Father’s Day Breakfast - For Dinner

Due to other commitments out of the area, Sunday’s Father’s Day celebrations were muted. However, after those other things were done, there was time for a dinner treat. My choice for this dinner was breakfast! We knew of a 24 hour diner in the area, which meant they served a 24 hour breakfast!

I’d been looking forward to this all day. Sunny side up eggs, scrapple, grits, and toast. I enjoyed all the social media posts from friends of burgers and steaks, but I was in no way disappointed in my dinner!

And we located a superb ice cream parlor. So, dessert too!

Cheers!

Father's Day Padrón and Knob Creek

We had "other than Father's Day" plans for Sunday, scheduled by a group we will travel with this fall. So my main Father's Day treat was had on Saturday. The first order of business for the day though was a visit to the hardware store for some screen door parts and plants to brighten the deck, and the subsequent chores that trip facilitated. It was late afternoon when we settled in to enjoy drinks and conversation.

Side thought: Why do so many organizations think nothing of scheduling non-related events or meetings on Father's Day? To do so on Mother's Day is generally unthinkable.

Colleen asked for an Old Fashioned which I prepared using Four Roses Single Barrel this time. The celebratory cigar had been decided upon in advance -- Padrón Family Reserve No. 45 Maduro. My bourbon selection required careful perusing of the shelves, before I finally picked the Knob Creek 12 Year Bourbon. 

The Padrón cigar was an indulgence well worth the price of admission. The 6" x 52 Nicaraguan puro features a chocolate brown, toothy wrapper. The cigar has an extreme box-pressed shape with very sharp corners. Even the three bands when removed kept their rectangular shape. This particular stick seemed be a looser pack than usual but the cigar kept a razor sharp burn line and stayed well lit through its entirety. Indeed I enjoyed it right down to the finger-threatening nub, after about 70 minutes of smoking time.

Padrón Family Reserve Maduro is a full-strength, full-bodied cigar. It kicks off with hefty spice, but that's quickly moderated by the rich notes of creamy chocolate, espresso, and caramel sweetness.  My sinuses rarely ever detect the flavors in the retrohale which so many cigar reviewers seem to prize. This was one of the few cigars that I have ever detected any spice in the retrohale. The flavors remain rich and consistent, with that underlying pepper spice remaining, but no bitterness, right to the end. 

The bottle of Knob Creek 12 Year Bourbon was one I happened to see at a VA ABC allocated drop last year. I've enjoyed it often. At 100 proof it's easy to sip and full of bourbon goodness. It certainly made a fitting pairing for the cigar. Rich notes of oak, vanilla, caramel, and cinnamon great the palate. The flavor profile is creamy with little heat and a long mouth coating finish. I found myself taking repeated sips at a quick pace as it was such an enjoyable libation. Of course the cigar was long enough to support a refill of my glass.

Besides the aforementioned Old Fashioned Colleen was enjoying, our celebration included homemade Orange Rosemary Shortbreads. These were one of the treats Colleen prepared for a gathering of friends a couple nights prior. Sadly there were only a couple left to enjoy. The savory citrus delights, traditionally served with afternoon tea, made an exceptional partnership with the bourbon, both served neat and as a cocktail. 

The afternoon weather could not have been anymore pleasant. The temperature in the mid-80's, low humidity, and a slight breeze had us sitting on the deck well past finishing both the cigar and the drinks. Enjoying the late afternoon and evening with a fine cigar, good drink, and the company of the woman who made me a father, was the perfect way to celebrate the occasion.

Cheers!

Five O'Clock Friday: Father's Day Weekend

Also known as "dad will grill dinner" day.

Happy Father's Day to all the dads. 

Cheers!

Father's Day

Here's wishing all the Dads out there a very Happy Father's Day.

Cheers!

Father's Day Marketing

Happy Father's Day. Let discuss your death.

Father's Day Porch Sitting

After Mass on Sunday, we drove out to Orange, VA for brunch at The Light Well. Coincidently, this was the same place Colleen and I enjoyed lunch on Mother's Day. The Light Well offers breakfast and lunch foods, along with a small but decent craft beer menu. We've enjoyed everything we've had there. This visit I opted to forgo beer with my lunch, saving that for my planned afternoon time to be spent sitting on the screened porch.

For my sittin' time, I grabbed a couple of unusual beers that had been waiting in the beer fridge, both from Flying Dog Brewery. Both beers were from the Brewhouse Rarities series, and seemed ideal for the warm, but pleasant outdoor time. The first beer was Berliner Weisse. The beer pours a bright golden color with a fizzy carbonation. The flavor has a refreshing tartness along with some earthy wheat backbone. I very much enjoyed this one.

Next I poured Mint Julep Ale. I'd been sitting on this one for a while. Other than then occasional York Peppermint Pattie, I am not a fan of mint. It's a long-running battle in my family regarding the appropriateness of mint to flavor chocolate ice cream. (I'm against it.) Flying Dog's Mint Julep Ale has a faint sweet bourbon aroma. The flavor brings notes of sweet honey, along with a mild yeastiness. The mint comes through in the flavor more than the aroma. It's a pleasing herbal, leafy mint flavor. This bottle I shared with Colleen since I knew my enjoyment of the mint would be limited.

After my beers, I came inside to find Colleen in the kitchen busily baking. She said something about a "Raspberry and Lemon Cake" to enjoy after the steaks planned for dinner. I decided I should save some room, and delay any further beers until after the evening's meals.

Father's Day

Just a suggestion for today's activities.

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there. Cheers!

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there...

Cheers!

Father's Day Finish

I didn't get to the range as I had hoped, as I chose the longer nap option in my plan. The waning hours of daylight were spent reading on the deck with Colleen and enjoying a Great Lakes Commodore Perry IPA. 

But the day wasn't over. There was yet another treat planned by my lovely wife.

Uff da! I might have to dust off the treadmill this week.

Father's Day Plans

What is ahead on this day for Dads?

For starters, I'm up at 5:30AM to head over to the church to help set up for the Father's Day pancake breakfast — being served after the morning Masses, and served by Fathers themselves. Our event is a fundraiser for charity in addition to a time for parish families to get together for some socializing. It will be a busy morning but the coffee will be strong and the company enjoyable.

After Mass I'll sit down and enjoy the meal with my family too. After that respite, it will be back to helping out with the breakfast duties.

Once that event is finished, this dad will probably take a mid-afternoon nap, a rare treat indeed. Maybe later today I'll be able to squeeze in a quick trip to the range. It would be fun to put a few rounds downrange. Or maybe I'll just take a longer nap.

Later in the evening I expect to be attending to lamb chops on the grill and relaxing with a good beer or two.

Yea, that all sounds good.

I hope your plans for the day include just as much fun.

Happy Father's Day to my own Dad, and to all you Dads out there!