Father's Day is fast approaching and the time has come to get organised. Here are 10 suggestions for the foodie father figure in your life to enjoy on Sunday, September 6.
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If you're after a casual lunch in the Hunter Valley, book a table at Iron Gate Kitchen in Pokolbin. The newly-opened, Spanish-inspired kitchen has a Mediterranean menu designed to be shared: tapas, oysters, delicious wood-fired flatbreads (filled with either onion jam, goats cheese, thyme and hot honey; white anchovy, picada, kipfler chips and lemon; or chorizo, house-made stracciatella and sage); and a selection of large plates (including braised lamb shoulder and charcoal octopus tentacle). Special Father's Day menu additions will include The Old Carajillo (cocktail, $25), The Iron Padre (margarita jug, $28), Pinchos Morunos (charcoal beef flank skewer with green tomato chutney and cured yolk, $28), and a 1kg Manning Valley grass-fed ribeye on the bone ($145).
Lunch with a view
If your dad appreciates a vista, TINTA at Belmont on Lake Macquarie fits the bill. The kitchen will be serving regular TINTA favourites alongside a few Father's Day specials, and bookings are now open. There is also the option of ordering one of TINTA's takeaway Father's Day seafood picnic boxes. Each box ($120) includes Queensland king prawns, prawn rolls, blue swimmer crab, a half-dozen oysters, mignonette, tartare and cocktail sauce, and fresh lemon. Orders close on September 3 at 6pm for pick-up on September 6 between 8am and 4pm.
Spoilt for choice
Is your dad picky? Offering him a choice of cuisines in the one place might be the answer. Every weekend Calais Estate at Pokolbin hosts chef-operated food trucks under the Entwine Hunter Valley banner. On September 6, though, it's an extra special Entwine, with breakfast as well as lunch on offer, as well as live music, market stalls, and activities for the kids. Breakfast options include waffles (Cranky Frankies by Adam Frey), venison shakshuka and breakfast pita (Fiano by Dennis Moore), sweet pastries (Cinnamon Cloud Cakes by Tatiana Worjaski), and kangaroo sausage and egg muffin, plus Aussie cheesesteak and egg baguette (Native BBQ by Lucas Perry).
For the meat lover
Popular Newcastle restaurant MEET is hosting its final Father's Day service before closing, for good, on October 17. MEET's signature churrasco Brazilian barbecue feast will be carved at your table, direct from the skewer. Vegetarian options are available.
Beer and brunch
A winning combination? The Cross Keys Hotel at Tighes Hill is hosting a special four-course Father's Day Newy Brewers Brunch at 9.30am on September 6 showcasing four of Newcastle's finest independent brewers. On the menu is a house-made Bangalow Sweet Pork sausage roll paired with a Shout Brewing Baked Uprising ESB; yoghurt, fresh fruit, honey and granola crumble paired with a Method Brewing Hazy IPA; thick-cut maple bourbon bacon with chilli scrambled free-range eggs, potato rosti and local sourdough paired with a FogHorn Brewing Helles Bock Lager; and sticky date and waffles with butterscotch sauce, vanilla bean ice-cream, fresh berries and dates paired with a Grainfed Brewing 4th Date Milk Stout. Plus, dad gets to take home a special event glass. Tickets are $85 and for adults only. Book at the Cross Keys or by phoning 4074 6171.
Family feast
Earp Distilling Co. at Carrington has a shared feast for all the family to enjoy on September 6. Every dad will be welcomed with a complimentary Long Night cocktail on arrival, crafted with Bond Store Whisky, Reggie's Rum, Slingtown Coffee Vodka, winter spice syrup and chocolate bitters. As for the food ($74 per person), there's beef tartare, hummus with flatbread, burrata, pork and pistachio terrine, 450g striploin, half-chicken roast, sides and dessert. There's also a special $20 kids' menu.
A Sunday roast
Gather the family and enjoy The Del at Cooks Hill's popular Sunday roast. There are three meat options to choose from - herb-stuffed porchetta, roast sirloin and crispy-skin rotisserie chicken - all served with the classic trimmings and plenty of gravy. Esca Bimbadgen also offers a quality Sunday roast, paired with estate-grown Bimbadgen wines, house cocktails or a whisky flight.
Low and slow BBQ
If you think your dad would appreciate an all-you-can-eat Texas barbecue lunch, look no further than The Lot Smokehouse & Beer Garden at Islington. We're talking slow-cooked brisket, ribs, pulled pork and wings, sides, and sauces, with a range of local beers on tap plus margaritas. Children under the age of six eat free. There are two sessions open for bookings: 11am to 1.30pm, and 2pm to 4.30pm.
The great outdoors
If your dad likes the great outdoors, how about a cruise? Nova Cruises is offering a barbecue buffet-style lunch on Lake Macquarie featuring fresh local prawns, scotch fillet minute steak, gourmet beef sausages, salads and dessert. Or you can cruise Newcastle Harbour on the MV Calmer with All Event Cruises which also offers a buffet lunch. Both options include a complimentary drink for dad on arrival.
For the sports-mad dad
Invite dad to step up to the plate and put his baseball skills to the test at The Ballpark, Westfield Kotara. This virtual baseball sports experience features batting cages and real bats and balls, as well as a full game simulation. There are also pool tables, digital scoring dart boards, a Shufl table and live sport on one of the many big screens. And the food? American-style snacks including pizza, hot dogs, wings, mini sliders, tacos, loaded fries and burgers. Another option is The Boat Shed Bar at Belmont 16s, with its televised sport and tasty burgers and loaded fries.
