Foodie Daddy's Father's Day 2010 Gift Ideas

Foodie Daddies just like myself bank on a few, very reliable tools in the kitchen. Three to be exact. The knife. The pan. The coffee machine. All are vital. Each is essential. Without one, entire meals fail.

The natural extension of my arm is my knife. If there is not a sharp knife in the kitchen, it really is not a kitchen. It is a crucial part of food prep and without it, you may as well make reservations for dinner. I use everyday a ten-inch Shun chef's knife that will set you back a couple of hundred bucks ($265 on Amazon) but there are still others I keep close in the drawer. If you really want to validate Dad's role in the kitchen, nothing says pro like a Henckel and at about $50, an 8-inch Chef's knife says "Keep doing what you're doing." The Santoku is a knife that is multipurpose with a cool Asian name and for about $30, the Victorinox Fibrox 7-Inch Granton Edge Santoku Knife is a great place to start.

I've used pans like a rented gong. Beat 'em up and pitch them. I've made countless Teflon pans into recyclable aluminum billet. I do have one pan that I hold high and praise. It has cooked over 30,000 meals by my calculation and still is number one in the pile. An All-Clad LTD 10" saute pan will set you back a bit over a hundred bucks but will service your mans' pan needs for the rest of his life - and the next two generations. For a half-price solution, look at the Cuisinart 8-inch GreenGourmet saute pan. This is no Teflon pan. This is ceramic non-stick and I honestly rarely wash it because it is so non-stick! Eggs are a pleasure in the morning and Salmon is easily crisped for dinner. This pan is well worth it's weight and and lives on the stove--not under counter. Twenty bucks on Amazon.

My wife tells me that our coffee machine fends off divorce. I can see why. Neither of us are at top speed first thing in the morning and certainly look the part. If I can only provide her and me with a hot and fresh caffeinated beverage first thing, the day starts in the right direction. The K-Cup has become our own personal coffee shop and Daddy is the new Barista! For about $120, the Keurig coffee machine is a marriage made in heaven. Everyone gets the coffee they want right now. Sure the cups are a bit pricey--but when Mom is happy, Dad is happy!