From automatic, grill-cleaning robots to a magic key that ages wine in seconds, here’s our Father’s Day gift guide for the food-loving dad in your life.
The Outdoor Pizza Oven by Kalamazoo ($6,795.00)
Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet brings old-world pizza oven cooking to the modern outdoor kitchen with this stainless steel gas-fired pizza oven. The countertop design requires no installation, and cooking temperatures are reached in as little as 20 minutes for the ultimate convenience. (More info)
The Grillbot ($129.95)
The Grillbot, which is pitched as the world’s first automatic grill cleaning robot, is not unlike the automatic, self-propelled vacuum cleaner: With its wire brushes, the small device will scrub and de-gunk dad’s barbecue grill with the press of a button, freeing him from the slavery of cleaning duty. (More info)
Brooklyn Brew Shop Beer Making Kit ($40)
The Brooklyn Brew Shop’s beer-making kit from the US was singled out from 1,757 products entered in a major food competition in Paris last year, winning an innovation prize for its “sophistication” composition and recipe. The 3 kg kit contains everything needed to turn household kitchens and garages into mini distilleries, including grains, hops, yeast, thermometer, glass fermenting jug, tubing clamp, airlock, and screw-cap stopper. (More info)
Coravin ($299)
This sophisticated wine opening system allows users to pour wines by the glass, leaving the cork intact and keeping the wine away from oxygen — enemy No. 1. Here’s how it works: first, a thin hollow needle pierces the cork to extract the wine. Then the bottle is pressurised with argon, pushing the wine through the needle so that it flows into the glass. Once the needle is removed, the cork will naturally reseal itself. That means consumers can enjoy different wines from different bottles without pulling the cork. Wines also boast longer shelf lives. This year, buy a Coravin for Father’s Day and dads get a free one-year subscription to Wine Spectator magazine. (More info)
Clef du Vin ($50)
At first glance they look rather unremarkable. But in actual fact, the Clef du Vin is made from a patented metal alloy that claims to be able to mimic the wine ageing process by dipping the stick in wine for just a few seconds. In fact, the claims are pretty bold: For every second, the alloy metal will mimic a year’s worth of ageing, softening the tannins and improving their taste, claim its French makers. The device can be used for whites, roses, reds, and sparkling wines. The Clef du Vin comes in pocket, service and bottle size models. (More info)
‘Franklin Barbecue: A Meat-Smoking Manifesto’ ($29.99)
Bon Appetit magazine called Franklin Barbecue in Austin, Texas, the best barbecue joint in the US in 2011. So when chef Aaron Franklin decided to write his first cookbook, it shot straight to the top on Amazon’s bestseller list within months of being published in April. Described as “the definitive resource for the backyard pitmaster,” the book is a great gift for dads who love to grill and play with fire. (More info)
