"fathers day" news and stories

In days of old, a son learning his father's craft was no major news, just an expected and traditional way to build a career. Now, many companies choose to highlight family teams in their marketing strategies.

Let's start in the heart of American distillation -- Kentucky. The largest distillery there may be owned by giant drinks company Fortune Brands, but the Jim Beam legacy is seven generations deep. The current master distiller is Frederick "Fred" Booker Noe III. He had a hard act to follow with the passing away of his beloved father, Booker Noe, who happened to be the grandson of James. B. Beam. Fred Noe has one son -- Frederick Booker Noe IV -- who, even at his young age, undoubtedly feels a little pressure to follow the family's legacy in the whiskey business.

Jim Beam doesn't hoard all the Beam family teams, however. Heaven Hill Distillery is Kentucky's largest family-owned bourbon producer. After prohibition, the Shapiro family jump-started this distillery with the help of the first cousin of Jim Beam, and ever since then a member of the Beam family has been in charge of distillation. Today Parker Beam and his son Craig make an incredible family team at Heaven Hill.

Fathers Day is this weekend so we asked some chef dads how they like to spend the special day. Turns out they like the same thing as most regular, non-chef dads: hanging with the kids and eating a favorite meal. Wouldn't it be nice if families got to do that every Sunday?

Wolfgang Puck, chef/owner multiple restaurants nationwide (Spago and Chinois among them); has four sons: Cameron, 21; Bryon, 15; Oliver, 5; Alexander, 3.

What's your dream Father's Day menu?
WP: I would love to wake up have my wife prepare me her special Ethiopian coffee with a few flaky pain au chocolat, and about an hour later have a baked potato with caviar and a bottle of Krug Champagne with a raspberry soufflé to finish it off.

Do you take the day off or do you cook?
WP: I take the day off. Since my kids are very small, they bring me presents in the morning. My wife brings the coffee and the kids bring the croissants.

Did your dad influence your desire to become a chef?
WP: My father did not influence me. On the contrary, he wanted me to be a carpenter or mechanic or a mason, or any other "useful" profession. All my cooking was influenced by my mom -- my dad thought cooking was for women; not a profession for a man.

More interviews after the jump.

Dads who love to cook, eat or drink typically consider themselves the household "top chefs" and taste-testers. These Father's Day gifts will give him the tools to cook more efficiently, experiment more wildly and consume food and beverages with a sense of humor. (Useful and funny? We can't think of anything better.)

Check out our product picks after the jump.

Trust us: Dad does not need another tie, much less after-shave. This Father's Day, instead of falling back on tired presents, give dear old dad a gift he might actually enjoy -- like an artisanal craft ale. Here are our 10 favorite boundary-busting craft beers guaranteed to make dad grin.

Three Floyds Dreadnaught Imperial IPA:
If your father likes his ales ludicrously hopped, look to Dreadnaught, the knockout punch from Munster, Indiana's Three Floyds brewpub. Clocking in at a cool 100 IBUs (the higher the IBU, the hoppier the beer), the 9.5 percent ABV IPA packs an aroma of mango, peaches and resin. On the tongue? Tons of citrus and caramel malt.

Mikkeller Beer Geek Breakfast:
First thing in the a.m., what better gift to give your father than a bottle of Beer Geek Breakfast? In this eye-opening stout, the Danish brewery incorporates scads of fresh coffee, chocolate malts and oats. This gives the beer a big ol' body, with enough roasty bitterness and chocolate complexity to savor come morning or night.

One staffer's devotion to Dad is well-documented. Photo: Sara Bonisteel.

Nationwide, Dads are opening boxes and saying, "Another tie ... great!"

Well, not that these propensities are limited to those with a Y-chromosome, but in the hot months we Slashfood staffers have spied our fathers grilling, talking about grilling, mowing the lawn, golfing or standing about yakking.

And why not? It's Father's Day. Dad's entitled. So whip up a Pop-Tail for the Father's Day brunch (if your dad does that) or simply hand him one of these Slashfood-approved elixirs while he's doing any of the above. Top ranking in the favorite son or daughter continuum is now assured.

Kat Kinsman Dad won't mind being put to work on his special day if it means he gets a chance to man the grill. (Well OK, mine hates grilling, but s'OK. A girl can 'cue for her dad, right, ladies?) Smoked fruit -- like lemons and cherries -- brings a satisfying Scotch-like note to summery drinks like lemonade and margaritas. And hey, so long as you and/or he are spending time smoking, you might as well toss a brisket or pork shoulder on the grate. It'd be a crime to waste all that wood. Try my recipe for Smoked Lemonade.

Rachel Been Billy Been is a simple drinker and a gardener, and usually goes for one of two drinking options -- a cold Foster's or a easy mixture of Scotch and soda. He always lets the ice melt a little too much, which seems to take the edge off of the beverage and the sight of his dying asparagus plants.