3 weeks ago
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A park-friendly barbecue kit (with wagyu and cumin lamb skewers included), an illustration of his favourite pub and a big bucket of pickles – plus more food gifts that Dad didn’t know he wanted.
Dads can be a tough bunch to buy for – especially when their top drawer is already bulging with checkered socks and hankies. He might say he has everything he needs, but let’s be honest: he probably doesn’t have Firepop’s DIY BBQ kit or a custom illustration of his favourite pub. Here are a few delicious things he never knew he wanted.
Firepop’s DIY BBQ kit, $220
Dad might already have a barbecue – but does he have one that he can take to the beach or park, and toss in the compost when he’s done? Firepop’s DIY BBQ Kit comes with everything he needs for an outdoor cook-up, including a single-use, eco-friendly compostable charcoal grill as well as 18 skewers to throw on it: 10 sesame and cumin lamb skewers and 8 Blackmore wagyu beef skewers, plus a chilli and spice mix to sprinkle on top. Each kit includes a bottle of Grenache-Mourvedre blend and a custom playlist curated by Sydney’s DJ Levins.
A picture of your Dad’s favourite pub by Jo Illustrates
It could be a restaurant where he celebrated a big milestone, or just the local bowlo where he spends his weekends. Jo Illustrates turns iconic venues, including restaurants, bars, pubs and houses into beautiful frame-worthy illustrations. Browse her range of prints online or at Batch Brewing Co., or commission a custom drawing of Dad’s special place.
Ester Mini Bar Full Flight Set, $79.90
You might’ve seen Ester’s brightly coloured bottles behind the bar at top Sydney restaurants such as Quay, Sean’s and Continental Deli. Now, the Marrickville distillery has bundled some of its bestsellers into a gift pack – perfect for the gin-loving father. Each pack includes a Dry and Strong Ester Gin, alongside three gin cocktails – the Ester Negroni, Ester Mandarin Gimlet and Ester Martini – crafted in Sydney by founders (and former chefs) Felix Clark and Corinna Kovner.
King of Pickles & Spices box, $15 per kg
Is your Dad the king of pickles? Build him a custom bucket of all his favourite sour and briny snacks from this deli and grocer in Fairfield. There are green, black or spicy olives, stuffed cucumbers, marinated artichokes and pickled turnips, cauliflower, beetroot or beans. The store also sells mixed nuts and sweets such as Turkish delight, baklava and halva – all Dad approved classics.
114 Ware Street, Fairfield
The Grand Sunday Roast at The Gidley, $160pp
A traditional roast lunch is always a winner on Father’s Day – even better when you don’t have to cook it yourself. To mark the occasion, The Gidley is putting on a four-course lunch, which centres on an English-style rib roast served with potato gratin, creamed spinach and an iceberg salad. To finish, a warm apple crumble with Grand Marnier custard will send him straight to the armchair for an afternoon nap. The Gidley’s Grand Sunday Roast will be held on Sunday, September 7 at a price of $160pp.
liquidandlarder.com.au/venues/the-gidley
HexClad Hybrid Japanese Omelette Pan, $135
If your old man fancies himself a bit of a chef in the kitchen – or simply loves a bento box for lunch – he’ll appreciate this tamagoyaki omelette pan. You don’t need to be a sushi master to turn out soft, custardy Japanese tamago – you just need this specially designed rectangular pan, made from HexClad’s signature blend of stainless steel and ceramic non-stick.
Bar Planet Dad Pack, $100
Two solid gifts, bundled at 20 per cent off – whether you’re buying them for Dad or keeping them for yourself. Bar Planet Dad Pack includes a blue souvenir cap with adjustable back ($39.99) and a 500ml bottle of its house martini ($80). It’s the same martini they pour at the bar, made from Infinite Spirit – a custom half-gin, half-vodka spirit made by Hickson House Distilling – Noilly Prat French vermouth and a twist of lemon.
Our favourite Father’s Day recipes
You don’t have to dine out to get Dad’s tick of approval. Nothing beats a home-cooked meal, so we’ve rounded up our top recipes for a Sunday lunch or dinner. There’s Neil Perry’s stacked double beef, bacon and cheeseburger, plenty of roasts (and roast potatoes), mac and cheese and more. See the full list of recipes here, and save your favourites to your own “Father’s Day” collection on the Good Food app.
Mud Australia’s Porcelain Egg Cup, $50
Egg cups are not just for kids. Mud Australia’s ceramic versions are crafted from porcelain clay sourced from Limoges and shaped and glazed in Sydney. If you want to make Dad’s morning, pair it with a soft-boiled egg and buttered soldiers. Available in 20 colours, including yolk yellow and duck egg blue.
LP’s Organic Smoked Maple Syrup, $18/$70
While pancakes might be the obvious application, this sweet, smoky syrup makes a delicious addition to marinades, glazes and sauces of all kinds. To make it, LP’s Quality Meats takes organic Canadian maple syrup, then smokes it over ironbark from the Blue Mountains. It’s available in a 200ml bottle ($18) or a one-litre tin for ($70), which you can pick up from LP’s Quality Meat’s Marrickville factory, or Bella Brutta Takeaway in Newtown – or order online.
Model Employee of Leisure Tea Towel, $19.99
Anyone who doesn’t appreciate a beautiful souvenir tea towel deserves to be whipped with one. This isn’t a hint that Dad should do the dishes – just a great-looking organic cotton tea towel from Bob Hawke’s Beer & Leisure Centre, that celebrates Aussie nostalgia and a love of beer.
Star Hill Farm American Wheat Whisky, $380
Here’s one bottle Dad definitely doesn’t already have in his liquor cabinet: Star Hill Farm, the first-ever wheat whisky from the Maker’s Mark distillery in Kentucky, and only just released in Australia. A blend of seven- and eight-year-old whiskies, it’s bottled uncut at cask strength, with notes of buttery caramel and golden raisins on the nose, and honeyed toffee and chocolate-covered cherries on the palate. The 2025 release is available now at select retailers nationwide.
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