IVANKO_BRNJAKOVIC/GETTY IMAGES.

Here are
to appreciate
both dad and great outdoors.

Throw a next-level barbecue
For wannabe (or already accomplished) pitmasters, Father’s Day is
the perfect opportunity to tie on an apron, grab some favorite tongs
and fire up the grill for a delicious home-cooked meal.

But before Dad can start flipping burgers, he has to form the per-
fect patties. And Bill Edelblut, owner of O’Donnell’s Market in
Potomac, has some advice on how to do it right, starting with the
type of ground beef.

“If you buy too lean, like a 90/10, you’re not going to have the fat
content to give it the juiciness in the burger,” Edelblut says. “We feel
that an 80/20 blend is good, and most grocery stores, that’s what
they’re carrying.”
Next, shape the burgers so there’s a decent firmness to them—
not too loose, not too tight—and season with salt and pepper. Bring
the grill to medium heat and cook the patties for 3 to 4 minutes.

Once there’s a nice char, flip them over (adding cheese, if you’d like),
cover the grill and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes.

When it comes to a delicious burger, the bun and toppings are
almost as important as the patty itself. O’Donnell’s Market uses a
brioche roll for its burgers, but Edelblut also recommends a stan-
dard potato roll.

As for toppings, you can’t go wrong with a classic combination of
cheddar, bacon, lettuce and tomato; however, Edelblut recommends
26 Washington FAMILY JUNE 2020
adding the surprise element of avocado. “People have all of their
own preferences, but that seems to be one of the biggest sellers for
us,” he says.

Of course, some people may prefer something entirely different:
a hot dog. “Hot dogs are universal,” says Ronnie Heckman, owner of
Caddies Bar and Grill in Bethesda.

While they’re delicious with the traditional mix of spicy mustard,
onion and relish, Heckman says the latest way to eat a hot dog is
with popular cookout sides piled on top. Case in point: Caddies’
best-selling hot dog is the crab mac ‘n’ cheese dog, topped with
hearty macaroni and cheese and Old Bay-seasoned crab meat.

Another popular option is a Western dog, which has onion,
jalepenos and—wait for it—Chipotle ranch.

Caddies uses Vienna brand hot dogs from Chicago, but the good news
is that today’s hot dogs can be “whatever you want,” according to
Heckman. All of it, unexpected toppings included, he says, tastes good.

Have an overnight adventure
in your backyard
If your kids love to build forts with blankets and pillows in the
living room, they’re going to love camping in the backyard. Plus,
we can’t think of better way to bond with dad on Father’s Day