Fire Up the Grill for Father’s Day

Whether you’re gearing up to grill for the summer or planning a special Father’s Day feast, The Retreat at Mountain Brook Idea Specialists™ in Birmingham, Alabama, have you covered with recipes, tips, and techniques, as well as ideas for the perfect gift for dear old dad, puppy papas, and first-time fathers!

Safety First!

Before you light a fire at one of The Retreat at Mountain Brook’s outdoor grilling stations, make sure you’ve invested in some heat-resistant gloves. Business Insider named the Steven Raichlen Extra Long Suede Grill Gloves as their No. 1 pick of 2021, saying they’re “essentially oversized and reinforced welding gloves, and the most protective ones we’re tried.”

And, if you’re planning a nighttime cookout, you’ll want to get a GrillLight Stainless LED Tongs & Spatula set from The Cook Store of Mountain Brook so you won’t have to worry about losing sight of your shish kabob in the dark. Owner Wesley Lassen says it’s one of the things that flies off the shelf this time of year, along with a wooden grill cleaner that won’t shed fibers or chemicals that can contaminate your food.

Grill All The Things

Sure, we like the basics as well as anybody else. Hamburgers and hot dogs, sausages and steaks, chicken and fish – when you think about a poolside party, you probably start with “the meats.” After having some grilled Romaine lettuce and a fab grilled peach salad at one gathering a few years ago, our Idea Specialists™ basically tried to figure out what they could _not_ grill. The answer? If you invest in a good grill pan or basket, _not_ much! Check out the selection at Little Hardware in English Village’s Grill Shop when you get the chance.

This season, our mouths are watering for Southern Living’s updated version of a cookout classic: potato salad. Their version? Charred Okra-Potato Salad, seasoned with a hint of fresh thyme and tossed in a lemon-scallion vinaigrette. Yummy.

Subtle Salts & Other Seasoning

We’ve started following FoodFireFriends on Pinterest. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned pro, there’s sure to be something there for you, from grilling guides to equipment reviews, and, of course, recipes. We like their guidance on Himalayan Salt Block Grilling; what could be easier than setting a nice cut of beef down on a sanitary rectangle and having it do the salting for you? Because such salt is unrefined, the inclusion of multiple minerals and trace elements gives complexity and subtlety of flavor to foods cooked on a solid block of it.

If the dad in your life likes a little bolder taste, look no further than Penzeys on 18^th Street South in Homewood. Their various gift boxes contain some of their most popular meat, poultry, and fish seasonings, and there’s a salt-free option, as well. We just love the cute little minis contained in the Grill & Broil Red. And the store is still offering touch-free curbside pickup.

Pet Papas

The Retreat at Mountain Brook gets high marks from its residents for how truly pet-friendly this upscale apartment community is. So of course our Idea Specialists™ are going to have some Father’s Day gift ideas for all of those dedicated daddies of fuzzy babies. For dogs, the Snuffle Nosework Dog Mat recommended by the editors of The Strategist tops the list, and if CrossFit is a part of the family, too, then of course your good boy needs his own kettlebell!

For the kitty daddy, a gift certificate to Sheppard’s Pet Supply on Fourth Avenue South will do nicely. Owner Will Sheppard loves it when folks bring their pets in to visit the store, which he opened in October 2015, and which features high-end toys and treats in addition to raw and holistic foods (for dogs, too).

New Daddies

One of the most-asked-for gifts on Baby List’s registries right now is the Inglesina Fast Table Chair—perfect for when the first-time father wants to take his new little family out to eat instead of staying home to grill. The attachable chair’s padded seat is washable (a must!), and cleverly tucked in at the bottom is an integrated carrying bag.

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