Antoni Porowski is the resident food and wine expert on the reboot of the television hit Queer Eye. He’s a self-trained home chef (and a big Whole Foods Market fan) who has worked in restaurants across Montreal and New York, and has been a personal chef to many high-profile clients. Antoni believes that the heart and stomach are interconnected, and he has become known for helping others discover easy ways to cook seriously good food.
Father’s Day, to me, means a really, really good, hearty meal. But what are you going to cook? When I’m thinking about cooking for my dad, I know that a solid Father’s Day meal is about two things: A great cut of meat and feel-good carbs. Here’s what I’m making him this Father’s Day –trust me, I think this is a meal most dads will love.
The Meat
You’ve got to have a good steak. I like to start with a good Animal Welfare Certified Boneless Rib Eye. This is truly my father’s favorite cut. It’s fatty and rich –the decadent kind of steak you want to serve to a good guy in your life (or to yourself). In fact, the kind I get at Whole Foods Market is so good that I don’t even need to do much to it: I simply season it with sea salt and pepper, and it goes right on a hot grill pan or barbeque.
I like to dress up my steak with a compound butter. Mix blue cheese with 365 by Whole Foods Market Organic Unsalted Butter. Put the two in a bowl and mix them with a fork until combined. Lay the butter on a piece of plastic wrap and roll it up like a sausage, twisting both ends, compressing the compound butter into a, well, sausage! Put it in the freezer for 30 minutes or longer and it will be nice and solid, ready for slicing.
The Sides
Grill up some asparagus (in the beef fat!) in the same pan once your steak is done. I know, I said it’s all about meat and carbs, but asparagus grills up nicely, and it will make the whole plate look (and taste!) complete!
Then, the requisite carb: I like to do a sweet potato. Amp it up by stuffing it with cheese (I’d go with sharp cheddar or something a little more intense to really make sure the flavor comes through) or a ready-made creamy dip. There are so many to choose from, but one of my favorite tricks is to use creamy dressings like Caesar, Ranch, and more from 365 by Whole Foods Market . You can also use 365 by Whole Foods Market Organic Sour Cream for something a little more classic.
After roasting the sweet potato until it’s softened, cut it lengthwise, scoop out the insides and mix it with cheese, onion dip or both! Put the mixture in the sweet potato shells and continue baking until a golden crust forms. You can also broil it –just watch that it doesn’t burn.
The Drinks
An ice-cold beer makes sure it all goes down easily. My choice? A Modelo Especial. The result? A meal fit for any dad –or any guy –or anyone, really.
