Help Your Dad Get His Grill On this Father’s Day

The Great American Burger Book, by George Motz
George Motz is widely recognized as the world’s reigning “burger expert,” and his new book is ideal for anyone who has traveled to another region of the country and discovered they do burgers differently there. Motz dedicates each chapter to a regional burger, like the tortilla burger you’ll find in New Mexico or the pub burger you can order in New York, the fried onion burger found only in Oklahoma, or the Loco Moco from Hawaii. In a book that will satisfy Dad’s wanderlust as well as his growling stomach, Motz offers up gorgeous photos to help you choose what’s on the menu that night and a celebration of that most American of grilled meals, the not-so-humble hamburger. Your biggest challenge will be convincing Dad it’s not also a gift for you.

Bobby Flay’s Barbecue Addiction, by Bobby Flay, Stephanie Banyas and Sally Jackson
Inspired by Flay’s Food Network show of the same name, this gorgeously illustrated book offers up background info on your grill and how it works (or should work) and then dives into recipes and menus for all occasions, going well beyond the fundamentals of burgers, dogs, and brats and offering mouth-watering possibilities like Tuscan Rosemary Smoked Whole Chickens or Grilled Shrimp Skewers with Cilantro-Mint Chutney. Flay goes above and beyond, offering up cocktail recipes to go with your meals, so if dad dreams of having an adult evening in the backyard, this is the perfect grownup grilling book for outdoor entertaining, written in clear, enthusiastic prose and studded with photos that will make everyone very, very hungry.

Master of the Grill, by America’s Test Kitchen
The experts at America’s Test Kitchen offer up a resource that’s equally useful for the dad just dipping his toe into grilling or smoking and the dad who regards himself as something of a backyard grilling legend. With nearly 700 recipes, the book also comes with a complete compilation of fundamentals, from what grill or smoker to buy to marinades and sauces and how to use them. There’s also plenty of expert advice and nuts-and-bolts information to help the experienced grill master up their game to the next level. In other words, this is the can’t-miss grilling book for your Dad, no matter his experience level—real or imagined.

The Bob’s Burgers Burger Book, by Loren Bouchard and The Writers of Bob’s Burgers
Whether or not you’re a fan of the Emmy Award–winning Bob’s Burgers, you’ll be a fan of the creative and delicious burgers offered in this cookbook—all 70+ of them. Each burger is inspired by an actual “Burger of the Day” mentioned on the show, with recipes sourced from the fan-run blog “The Bob’s Burger Experiment.” With incredible illustrations deconstructing burgers, plenty of hilarious commentary from the characters, and unusual mic-dropping burgers like the Bruschetta-Bout-It Burger, the I Know Why the Cajun Burger Sings Burger, or the Foot Feta-ish Burger, this is a grilling book that will make dad not just a master of the burger, but a Master of Ceremonies as well.

Meathead: The Science of Great Barbecue and Grilling, by Meathead Goldwyn
Goldwyn, webmaster of amazingribs.com, offers a humorous review of the real science behind grilling, debunking plenty of myths amateur grill masters everywhere still believe (like searing steaks to “seal in juices”) and explaining the actual science going on behind the smoke and marinade in terms anyone can understand. After doing all this with his trademark sense of humor and easygoing style, Goldwyn offers up more than 100 recipes, so dads can apply all this newly acquired knowledge to the benefit and delight of their families. If dad wants to do more than just follow recipes, this is the ideal book for Father’s Day this year.

Myron Mixon’s BBQ Rules: The Old-School Guide to Smoking Meat, by Myron Mixon and Kelly Alexander
Mixon, star of Destination America’s BBQ Pitmasters, offers up a book any grilling Dad will be delighted to receive, one that goes step-by-step through the classic, old-school way of smoking meat, from burning your own coals to preparing and cooking the meat for your meal. Mixon also includes a comprehensive guide to imitating the classic taste of true smoked meat with the more-common gas and charcoal grills found in backyards everywhere, just in case dad doesn’t have the time to make his own coals but still wants that classic flavor. No one else in the world is as qualified to teach BBQ rules as Mixon, and this book’s heavily illustrated, step-by-step instructions will have even the worst outdoor cooks smoking up some of the best meals you’ve ever tasted in no time.

Project Smoke, by Steven Raichlen
Smoking is a complex and rewarding cooking technique every grill master ought to be familiar with—and getting it right can be quite a challenge. From fuel choice to marinades, this fantastic resource from “America’s Master Griller” Raichlen offers a from-the-ground-up education in how smoking works and how to bend it to your will in everything from meat to dessert. The book includes not just background and the science of smoking, but more than 100 recipes ranging from classic brisket to unexpected chocolate bread pudding. Even if dad is already an experienced and successful grill master himself, this book will open up a whole new field of grilling opportunity.
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