Whether your dad considers themselves a true foodie or just loves a good feed, a nice wine and dine experience is always an appreciated gift. The fact is, dads are notoriously difficult to buy presents for because they usually see something they like and immediately buy it for themselves — that’s why they often get stuck with socks and jocks.
This Father’s Day, though, we’ll be treating our dads to a tasty trip out of the house, with wine tastings, steak dinners and Italian degustation feasts. Here are a few we’re shopping.
Three-Course Steakhouse Dinner With Wine
If your dad is a steak and three vege kind of person, this three-course steak dinner ($158 for two people) with a paired wine at Meat and Wine Co is a no-brainer. While the specific menu changes regularly, you can expect starters of bruschetta, pork belly, and Szechuan calamari, then a main of grain-fed 150-day Shorthorn rump steak (or chicken, lamb shoulder, and roasted harissa cauliflower), plus veggie sides and dessert to finish. While this particular deal is for Sydney, RedBalloon has a similar deal in every Australian state, so no dad needs to go without this year.
Six-Course Seafood Italian Degustation
If you’re located in Sydney, there’s no better place to treat your loved ones than with a long lunch down at Woolloomooloo Wharf. This six-course degustation ($250 for two people) is at one of our all-time favourite restaurants, Otto, and the menu is stacked with sourdough crostini, pepper-crusted yellowfin tuna, saffron and prawn linguini, plus two dessert options to finish.
Beer Tasting and BBQ Smoking Cooking Class
Cooking classes are always a fun way to bond with someone you love (while also picking up a new skill) and we bet Dad would love to hop along to this beer tasting and BBQ smoking class ($145 per person) with you this Father’s Day. The three-hour session is lead by a professional chef and they’ll teach you how to cook a four-course meal (including smoked beef short ribs, pulled hickory chicken tacos, and smoky potatoes), while sipping on a frosty beer and picking at some tasty snacks.
Modern Australian Lunch at Dunbar House
When in doubt, choosing an experience that has a view is a safe bet. This Modern Australian lunch for two ($130) overlooks the pristine Watsons Bay and includes three courses, plus a glass of wine, beer or soft drink. The menu at Dunbar House is easy to navigate, with share plates, small, and large plates that take advantage of Sydney’s seaside location, with cured salmon, pan-fried barramundi and prawn linguine all making an appearance (basically, all our favourite things).
Wine Blending Workshop
The art of wine blending is combining different drops to create a wine that’s better than each of the individual wines on its own. In this 90-minute workshop at City Winery in Brisbane ($135) per person), your dad will learn how to do exactly that, and they’ll also get to bottle, seal and take home their custom wine at the end of the class.
Chef-Hatted Degustation
For dads who know their confit from their consommé, a seven-course degustation ($258 for two people) at hatted restaurant Deer Duck Bistro will knock his (recently gifted) socks off. Tucked away on Brisbane’s Auchenflower, Deer Duck Bistro is a mix of old-world charm and modern classics done well. Dad will start the meal with an amuse bouche, and end on a green apple parfait, and there’ll be plenty of dishes to wake up his taste buds in between.
Dumpling Masterclass
In this two-hour dumpling cooking class ($139 per person), you’ll learn the art of creating the perfect dumpling dough and shaping it into perfect little parcels of joy. Not only will you have all ingredients supplied (courtesy of Victoria Street Markets), but you’ll also receive expert instructions to ensure a successful dumpling result and plenty of dumplings to snack on throughout and at the end of the class.
To check out all the wine and dine experiences you can shop this Father’s Day, head to the RedBalloon website.
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