Overview: We’re keeping things international this Father’s Day with favorite meals for dads around the world! Is your favorite dish on the list?
Celebrating Father’s Day seems to be synonymous with understanding what Dad likes to eat and making every dish back-to-back until he eats so much that he falls asleep. We’ve concluded that this is an unspoken universal rule.
Focusing on some of the world’s most popular cuisines, we’re covering food dads eat on Father’s Day from 5 different cultures:
Italy
France
Mexico
Greece
Thailand
And since you’re already here, be sure to stop by the marketplace to check out our upgraded meat department! We’re sure you’ll be inspired to make Dad an amazing Father’s Day deal meal with our new cuts of meat.
3 Italian baked goods for an extra sweet Father's Day
First off, did you know Father’s Day in Italy (as well as some other places you’ll be seeing on this list) is March 19th? We’re a little behind, but it’s the food that counts, right?
A substantial and tasty lunch is what we will always see on Italian tables when it comes to celebrating some special occasions, and Father’s Day is certainly no exception! But we’re staying away from the expected pizzas and lasagnas.
Polenta (click here for the “perfect” polenta recipe) is the perfect accompaniment to a wide range of meats, especially stewed meats, and it is arguably one of the most comforting foods you can eat when the temperatures drop in Italian cities. Look for it as a mush, or packed and fried into wobbly fritters.
In the South, you’ll find the zeppole di San Giuseppe (click here for a this famous culinary symbol of Father’s Day). Giuseppe is Italian for Joseph. Although there will be a Zeppole di San Giuseppe recipe that varies from Italian to Italian, they are mostly all the same.These are similar to the bigné, but larger, filled with custard and topped with black cherries.
The term “digestivo” or “digestive” does not refer to one drink, but a class of drinks that are enjoyed after a big meal with the aim of settling the stomach and helping you feel not-quite-so-full. Dad, get ready to drink up! the fact remains that you cannot say you have enjoyed a real Italian meal unless you top it off with a shot of the hard stuff. Popular digestives include limoncello, grappa, amaro, cynar, amaretto. If you’re feeling brave, click here for a tasty Strawberries in Sambuca recipe. Word of caution: Sambuca has enough alcohol to make a horse giddy.
3 authentic French meals to cook for dad (let's skip the breakfast)
French food is known around the world for its finesse and flavor, but how can you recreate these tastes at home? Well, first, focus on lunch or dinner. In France, breakfast is the least important meal of the day. For this reason, the ideal Father’s Day meal is a savory lunch or dinner.
Soupe à l’oignon is a traditional French soup made of onions and beef stock, usually served with croutons and melted cheese on top. If that isn’t hearty, we don’t know what is! Click here to get a full recipe using a slow cooker.
Coq au vin (make renowned chef Paul Bocuse’s recipe here) is quintessential French food that was popularized by Julia Child, becoming one of her signature dishes. The dish sees chicken braised with wine, mushrooms, salty pork or bacon (lardons), mushrooms, onions, garlic and sometimes even a drop of brandy.
Cassoulet is a comfort dish (also referred to as a peasant dish) made of white beans stewed slowly with meat. The dish typically uses pork or duck but can include sausages, goose, mutton or whatever else the chef has lying around. French chef Raymond Blanc’s cassoulet recipe can be viewed here.
3 Mexican meals dads eat on Father's Day
Just like almost every other festival and holiday that is celebrated in Mexico, food has an important role in the celebration of Father’s Day. Early in the morning there is an enormous meal prepared that includes all of Dad’s favorite foods. Try your hand at some of these recipes!
Chilaquiles is a traditional breakfast dish whipped together from leftover dinner tortilla and salsa. With stacks of fried tortilla chips, sauces, and layers of meat, veggies, and cheese, this hearty breakfast is the perfect companion to a lazy Sunday morning brunch with Dad. Watch the full recipe here.
You know you’re celebrating something special when you see a bowl of this classic stew on the table. Made with pork and hominy, pozole is normally eaten on special occasions, fiestas, or holidays — so Father’s Day. Click here to watch a video on how to make this classic Mexican dish!
Chiles en Nogada (get the recipe here) is an edible Mexican flag on a plate: a large roasted poblano chilli pepper stuffed with picadillo and bathed in nogada, a milky, walnut cream sauce, and sprinkled with ruby-red pomegranate seeds.
3 Greek foods dads eat on Father's Day
Greeks love their food. They love to eat and love to feed others. This is one place you’re guaranteed never to feel hungry — eating up to five times a day! With fresh local ingredients, these dishes are flavorsome and packed with a variety of fresh and dried herbs.
Probably the most famous Greek dish, moussaka consists of layers of fried aubergine (eggplant for us American folks), minced meat and potatoes, topped with a creamy béchamel sauce and then baked until golden brown. Get the recipe here.
Fasolatha (get the full recipe here) is another of Greece’s national dishes. This classic white bean soup is simple, yet hearty consisting of beans, crushed tomatoes, and vegetables such as onions, carrots and celery. It’s often flavored with thyme, parsley and bay leaves.
For a sweet treat, have Dad much on a Greek delicacy that is loved by children and adults alike — loukoumades. These are small fried doughnut-like balls drenched in honey syrup and sprinkled with various toppings such as cinnamon or crushed walnuts. Get your hands on these goodies by clicking here.
3 Thai treats dads eat on Father's Day
Thai cuisine contains a spectrum of flavors and textures so vast that no two dishes are ever the same. It’s versatility is perfect the dad with adventurous taste buds and a big appetite!
Tom Yum Goong (Spicy Shrimp Soup) is a bold, refreshing blend of fragrant lemongrass, chili, galangal, lime leaves, shallots, lime juice and fish sauce shapes this classic soup, giving it its legendary herbal kick. Succulent fresh prawns and straw mushrooms lend it body. For the full recipe, click here.
Pad Thai is the default international Thai dish! Your noodles of choice are steamed in a searing hot wok alongside crunchy beansprouts, onion and egg. Half its fun (and flavor) is in the quartet of accompanying condiments: fish sauce, sugar, chili powder and finely ground peanuts. The most authentic recipe you can find is right here.
Mango sticky rice is unarguably the most popular dessert in Thailand, and it’s quite simple! Chilled mangoes are sliced fresh before being put over steaming sticky rice. This concoction is then drenched in thick coconut milk. Watch how to make this simple, delicious dessert here.
