Ah, Father's Day, that time when we reflect on all that dear old Dad has taught us, done for us and put up with from us over the years. Most people think of this holiday as a time to buy a power tool or some other manly gadget, or perhaps a tie, that most manly bit of attire.

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But have you ever considered that some dads aren't macho dudes? Some of them might appreciate a cooking school gift certificate. Give them a chance to get away from the grill and get in touch with their inner chef ... and maybe even find out they look smashing in an apron!

Heck, some dads might even appreciate a trip to a day spa. Why should the pleasures of mud baths, foot rubs, full-body massages and sauna treatments be reserved only for Mother's Day? Those lines around your father's eyes might add character, but they might also disappear if he was just instructed in the proper use of moisturizer.

My friend Carolyn, the flower chick, even says that she knows some men who like to arrange flowers. Is there a frustrated artist locked up inside your dad? Maybe a book on flower arranging would be just the gift this year, or a class in making beautiful flower music at a local community college.

Nah.

Whether he's a slobbering snore-behemoth or a skinny leisure dude, there's not a man alive who couldn't appreciate the glory that is the Tool Chest Fridge.

Here, in one convenient package, is that most manly of accessories, the toolbox on wheels, that is actually that most coveted of manly accessories, the shop fridge.

Just imagine! Your dad is hanging out in the garage with his pals, swapping manly tales of fish almost caught and engines almost fixed, and his macho brethren begin demanding alcoholic refreshment and meaty snacks. Dad rolls out his tool chest, which they've already been admiring for its sturdy design and obvious quality, and opens it to reveal a veritable Man Land of beer and other highly necessary guy supplies.

Honestly, this is one of those "why didn't I think of it?" products. But it's no lightweight curiosity. It's got all the features of a big fridge, like a can stacker and "smart" door design that allows for the storage of 2-liter bottles, along with stuff like locking heavy-duty casters and door. The top doubles as a wipe-clean counter for the all-important slicing of sausage and stacking of crackers.

If you are a dad, it might be a good idea to set the picture of the fridge as your desktop wallpaper and sigh wistfully at it. Drop hints mercilessly until one of these beauties is parked in your garage.

Heck, play your cards right and you might end up with side-by-side "toolboxes." That would leave one for beer and one for manly snack foods like sausage, cheese, pickled eggs, etc.

Really Great BEEF

Of course, all that garage "work" is going to leave Dad with one heck of an appetite, and he'll want a large sector of cow to tame the hunger beast. This is where you come in.

Sure, there are any number of places online that purport to sell great steaks, and some of them are even telling the truth. But why not try something not just distinctive, but to my palate better than all of them? The folks at American Grass Fed Beef have a product that's miles above anything else out there.

You see, their cows are raised the way cows were decades ago. They eat grass, aren't pumped full of antibiotics or hormones and basically grow the way nature intended cows to grow. What results is a dense, rich beef that is almost like a different type of meat. It has a deep red-purple hue and a mouth feel so rich and satisfying that you'll want to get a freezer full for yourself as well as dear old Pops.

Dr. Patty Whisnant, a veterinarian, raises this beef with the help of her family on pastureland in the Ozark hills of southern Missouri. She's spent a lot of time analyzing what makes good meat, and now you can buy the fruits of her labor.

If Dad is a bratwurst or bacon guy, the AGFB folks have found a German family in Missouri with time-tested recipes and have added boxes of bacon, summer sausage and brats to their offerings.

Spice It Up

Of course, most dads like to get happy with the seasonings now and again. How many times has your dad delivered to the table something that, through injudicious application of salt or hot spices, been rendered nigh on to inedible?

There's a simple way to avoid this: Make sure the spices they get their paws on are only the best stuff, preferably pre-mixed so they don't have the urge to go nuts.

In that spirit, I've got two more additions to our gift list that would make great additions to any Father's Day gift basket or box of meat.

The first is Mikey's Marinade. Now those of you who have read this column for any period of time know that I'm not much on storebought marinades. I can mix my own out of fresher ingredients and control the taste to my own satisfaction. However, Mikey's has now earned a permanent place in my cupboard.

Michael Romano, the "Mikey" of the name, is possessed of an almost unfair culinary pedigree: He's a well-traveled Italian who also happens to be a sommelier. With a confluence of experience like that, it's no wonder at all that he's produced a marinade that is one of the finest I've ever tasted, including my own concoctions.

I'd love to tell you what it tastes like, but I can't. It has a flavor unlike any marinade or sauce I've ever tasted. It's rich, with hints of herbs and spices that seem to change as you eat. It's good on just about everything, too.

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My second spicy suggestion is actually a twofer.

You may remember Pie In A Bottle, a nifty product I told you about a couple of months back. Now Ken Weikel, the man behind the bottle, has turned his attention to the spicy side of life and created a Chipotle Dry Rub and a Dry Rub Companion sauce that are a great one-two punch if Dad's got chicken or pork on the grill or in the oven.

Ken offers direct ordering on his Web site.

Whatever gift you choose, keep in mind that the most important thing about Father's Day is celebrating the bond you've got with your father. How about YOU take HIM fishing for a change? Get tickets to a ball game.

Or here's a great idea: Get up early, go to his place and wash his car and mow his yard, then set him up a chaise lounge in the shade with a cooler full of his choice of beverages. Better yet, set up two lounges and sit with him.

Of course, if your dad is like mine, a 73-year-old who does 150 pushups and walks several miles every day, you might not be able to get him to sit still. But it's the thought that counts!

Got a question? Comment? Topic you'd like to see covered? Just drop me a line, anytime!