Blogs

Father’s day and their little chefs

This Father’s day is a little different to normal. Some of us are not able to see our Dads in person, and there will definitely be no visits to the pub! I asked some of our chefs how they will be spending the day and what makes Father’s Day special for them.

Phil Leicester

This year, Father’s day couldn’t look any stranger for me and my family. If anything, it will be a nice change to not be stressing over long division or googling fronted adverbials…for my 7 year old!

Parenting seems to have changed how it looks over a very short period of time. We have had more time together, finding things to do at home which are not device-based. Who would have thought that Dick and Dom, along with CBBC would be a blessing!

A positive from of the lock-down is having more time cooking with my children. Watching their interest in new foods and cooking grow has been great. It’s fair to say that I have learnt from them too. They’ve shown me how the simple pleasure in life of eating and preparing food together can bring families closer.

This year’s Father’s Day will be different to normal. I’m handing the kitchen over to the kids and hopefully showing some restraint as I avoid intervening, to ‘show them how it should be done’. It’s anyone’s guess what I’ll be eating. For those who can’t see their Dad, which fortunately now I can, food is an amazing way to think of and honour that man! My wife sadly lost her father 6 weeks ago. He was well-travelled man who was and enjoyed eating in good restaurants. His favourite dish would never be compromised, so this Father’s Day in honour of my father in law strawberry trifle will be on the menu.

Raouf Mansour

I have always insisted that Father’s Day isn’t a big deal to me. I usually overhear my kids planning it a few days in advance, but the truth is I want to celebrate the occasion with them as much they do.

I do most of the cooking at home (my wife calls it the perk of being married to a chef), one of the few exceptions is Father’s Day. Usually the kids and my wife will club together to cook breakfast and dinner. I have to be honest the day does fill me with dread. By the end the kitchen looks like a hurricane has passed through it, as they use every pot, pan and utensil they can put their hands on!

The day always starts with a filter coffee served in my favourite mug followed by pancakes, plain and drizzled with honey, topped with any summer berries they find in the fridge. After a family walk around town, it’s back home to start the dinner preparations.

Zaatar or chermoula slow cooked lamb is usually on the menu. Weather permiting, it’s on the BBQ with a variety of mezzes to go with it. From a simple traditional hummus to a more-ish baba ganoush, marinated olive and feta cheese and sea salt fried padron peppers, all served with a selection of salads. My Mum’s turchi recipe (carrot salad) is bound to be included along with my beloved Mechwiya salad (grilled Tunisian salad of green peppers, vine tomato, red onion and garlic). My sister’s recipe of Nigella seeds and fennel flat bread will definitely be included, but most of the kitchen surfaces will end up covered in flour!

We as a family love this style of food as it is sociable and everybody is involved. The day is not only a Father’s day celebration but a celebration of our heritage. Our family bonds shown through the medium of food, with recipes passed from generation to generation. I could not be more proud of my little ones!

Tadfiq Ajani

For me Father’s Day has always been about the breakfast. When my two boys were little their mum would help them make me scrambled eggs on toast or a bacon sandwich and bring it to me up in bed. As they got older and could follow a recipe themselves, they’d present me with a stack of pancakes with maple syrup. A few years ago, I received a waffle maker for my Father’s Day gift (not sure if it was actually for me or for them!) And now they’ve advanced to blueberry waffles. It’s one thing I can guarantee they’ll always get right. What do we do for the rest of the day? Usually slob out, full of waffles!

Pete Redman

Father’s Day is always quite special to me. I see it as a day to be a kid again but with my two boys. I always end up doing whatever they like.

We cook together a lot at the moment. We will make our own take on our guilty pleasures like burgers, pizza or fried chicken. And it will no doubt finish off with the boy’s signature version of an artic roll, but a double chocolate version!

Two of the things that bring me the most happiness are mucking about with my boys and cooking. Combining them in any way is all I could ask for on Father’s Day, and a lay in, but that’s a long shot!

Treat your Dad this Father’s day with Adam Byatt’s tasty Cacio e Pepe recipe. Follow along as he cooks it on our YouTube channel.