From manly brunches to woodsy barbecues to downtown scavenger hunts, give dear old dad the special day he deserves.
Dear old dad deserves more than a new tie or a barbecue apron, right?
Yes. Yes, he does.
How about a meaty brunch or a barbecue in the great outdoors? Or even a downtown scavenger hunt that could net him a cool $300 gift card so he can pick out a gift of his own?
Let’s go over some options Father’s Day options, shall we?
Start the day off right with a manly brunch. The Guild is offering its usual menu on Sunday, June 18th, along with a few meatier options for dad, like a grilled seven-ounce tri-tip steak and eggs, breakfast poutine and housemade black pudding.
Over at The Block, dad can dine on a brisket hash eggs benny with a smoked tomato hollandaise and wash it down with a $5 pint of Big Rock Rhinestone Cowboy draft. Not a morning man? The Block is also offering a dinner special: four-hour braised pork back ribs with a bourbon barbecue sauce. The evening meal features free corkage, so bring along a nice bottle to go with dinner.
Outdoorsy dads may enjoy heading to Mount Engadine Lodge, about an hour from Canmore in the Spray Valley Provincial Park, for an afternoon barbecue. From 2 to 5 p.m., buy a burger and beer for $25 (kids can have a burger and drink for $15) and enjoy the stunning location. The lodge will also be offering a special Father’s Day edition of their Afternoon Tea for $17.50. Finish up with a wander along some of the many trails that wind around the area.
Reserve a spot by emailing mountengadine@castleavery.ca, calling 403-678-4080 or buy tickets via Eventbrite.
For the urban explorer, The Core is hosting its 2nd annual Downtown Selfie Scavenger Hunt. Over the weekend, the whole family can solve clues and take selfies while exploring downtown Calgary. Snapping pictures that answer all the clues and tagging on @COREShopping and #IamDowntown on Twitter or Instagram could win your team a $300 Core gift card or a tasting menu experience at Earls Bankers Hall.
The scavenger hunt, which starts Saturday and runs all weekend (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday), is free to enter and open to everyone. Pick up the first clue at the Core Shopping Centre’s Guest Services desk on the 3rd level. You can also register to participate in advance by visiting treasureleague.com.
See? Much better than a tie.
Gwendolyn Richards is a Calgary-based food writer and the author of Pucker: A Cookbook for Citrus Lovers. She regularly contributes to Avenue Magazine, the Calgary Herald and is the restaurant columnist for Where Calgary. She shares too many pictures of food – and occasionally shoes – on Twitter and Instagram at @gwendolynmr.
