When Dad has all the cordless drills and crazy neckties he’ll ever need, it can be tough to choose a gift he’ll like. For Father’s Day this year, why not give him something that’s always welcome and never goes out of style?
This gift comes in all sizes, suits all types and personalities, and is guaranteed to make Dad proud. Always timely, it offers a perfect way to celebrate Father’s Day in style, while spending precious time together.
Whether breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner, a gala meal out provides a simple solution to the ongoing dilemma of what to give Dad. And just watch his eyes light up with delight when you spring for the tab.
For an early morning repast, take Pop to Pappy’s at 1275 E. Betteravia Road (922-3553). A local landmark, Pappy’s Restaurant has been dishing up heaping portions of home-cooked food since 1959.
Famed for its traditional Western/American fare, Pappy’s offers everything from eggs Benedict to shrimp and avocado omelets drizzled with hollandaise sauce. Regional favorites include huevos rancheros with generous helpings of rice and beans, and tri-tip omelets stuffed with peppers, pinto beans, and creamy jack cheese.
Pappy’s cooks do their grilling in the parking lot over a red oak fire, and the scent of sizzling beef wafting through the air never fails to make mouths water. Stay for lunch and enjoy a plate of juicy tri-tip, spicy beans, and savory salsa, Santa Maria style.
Mother’s Day usually garners all the hoopla of Champagne and flowers, but this year the Radisson Hotel Santa Maria has pulled out all the stops to stage a lavish Father’s Day brunch. Complete with bubbly beverages—both sparkling wine and beer—the array of delicious edibles will have Dad eating like a king.
Dishes include classic fare, such as scrambled eggs, bacon, and biscuits and gravy, as well as omelets made to order. The waffle bar features the freshly made treats, along with extravagant toppings like whipped cream, strawberries, chocolate chips, coconut flakes, and rainbow sprinkles.
At the seafood station, dig into all-you-can-eat shrimp, oysters on the half shell, Dungeness crab legs, clams, mussels, and smoked salmon. For meat eaters, the carving station has orange glace ham, tri-tip with salsa, and herb-roasted prime rib.
Lighter eaters will find a selection of cheeses, fresh fruit, green salad, and coleslaw, while dessert lovers can satisfy a sweet tooth with a tempting assortment of éclairs, cheesecake, pastries, and pies.
Of course, there will be chilled juices and Champagne, sparkling apple cider, and lots of hot coffee. The price of the meal includes one glass of draft beer per adult, so suds lovers can choose from Firestone Double Barrel Ale, Fat Tire, or Pyramid Hefeweizen.
If you’ve played golf with Dad, or maybe cleaned out the garage as a token of your affection, you’ll probably want to cap off the day with a memorable dinner. Dad will happily join you at the world famous Far Western Tavern (899 Guadalupe St., Guadalupe, 343-2211), an eatery that has been serving succulent steaks for more than half a century. The restaurant will move to Old Town Orcutt in the spring of 2012, so this is a perfect opportunity to enjoy one last outing at the vintage location.
Start with a sweet tumbleweed onion (battered, deep fried, and dipped in Rosalie’s red sauce) or maybe a platter of the house specialty: crispy mountain oysters in a tangy cocktail sauce. Less daring diners might want to try the Florentine mushroom caps or a refreshing shrimp cocktail.
Beef entrees range from the Far Western’s signature bull’s eye steak (a tender, boneless ribeye) to cowboy-cut top sirloin, which comes in both 8- and belt-busting 14-ounce portions. Also on the menu are baby back ribs, center-cut pork chops, and jumbo shrimp scampi, all sure to please a hardworking father who deserves the best on his special night out.
If you really want to dazzle Dad, consider cruising the South Pacific with Orcutt’s own Chef Rick of Chef Rick’s Ultimately Fine Foods (4869 S. Bradley Road, 937-2273). The chef has teamed with Paul Gauguin Cruises to offer a once-in-a-lifetime tour of Tahiti and the Society Islands.
The trip doesn’t take place until fall, but you could spring the surprise over dinner at the chef’s cozy, storefront restaurant. Order up some Creole jambalaya, dirty rice, and a big salad, and start planning an exotic getaway in honor of Father’s Day.
Time flies and nothing in life lasts forever, so take advantage of every opportunity to spend fun time with loved ones. Whether it’s Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, or any day at all, take your folks out for a wonderful meal and to make it extra special, go ahead and grab the tab.
K. Reka Badger will happily let you grab the tab anytime. E-mail her at rekabadger@hotmail.com.
This article appears in Jun 16-23, 2011.