Father’s Day food memories

Today is Father’s Day in the U.S. and for many families that means outdoor cooking, meat on the grill, and picnic fare. No doubt millions of burgers and steaks will find their way onto plates this afternoon and evening. The traditional Father’s Day meal is often the main food memory people have with their dads (although that is changing with the times).

The food memories I have of my father are not associated with Father’s Day, however. In our household, as was typical in most homes in the 70s and 80s, my mother did the vast majority of cooking. My dad was grill master, also a stereotypical role, although he had a few other specialties that were his province. All of them involved ground beef.

The one we most looked forward to was the sloppy joe dinner. My father never used a recipe, preferring to ad lib each time. There were some basic ingredients, but he often riffed on the seasonings, trying out new combinations and proportions. A few key spices like chili powder and ground black pepper formed the backbone of the flavor, but there were always pinches of other spices and splashes of sauces like Tabasco and Worcestershire as well. 

My dad tasted as he added, stopping when he reached the flavor profile he was after. Even though the taste was never exactly the same the sloppy joes were always delicious, and we kids lavished praise on the meal (probably to my mother’s chagrin). While I’ve had a complicated relationship with my father over the years, the pleasant memories of the sloppy joe dinners always bring a smile to my face. 

What is your favorite food memory with your father?