Father's Day gifts for foodies in North Jersey: Engraved steaks, cheese trays and more

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2 days ago

I'm hoping you'll think beyond the necktie and get your dad something other than a stereotypical Father's Day gift this year.
I get it, though. As a dad myself, I understand we're not the easiest people for whom to shop. Half of us, at least, want 'nothing' for Father's Day, and if we do have our eye on something, we're probably not going to make a big fuss about it. So if a spatula or whiskey cubes appear before us on June 15, we're going to smile and say we love it, glad the whole, generous ordeal is over.
But I'm going to take the guesswork out of your search for a unique gift with a dozen Father's Day ideas, mostly available in North Jersey or made by local folks.
And the focus is on food here as chances are your pops eats, drinks, cooks, grills or, at the very least, is interested in good food and beverages and how to consume them more frequently. I always like giving gifts someone would either not buy for themselves or that offer a chance to explore something new so there's a bent toward exploration in these items.
(If all these fail, sure, get the tie.)
For the caffeine junkie with a fine palate, I suggest the Coffee Passport from Montclair's Paper Plane Coffee Co. Every month, your dad will get 12 ounces of limited-edition roasted coffee. And these aren't just any old beans; they're new offerings sourced from around the globe each month that aren't available on shelves. It's $22.99 per month, or buy a full year in advance and save 10%; you can also dip in for a few months without committing to a whole year. Available for delivery or pickup in Montclair. Get it at paperplanecoffee.com/products/paper-plane-coffee-passport.
Bergen County's own Pat LaFrieda has become synonymous with steak, thanks to his high-quality product showing up in locales from Citi Field to high-end restaurants across the country. You could just order one of his cuts or a box of filet mignons, but why not do something special this year and get a custom message engraved on the bone of a 40-ounce USDA Prime tomahawk steak ($182.68)? You know what they say: There's no better medium to express love and appreciation than meat. Order yours at shop.lafrieda.com/collections/tomahawks-40oz.
Is your father a fan of fromage? If so, check out the gift boxes from Valley Shepherd Creamery. We like the BAAA Tray ($59.99), a mix of four of Valley Shepherd's farm-raised, cave-aged cheeses with crackers, jam, fig cake and condiment jam. You can opt for larger gift boxes or sign your dad up for Valley Shepherd's cheese of the month club. Get the BAAA Tray and peruse other options at valleyshepherd.com.
As the name implies, this is a local hot sauce maker that was recently named the best craft hot sauce in the state by the hot sauce crowd-sourced ranking app Sauced (yes, it's a thing). Get your father a variety pack of three ($24.97) or four ($32.97) hot sauces that range from a classic medium heat to the Sizzlin' hot variety, or go a la carte and get flavors like the Scorchin' Carolina Reaper, Garlic Verde, Indian Masala and more. Get it at jerseygirlhotsauce.com.
New Jersey is home to a handful of wineries, but none (for my money) are better than Pittstown's Beneduce Vineyards. Owner/winemaker Mike Beneduce is a certified sommelier and his family has farmed in Jersey for four generations after emigrating from Italy. Beneduce grows grapes that suit our unique microclimate here, and I recommend the 2023 Gewürztraminer ($30), the 2021 Blaufränkisch ($44) and Beneduce's low-alcohol Acqua Pazza spritz ($20). Order at beneducevineyards.com.
It's not too late to get your old man in on the home pizza-making trend. While often imitated, I've had the pleasure of eating friends' Ooni-made pizzas for the last year or so. They're easy to use and turn out consistent pies. Ooni ovens come in various sizes (from one to two feet), prices ($299-$1,200) and also use different fuel sources (gas, wood and electricity) depending on preference. The best part is you can pencil in pizza-making accessories like peels, gloves, sauces and more for Father's Day for years to come. Available at select local retailers and at ooni.com.
Maybe you want to give the gift of a unique experience — preferably one you can share with your dad. For those who imbibe, the Cheers in Chester Wine and Beer Festival (July 26 from 3-7 p.m.) is a casual experience with the opportunity to sample over 100 craft beers and wine. Plus, there'll be live music and food. Tickets are $60 and include a 5-ounce taster cup; available at cheersinchester.com.
Few places cure meats as well as Montclair's Butler and the Board. A charcuterie board may be gone in a matter of minutes on Father's Day, but the memory of its quality will linger. This spot's charcuterie boards include house-cured artisanal meats (like prosciutto, duck rillette, mortadella and more), cheese, house-pickled veggies, fruit, jams and crackers, and can serve 2-12 people depending on your needs and appetite. Prices range from $45-$140; order at butlerandtheboard.com/shop/celebrations.
If your dad considers himself a mixologist or you think he can just up his cocktail game, check out the artisan bitters from JS Distillery in Fairfield. Their small-batch bitters come in orange and aromatic varieties (both $14) in a dropper bottle. Perfect for an Old Fashioned, Negroni, Sazerac or any number of cocktails, order them at jsdistillery.com.
Gladstone's River Bend Farm is a regenerative agriculture operation that offers meats from humanely raised animals that aren't given antibiotics or hormones. So not only are you supporting sustainable agriculture in ordering their food, you're also getting primo meat. Their all-natural, no-nitrate smoked Berkshire pork bacon is immensely popular (so popular, in fact, they limit orders to one pound ($15.99) at a time). Get your dad some at rbfangus.com/all-natural-meats.
Alright, stay with me on this. A fig tree is a relatively low-maintenance gift that keeps on giving, and they do exceptionally well in the Garden State (I know from experience). New Jersey growers Bill's Figs in Flemington and NJ Fig Farm in Old Bridge each sell young, healthy fig trees of numerous varieties. Gift a fig tree (~$40 and up) to a dad with a green thumb or a hunger for figs and they'll enjoy the fruits of your gift well into the future. Make sure you add in a pot, as they'll need to bring it inside in the winter.
When in doubt, get chocolate. Morristown's Enjou Chocolat makes a myriad of holiday-oriented confections, including several options for Father's Day. While you can get chocolate shaped as tools or ties, fish or beer steins, go for something slightly off the beaten path with the golf ball Oreos ($16.95). They're chocolate-covered oreos with a golf ball shell made of white, dark or milk chocolate. Get it at enjouchocolat.com/collections/father-s-day.
Matt Cortina is a food reporter with NorthJersey.com/The Record. Reach him at [e-mail].
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: 2025 Father's Day gifts for North Jersey foodies