What dad doesn't like oysters and cheese?

A last-minute gift guide for the father figures in your lives!

Hello my friends, especially all the fathers…!

On Sunday it is Father’s Day, and I wanted to take today to raise a glass to all of you, who are fathers, step-fathers, grandfathers, and father figures. To be a father never comes with instructions…you learn as you go. Sometimes it can feel like all you do is make mistakes, and with three daughters, I know this feeling, believe me. 

Me and my daughters (with our good friend Carson Daly!)

So this post is for every dad that works as hard as he can to raise their children. This is for every dad that understands that the best they can do is to keep going, because our children look to us for an example. Together we can raise our children of the world to create a better tomorrow. Happy Father’s Day to all!

Now, many of you reading this may be thinking about what gift to give to your dad or the “dad figure” in your life. I think the best gift is an experience, to do something together, whether it’s a hike, a bike ride, cooking a meal, going to a concert, or maybe even you can give them an all-expenses paid trip to the local farmer’s market? Whatever you do on Sunday, just do it together!  

And if you want to put a ribbon on something, here I am sharing some ideas for gifts that I personally would love to get (so girls, if you are reading this…you know what I want!) 

This post is usually for subscribers but for Father’s Day I wanted everyone to have it…but this is the kind of thing that you will get if you want to sign up for an annual subscription…if that’s something you might like, please join us!

Wine from Virginia
You all must know by now that I love wine from Spain, but maybe you didn’t know that I also really love wines from Virginia? Well, I do! One of my favorite vineyards on the Monticello Wine Trail is Early Mountain, a beautiful 300 acre vineyard located in Madison, Virginia at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains owned by Jean & Steve Case (yes that Steve Case!). They helped during COVID, donating sales from their Rosé to World Central Kitchen, but it’s not just because they are kind and philanthropic people, I just love their Bordeaux style wines. You can get some easy young bottles like Vidal Blanc or the Five Forks blend of Petit Manseng & Sauvignon Blanc, or some bigger bodied reds like their Cabernet Franc and Merlot. My suggestion is to order a case where you can try it all: a few whites, a pet nat, some bubbles, a chillable red, and some bigger reds to round everything out. Your dad (and you, if he shares) will love these wines from Early Mountain for months to come! 

Oysters 
To go with all that wine (especially the crisp whites!) I don’t know any dad who would not love to slurp down some fresh oysters. I like to get a few dozen from E-Fish co-founded by my friend Jeff Tedmori. Jeff partners with small local fishermen to get the freshest fish direct from the sea to your kitchen. If you want great oysters, give Jeff a call. And tell him hi from José!

Cheese
If you know me, you know I love cheese—anything from Spain, anything from Maryland, sometimes from Vermont or California. You can find some delicious cheeses from Spain here—I’d probably go for Cabrales, from my home region of Asturias. Jasper Hill Farm up in Vermont has some beautiful cheeses as well, and they have been a wonderful supportive partner of World Central Kitchen over the years.

Vegetables
If you want to bring something very unexpected to the table for Father’s Day, a real surprise, then get him a box of vegetables from The Chef's Garden in Huron, Ohio. I guarantee no one will ever call your gift ordinary! Who gives their dad vegetables? You do! My old friend Farmer Lee Jones is like a vegetable whisperer, growing more than 600 beautiful varieties of vegetables and microgreens. Sign your dad up for his Vegetable of the Month Club, which he will get to enjoy and share over and over again all year long.  

Cookbooks
Cookbooks are always a brilliant gift idea for dads who love to cook and also for those who are just learning. You cannot go wrong with a copy of The Joy of Cooking, one of my all time favorite recipe collections that I just wrote about here on Longer Tables. If the dad in your life loves Mexican food, get him a copy of this wonderful new book called Asada: The Art of Mexican-Style Grilling by Bricia Lopez and Javier Cabral. It is an amazing book that gives you all you need to create an “asada” — a beautiful gathering of family, friends, music, drinks, good times, and community, all around smoky grilled meats spiced with the traditional flavors of Mexico. 

Tinned Fish
is always a great gift, and to go with a collection of conservas, get him this new book called Tin to Table, by Anna Hezel, a collection of creative easy recipes (my favorite kind!) for quick pop-open-a-can-and-eat snacks and meals.
If you can’t decide what book to get him, you can always give him a gift card to his (or your) favorite local bookstore. Here in DC, I love Bold Fork Books and Politics and Prose, or if you’re looking for a great cookbook store, look at SF’s Omnivore Books and LA’s Now Serving. 

Brunch
Brunch is for dads too! I know many many fathers who love nothing more than to go out for a big late morning meal…maybe you’d want to go for brunch at Spanish Diner in Bethesda and get the amazing huevos rotos, fried potatoes with jamón, or if you want something sweet, the torrijas! Or Zaytinya in New York, or San Laurel in LA, or Jaleo in Chicago, or, or, or…!

A Meal from…me!
Finally, if your Dad has good taste (which I’m sure he does!)...you can always go to our shop at Little Spain or to Goldbelly and pick up some food cooked by me and my team…maybe some of our amazing Txuleburgers (every dad’s dream is to bite into a Txuleburger, I promise you), a Paella Dinner Kit, or one of our Burnt Basque Cheesecakes! Or a Tapas Gift Box from Little Spain!

Happy Father’s Day!! What are your plans for the father figures in your life?