Grill Up a Treat for Dad on His Day

By: Denise Romeo

Thanks to the nagging of the greeting card, flower and candy industries, Mother’s Day has become indelibly etched in our collective consciousness as a holiday not to be forgotten – the guilt would be too excruciating. But Father’s Day, which falls several weeks later, is often commemorated with only a card and perhaps a ubiquitous (and most likely hideous) tie to celebrate the occasion. Given all that our fathers have endured over the child-rearing years – endless games of catch, Christmas Eves spent sweating over the assembly of a variety of gifts (with instructions in German), forced politeness toward dates with odd hairdos, and teaching us how to parallel park – Dad clearly deserves better. So, on his day, let’s give him what he really wants: the chance to relax, have fun and, to top it all off, enjoy a big juicy steak that he has grilled to his exact taste.

To this end, what better Father’s Day gift than grilling tools or even better a new grill? And, what better place to shop for grills and accessories than our neighborhood’s Intown ACE Hardware? With a selection of Weber grills and grilling equipment, there’s something for every Dad. Intown ACE Hardware also carries the full line of Big Green Egg cookers and accessories. Resident grillmaster Phillip Ramsey is a proponent of the Big Green Egg for its versatility; “You can cook almost anything on an Egg. You have the ability to control the temperature far better than any other grill on the market.” An added benefit to cooking on a Big Green Egg is that you don’t heat up your kitchen on a hot summer day. His favorite example of the Egg’s flexibility is a grilled chocolate pecan pie:

1 cup dark corn syrup

3 large eggs, beaten

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

¼ cup bourbon

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup chopped pecans

1 (9-inch) pie shell

Set the Egg for indirect cooking with the plate setter positioned with its legs down. Preheat the BGE to 400°F.

Using a wooden spoon, mix the com syrup, eggs, butter, brown sugar, bourbon, and flour in a medium bowl until combined. Add the chocolate and pecans and blend well. Pour the filling into the pie shell.

Place the pie plate on the plate setter. Close the lid of the BGE and bake for 45 minutes, or until the filling is set and the pie is golden brown. Remove the pecan pie from the grill and let cool completely, then refrigerate.

Don’t have a Big Green Egg? Don’t despair! You can bake the pie in a traditional oven for your Dad or you can try these pecan hand-pies that can be cooked on a traditional grill.

For tips on selecting the perfect grilling equipment for Dad, head over to Intown ACE Hardware and chat with Phillip or visit ACE Hardware’s online Guide to Grills and Outdoor Cooking.

Local food blogger Denise Romeo has lived in the Virginia-Highland area for 23 years. She and her husband, Dom, enjoy spending time together cooking and entertaining. You can read more from Denise on her award winning blog at We Like To Cook!