Newsletter: Father’s Day treats + Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Mark Bittman take us from Simple to Spectacular

What to make for that special man on Father’s Day

With Sunday June 18 designated Father’s Day, how can you show your appreciation for the father, or father figure, in your life? That old adage, that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, indicates one sure option. And we have dozens of ideas to get you started.

If your dad has a sweet tooth, or you want a bit of kitchen time with the kids that will leave them with something edible to present, make a batch of Vanilla Bean-Sea Salt Caramels. Or try these Marshmallow Chocolate Cups. And there are more ideas for edible gifts and treats in our Father’s Day Treats collection.

If preparing breakfast in bed, or afternoon tea, are what your dad would like most, take a look at our Father’s Day: Pastries for Papa recipes. A Maple Danish or this chocolate-studded Brioche would be a fine way to start his day. Or if his tastes run more to the savory try Flaky Pastry with Lamb and Peas, or Spiced Pumpkin and Feta Puff Pastry Tarts.

In the evening you could treat him to a cocktail or two. For inspiration check out our Classic Cocktails for Father’s Day: you’ll find the perfect Whiskey Sour, the brandy based Sidecar, and a refreshing Mint Julip – ideal if it is outdoor weather where you are this Sunday.

There is of course one further perfect gift for a foodie man, get him a gift subscription to ckbk, and give him the gift of more than 700 cookbooks, and food reference books, and over 100,000 recipes at his fingertips. This Father's Day you can enjoy 25% off a gift subscription with the code FATHERSDAY

Pictured above: Roast Vegetables with Red Pepper Oil from Simple to Spectacular by Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Mark Bittman

Take your cooking from Simple to Spectacular

Following the success of their book Jean-Georges: Cooking at Home with a Four Star Chef, top food writer and home cook Mark Bittman and stellar chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten have done it again. New to ckbk Simple to Spectacular makes the most of their joint expertise, presenting a wide range of dishes, from the most approachable to the most elaborate.

With 250 recipes in total, the recipes are divided into 50 groups. Each recipe is presented as the simplest version of itself, then with certain additions, and on until it reaches its most sophisticated version. For example; Grilled Shrimp with Thyme and Lemon, becomes Grilled Shrimp and Zucchini on Rosemary Skewers, then Grilled Shrimp with Apple Ketchup.

The final two iterations are Thai-style Grilled Shrimp on Lemongrass Skewers, and then Grilled Shrimp Balls with Cucumber and Yoghurt.

The book is a treasure trove of tempting food, and thanks to its designing principle there are recipes for every level of cook.

Find all 262 recipes from Simple to Spectacular

Ingredient spotlight: fennel

Crisp, crunchy, and fragrant with a gentle anise flavor, fennel is worth getting to know. Common fennel is characterised by long stalks and abundant fluffy leaves, but it is the variety with a fat ‘bulb’ below its fluffy tops that is more satisfactory for eating.

It originates in Italy where it has been cultivated since the 17th century – hence its name in the US, Florence fennel.

Eat it raw in salads, have it braised, seared or fried – the flavor is milder once cooked. There are a wealth of ideas to start you off in our 12 Ways with Fennel collection. It’s a brilliant complement to fish and shellfish, try Mussels Fennel and Wine. It pairs well with feta, apple, orange and many other fresh ingredients – try this Crisp Fennel & Orange Broccoli Salad.

6 of the best martinis

June 17 is World Martini Day, a global celebration of the Martini. We bring you six of the best to kick off your party. Plus there's six more in our Martini Cocktail Collection if you really want to celebrate.