Happy Father's Day

Whether we call him Father, Dad, Pop, or something we dreamed up when we were just beginning to talk, he's the first #1 man in our life.

Here are some treats to give edible expression to our esteem:

Chips and Dips
Native Kjalii Foods makes three kinds of Fresh-Cut Tortilla Chips, fresh Fire-Roasted Salsas, and bottled Roasted Red and Green Salsas that will spice up his day.

Chipotle Chicken
Hopefully, he will share if you grill him Chipotle Chicken, made with a marinade of Art of Chipotle's Gourmet Chipotle Paste, citrus juices, garlic and spices.

Gourmet Jerky
If your Dad is always on the go, give him a gourmet snack that he can enjoy anywhere: SnackMasters Jerky. Tasty varieties like Ahi Tuna and Salmon, as well as Turkey and Beef (below).

Cherries
Light up Dad's face with the "cheerful fruit" -- cherries from C. J. Olson Cherries. There's just something about them that will make him smile.
Photo by Rodger Helwig.

Malted Milk Shake
Quench Dad's thirst and satisfy his sweet tooth with Robert Lambert's fantastic Malted Milk Shake.

Chili Relleno Casserole
If the whole family is coming over for Father's Day Brunch, make this easy and delicious Chili Relleno Casserole using Spicy Gravy. You can choose which one of the three sauces has the heat level to suit your family.

Quotable

When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years.
-- Mark Twain, "Old Times on the Mississippi," The Atlantic Monthly, 1874

Best Sandwich in New York City!

New York Magazine put the Smoked Brisket Sandwich at Fatty �Cue in Brooklyn at the top of its list of �The 101 Best Sandwiches in New York.� Pictured above.

The sandwich, on their weekend late-night menu, is made with Brandt Beef brisket and Cabot Cheddar, along with pickled onions, aioli, chili jam, and cilantro on toasted Parisi bread. �Fiendishly good,� raves the magazine. No kidding�.!

Primo picnic places

Picture yourself picnicking (or painting) overlooking the pond at Marin French Cheese (above), with one of their Rouge et Noir cheeses.

Treat yourself to a view like the one above while enjoying an Avocado & Cheese Sandwich, appropriately made with Mendocino Mustard. Then visit the Pt. Cabrillo Lighthouse (inset, above).

A loaf of bread, B. R. Cohn Olive Oil Company's Balsamic and Garlic Herb Dipping Oil, and a bottle of B. R. Cohn wine. Just add the "thou" for a complete picnic on the winery grounds (above).

For a delightful Humboldt County experience, pick up some Cypress Grove Chevre at Wildberries or Arcata Co-op, and picnic in the nearby Arcata Forest (above).

In the area around Fall River Mills, there are lots of picturesque picnic places, such as McArthur-Burney Falls or Lassen National Forest. Ideal picnic fare would be Wild Rice Artichoke Salad made with Fall River Wild Rice.

In Pt. Reyes Station pick up picnic supplies at Bovine Bakery. Then head to the lovely vistas of Pt. Reyes National Seashore, including Drakes Beach, above.

Big Apple, here we come

For the fourth year, gourmet food producers from SavorCalifornia.com are taking artisan products to New York for the Summer Fancy Food Show. We invite the trade to visit the Savor California Booth #480 (same location as in the past).

A special feature of the show is the awarding of the Gold Sofi's, the highest honor a gourmet food product can receive. Silver Finalists from the Savor California group were named in the May edition of "Savory News."

These companies will be in the New York 2010 Savor California booth:

Agave Dream
Luscious ice creams and sorbets are all-natural and sweetened with agave nectar, resulting in a guilt-free dessert with a low-glycemic index.

Amella Caramels
These delectable morsels, shown below, are all-natural, made with pure cocoa butter, the finest chocolate and real fruits and vegetables.

B & R Farms
Blenheim apricots are dried at the family ranch in Hollister California. Some are dipped in chocolate, and others are made into jams, toppings, and (my personal fave) chutney.

Donsuemor
French-inspired baked goods such as madeleines: traditional, chocolate dipped, lemon zest, chocolate and dipped chocolate. Newest goodies are French Almond Cakes and Cute Cakes, bite-sized mini cakes.

Scoma's
Scoma�s Salmon & Shrimp Cakes with Pacific Northwest Shrimp, pictured below, are frozen for heat-and-serve convenience and include mustard sauce base (just add mayonnaise).

Sparrow Lane
Every ingredient matters, so Sparrow Lane offers a choice of varietal vinegars, including Walnut Champage Vinegar, which is a Silver Finalist in the Fancy Food Show�s Sofi Award competition.

Taylor Brothers Farms
Harvested at the last possible moment for perfect flavor, Taylor Brothers organic dried plums, below, have a rich, sweet taste that packs a lot of health benefits too, including antioxidants and phytochemicals � a true superfood.

Father's Day gifts

If Dad could pick out his own gift, we're certain that he'd choose one of these:

Is he a little bit nutty? Then the perfect gift is the Nut Lovers Fudge Gift Box from Z. Cioccolato: Chocolate Walnut, Maple Walnut, Peanut Butter Praline, Caramel Pecan Cheesecake, Rocky Road, and Penuchi Pecan.

Sweet and spicy are a great combo in a dad--and in brittle. Butterfly Brittle makes Spicy Pecan Brittle and Zesty Pistachio Brittle.

For some dads, a day without licorice is a day without....(comparisons fail us). For them, the perfect gift is Black Ace Licorice from Moon Dance Baking.

Perfect for the gourmet dad: Susie Q's Artisan Foods's Red Gadget Box filled with their most popular products. He'll be ready to create authentic Santa Maria barbecue flavors in his own backyard.