Father’s Day Gift Guide

By Leslie Dinaberg

Dads are notoriously hard to buy presents for, so here are a few Father’s Day gift suggestions that are sure to make him smile.

Daditude by Chris Erskine.

Daditude by Chris Erskine.

Daditude

Beloved Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune Columnist Chris Erskine‘s collection of essays about the joys and absurdities of modern fatherhood are sure to make any dad smile. As the promo says, “This handsome book is the perfect gift for the father who would have everything—if he hadn’t given it all to his kids.” Click here for more information.

Jackalope Beer Soap, photo by Leslie Dinaberg.

Jackalope Beer Soap, photo by Leslie Dinaberg.

Jackalope Beer Soap

An intoxicating way for dad to start his day, these Jackalope Beer Soap bars from Little Seed Farm are an all-natural way to give his morning shower a little extra kick! The Bourbon BarBearwalker Beer BarRompo Beer Bar and Thunder Ann Beer Bar are hand-crafted from fresh, raw goat’s milk produced on Little Seed Farm’s own dairy herd, in collaboration with a local distillery and brewery located in Nashville, Tennessee. Spent grains from the brewing process are added to each bar of soap, giving it a nice solid texture he’s sure to enjoy. www.littleseedfarm.com

Broo Shampoo, courtesy @Brooshampoo Instagram.

Broo Shampoo, courtesy @Brooshampoo Instagram.

BRÖÖ Craft Beer Shampoo

Continuing with the beer theme, BRÖÖ Craft Beer harnesses the power of all-malt, freshly-hopped craft beer in the form of a shampoo that dad is sure to enjoy. People have rinsed their hair with beer for ages, and this home-brewed remedy is brimming with B vitamins, proteins, and minerals to make his hair shiny, healthy and strong. broo.com

ZEROWater filter pitcher, courtesy photo.

ZEROWater filter pitcher, courtesy photo.

ZeroWater Filtration Pitcher

Perfect for the environmentally conscious and economically minded dad, eco-friendly ZeroWater filtration devices turn tap water into the equivalent of purified bottled water without the expense or waste of plastic bottles. Available in 8-cup, 10-cup and 20-cup dispensers. www.zerowater.com

DAZI Socks, courtesy photo.

DAZI Socks, courtesy photo.

DAZI Socks

Colorful, fun socks are a great way for even the most conservative dad to jazz up his look—and his mood. Whether he’s relaxing on the weekend, going to work, or dressed up for a night out, help him put his best foot forward with DAZI’s fashionable and comfortable men’s socks. This line features unique designs that are fun, but not over-the-top, to wear with almost any look. www.daziusa.com

Bindle Bottle, photo by Leslie Dinaberg.

Bindle Bottle, photo by Leslie Dinaberg.

Bindle Bottle

A clever gift for the dad who likes to travel light. The Bindle Bottle holds 24 ounces of his favorite beverage—keeping drinks hot or cold for hours—along with small necessities such as chapstick, keys and headphones in the bottom stash area. Plus the name is cool: “Bindles” were once used by train hoppers to carry their essentials on their shoulders as they went off on their next adventure—your dad is sure to love this gift as he goes off on his. bindlebottle.com

Happy Father’s Day!

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on June 12, 2018.

Cocktail Corner: Eureka!

Eureka Holy Smokes cocktail, courtesy photo

Eureka Holy Smokes cocktail, courtesy photo

A spirited toast to all things alcoholic!  By Leslie Dinaberg

Conveniently situated just a hop, skim and jump away from our office, Eureka! (located at 601 Paseo Nuevo in the downtown mall) is one of my go-to places to grab a quick drink after work, and a slew of new menu items make it an even better place to drink and dine these days.

In addition to an extensive selection of American beers on tap, the cocktail program at Eureka! revolves around the restaurant’s commitment to serving all-American premium products, including over 40 small batch whiskeys, served straight, on the rocks or in one of their signature cocktails. Try a Whiskey Sour, an Old Fashioned or the Holy Smokes! with Buffalo Trace Bourbon, tart cherry liqueur, maple syrup, Aztec chocolate bitters, then smoked in house with hickory chips.

Eureka Butcher’s Flat Iron Dip, courtesy photo.

Eureka Butcher’s Flat Iron Dip, courtesy photo.

On the food side of the menu, the Butcher’s Flat Iron Dip topped with caramelized onions, pickled Fresno chiles, horseradish mustard aioli, Havarti, and side of au jus is delicious, as is the new Turkey Chipotle Burger with charred tomato salsa, avocado, feta, and arugula. 

Eureka Turkey Chipotle Burger, courtesy photo.

Eureka Turkey Chipotle Burger, courtesy photo.

On the appetizer side, try the Mac N’ Cheese Balls, a fun twist on an old favorite. I’m also a fan of the Osso Buco Riblets with sherry braised pork and firecracker aioli sauce, as well as the Lollipop Corn Dogs made with Polish sausage and a sweet corn batter and served with spicy porter mustard. All of the new—and classic—menu items, pair well with beer or whiskey, as does the new Bourbon Barrel Cake with candied pecans, caramel, and vanilla bean ice cream.

Eureka Whiskey Sour, courtesy photo.

Eureka Whiskey Sour, courtesy photo.

Father’s Day is coming up soon (June 18) and Eureka! has got a special treat for all of the whiskey-loving dads out there. Guests who celebrate Father’s Day will receive a complimentary engraved whiskey glass for dad, with any whiskey cocktail purchase.

Cheers! Click here for more Cocktail Corner columns.

Eureka Mac 'n Cheese Balls, courtesy photo.

Eureka Mac ‘n Cheese Balls, courtesy photo.

Eureka Bourbon Barrel Cake, photo by Leslie Dinaberg.

Eureka Bourbon Barrel Cake, photo by Leslie Dinaberg.

Leslie Dinaberg

When she’s not busy working as the editor of Santa Barbara SEASONS, Cocktail Corner author Leslie Dinaberg writes magazine articles, newspaper columns and grocery lists. When it comes to cocktails, Leslie considers herself a “goal-oriented drinker.”

Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons on June 9, 2017.

A Holiday for Dad

© Vasic | Dreamstime Stock Photos & Stock Free Images

© Vasic | Dreamstime Stock Photos & Stock Free Images

This Father’s Day: It’s All About Me

Searching for the perfect Father’s Day gift? Men are always so hard to buy for. Plus, let’s face it, unless it’s a 500-foot plasma screen or comes from Victoria’s Secret, they pretty much have the same, “uh thanks” reaction to any gift you buy them. That’s why this year I’ve come up with a brand new philosophy about Father’s Day gift buying: it’s all about me.

My first suggestion was that my husband take our son away for the weekend to do manly things, thus leaving me with the house to myself. “How about a father-son camping trip?” I suggested sweetly. “You could go fishing, hiking, maybe even rock climbing. It would be a great bonding experience.”

My husband thought I was kidding about the camping trip, which in retrospect isn’t all that surprising, given that his idea of “roughing it” usually involves a golf club. Once I got him to stop laughing, I suggested he teach Koss to play golf– thus another way of leaving me with the house to myself for long periods of time. Perhaps they could golf in Palm Springs or Pebble Beach, or an affordable place like Bakersfield, I hear it’s lovely this time of year.

He laughed again. He still didn’t realize that I was serious. This Father’s Day was finally going to be all about me.

I tried another tactic. If they weren’t going to leave the house, there were all kinds of excellent father-son bonding opportunities right under our own roof. “How about steam cleaning the carpets, painting the bedroom or organizing the pantry,” I suggested sweetly.

That time they both laughed–hard, until milk came out of their noses–like they thought I was kidding or something.

Maybe they didn’t want to be indoors all weekend. I tried again. “You could fix the fence together, or build a hot tub, or plant a rose garden and then strew petals all around the house.” More snorting. Honestly, you’ve got to be so patient with the male species sometimes.

“What about building that shed you’ve been talking about for the past seven years? Then you could clean out our storage unit and maybe even have a garage sale.”

I liked that idea a lot. If they did the garage sale then they could use the money to send me on little getaway to a spa or something.

Suddenly, the light bulb I keep on my head for these occasions lit up: I finally had the perfect Father’s Day gift idea! I would send my husband and son on a little trip to massage-therapy-gourmet-cooking school.

Brilliant. I’m sure I’m not the only one here who knows that when I’m happy, then everyone’s happy (I know there must be some corollary to that, I just can’t think what). And what could make my hubby happier than having me blissed out on massages and food? What can I say, I’m a giver. Happy Father’s Day!

Originally appeared in the Santa Barbara Daily Sound on June 15, 2007