pan. Its non stick seasoning helps prevent burnt-on messes, which keeps clean-up to a minimum.
For Dads Looking to Stir Things Up: Carbon Steel Wok
High heat and speed are requisites of wok hei, or “breath of wok,” the elusive fingerprint of Cantonese cooking. Recreating its distinctive smoky, flame-kissed flavor at home is nearly impossible, but with carbon steel’s conductivity and a heat-efficient conical design, our Wok brings it within reach. In the West, woks are primarily associated with stir-fries, but their shape makes them suitable for braising, deep-frying, and so much more. If your dad loves stir fry but is tired of ordering takeout—or better yet, wants to try projects such as indoor smoking—this is the gift for him.
For Dads Who Love Pizza: The Pizza Set
The Pizza Set is the perfect way to spend quality time with dads who enjoy structured fun. Yet another carbon steel feature, this is a product we also included in our Mother’s Day Gift Guide because who doesn’t love making and eating pizza? Between the perforated Pizza Steel (for even crisping and brick oven flavor), the flour (a combination of Hard Red Spring, White Sonora, and a touch of Blue Beard Durum flours), and the tomatoes (which are vine-ripened and organically grown), our Pizza Set makes a pizza to rival your favorite slice.
For Dads Who Make Diner-Level Pancakes: Carbon Steel Griddle
Inspired by professional kitchens and designed to work at home, nothing—nothing—will do more for your dad’s breakfast/burger/grilling game(s) than our Pre-seasoned Carbon Steel Griddle. Like all Carbon Steel, it’s durable, lightweight, capable of handling extreme temperatures, and will develop a very handy non stick layer over time. Pair it with the Grill Press for an extra edge on tender, juicy, and crispy smash burgers (and more).
For Dads Who Fish: Fishing Knives
Designed with Chef Tom Colicchio, our Fishing Knives are essential for any maritime deboning, skinning, or fileting your dad might be doing. The set comes with a flexible Fillet Knife and a serrated Utility Knife, so he can prep bait and later break down his catch. Never underestimate a fisherman.
For Dads Who Bottle It Up: Beer Glasses
To paraphrase Willie and Toby: “Whiskey for my men, beer for my dad.” There is something appealingly casual about drinking beer from the bottle. But ten times out of ten, it will taste better from a Beer Glass. Ours is designed with a wide bowl and a curved lip to help the drinker achieve three things: fully enjoy the body and aromas of the beer, keep the beer cold, and preserve its delicate flavors for longer. The tulip shape is well suited to any beer, from Lambic to Lone Star.
While dads have a reputation for being difficult to get gifts for, there’s a simple trick to getting it right: choose something you can enjoy together. Whether that means jointly cracking open a cold one in our beer glasses, breaking out the fishing knives on your next fishing trip, or just hanging out by the grill, your dad will enjoy it as long as you’re there.
