Fathers Day Dinner

My dad is the business. I'm not even joking here, he's one of the coolest men I know. My dad was a top Hollywood agent for years and years, and left his way-cool life to start up one of the early successful Internet advertising companies in the 90's. He literlly grew up in the Hollywood Hills (who can say that, really?), he's run a dozen marathons, served as a Marine reserve, and was a regular guest at Gene Kelly's house.  He  showed up to every football game I cheered at, every dance competition I partook in, and embarrassed the crap out of me by yelling at the top of his lungs at said events. And um...I am so freaking grateful. He told me that I could be anything I wanted to be (and I believed him - my career has changed at least 4 times now) and told me I was beautiful when I was a decidedly awkward pre-teen. He's the other man in my life and I think he's the bomb.com.  When he moved to Chicago 10 years ago to live with his wife, suffice it to say I was heartbroken. Happy for him, because my stepmother is Awesome with a capital A, but it still totally sucked.

Lucky for me, he was in town for fathers day this year, but unluckily for me I hadn't realized it and had booked a trip to San Francisco that weekend.  I was back early Sunday afternoon, but my pops usually has plans with 100 different people when he's in LA and I have to pencil myself into his schedule well in advance - so I assumed he'd be with one of my brothers for Fathers Day. Somehow I managed to luck out and snagged him to myself for dinner. Yipee!

Naturally, I was so excited because I love every minute I can get with him since he moved away and I never get to be with him on Fathers Day. I was also rather stressed out since my flight got in at 3:30pm.  Bob is a blue plate special kinda guy (he's 74),  I knew I wouldn't have a ton of time to cook, and I'm basically a perfectionist when it comes to entertaining.  Luckily, panic attack was averted and my wonderful husband assured me that the house was "extra clean" (this can mean many things, but he really meant it this time) So I just had time to swing by Whole Foods and grab some goodies.  I know he's trying to lose a few L-B's but he's still a man and likes man-food, like steak and shrimp, so I knew I had to put a little spin on it. Here's what I ended up with.

[caption id="attachment_30" align="alignnone" width="640"] Part of the Father's Day spread[/caption]



Lime Marinated Shrimp lettuce wraps with peanuts, mung sprouts, and the works



Grilled Peaches, Burrata, & Proscuitto on some yummy spicy arugula with a little balsamic reduction.



I knew I wouldn't have time to marinate a steak so I had to cheat here a little bit. Luckily Whole Foods makes an awesome ready-to-pickup flank steak. And no one was the wiser ;)



Bottle of Coppola Pinot, compliments of Bob. Terrible pic.

We satisfied our sweet tooth (teeth?) with decaf coffee and the Smart Blondies I mentioned in an earlier post, and was pleased to find that another picky man just had to have seconds. I didn't bother to tell him that the were good for him, either - I will just let that be my little secret!

I hope all of you had wonderful fathers days and enjoyed some time with your dads. I know I did.

XOXO

M