Father’s Day can be a big shopping “holiday” especially for a company that makes grill tools! But this Father’s Day we wanted to share some stories (and a secret family recipe!) instead, as we reminisce about our dads in anticipation of Father’s Day.

From Liana, Marketing Associate

My dad’s name is Leo and he is the father of three daughters. Being the only man in the house, he used to sing this when he got outnumbered by us and outranked by my mom:

Women’s faults are many
But men have only two
Everything they say
And everything they do!

This is my favorite picture of us with grandma. I’m the baby at 2 days old.

Though dad was my soccer coach and took us on trips, some of my best memories of him are food related. Grilling at home by the pool on a hot, California summer day was just perfect. I would love to catch a peek at the bird or ribs that were sizzling away in the grill. He would lift the lid and the heat would smack me in the face and then the smell would fill my head with delicious anticipation! It was a great sensation for a little girl who was always hungry.

This pic about sums it up! Dad in a robe, grilling something tasty up, clove in hand. I’m sure a mug of coffee is right out of frame.

Now as an adult, I’m still hungry all the time and really enjoy cooking. It meant so much to me when my dad got me a 4-burner grill as a wedding present and a large paella pan for Christmas. We have Spanish heritage and really enjoy exploring and cooking the traditional food. We are always sharing techniques and tricks with each other and try to impress the rest of the family by who can cook and grill what better. It’s so great to be able to bond over our love of food.

This is us taking a selfie on Catalina Island after my sister’s wedding. The food was ok – but we could do better.

I asked other Companion Group employees to share their memories and family recipes as we reminisce about our dads in anticipation of Father’s Day. Here’s what we’re excited to share:

From Jane, Director of Structural Packaging

This is my dad and I with my big brother, Mike. I lost my dad when I was 10, but his memory stays strong in me through his very personality, spirit and artistry. When I first discovered my love of drawing at 3 or 4, he impressed me by quickly sketching a mouse, and then a horse, and then a rabbit. From that day, I became so excited to try drawing animals on my chalkboard everyday.

He was quite the fisherman, and our family regularly feasted on his catches. He had a steady and calm demeanor, which I try to summon and emulate regularly though conflicts or hectic times. My dad’s name is Lope P. Rabanal and he will forever be missed.

From Sherry, Admin Assistant/Accounting/Sales

Grandpa “Paka” Siria was a bartender at the Morton’s steak house for over 50 years and loved to BBQ, especially in the forest parks of Chicagoland. His favorites were a good old-fashioned steak, with baked potato and corn on the cob. One year for Father’s Day (about 1963) Grandma got him his very own grilling hat and apron.

When my husband Mark was young, he loved to hang out and help his grandpa Paka at the grill, so one day they had him don the apron and cap, and snapped a picture. How lucky I am for that moment.

Now, our family still grills and hosts parties throughout the year and are famous for our Zin-B-Ques! Pairing the tastiest Zinfandel wines that can hold up to a variety of mustard and spice sauces. Not surprisingly, our son Kernie also likes to help dad grill. So when he was young, he got to be the 3^rd generation to don the special apron, although a newer cap now replaces the paper one Paka and Mark wore.

After posing for the nice picture – he then grabbed the fork and exclaimed “For the angry mob!”

My boy is now 14 year-old and one day we will hand over the grilling rite of passage and he too will be taking a picture of his children wearing Paka’s special BBQ apron and cooking for friends and family.

“Secret Family Recipe” Marinade

Marinate ribs over night – I also sauté the onions and lay them out over the ribs after cooking.

Ingredients

• • 6 lbs short rib of beef
  • 1/2 cup prepared mustard
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 garlic cloves (crushed)
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 4 medium onions (sliced thin)

Directions

1. Mix mustard, lemon juice, sugar, garlic, onions, salt and pepper.
2. Coat meat and marinate in Ziploc bag for 24 hours.
3. Grill ‘em how you like ‘em!

From Bobbi, Sales Manager

This family photo is taken at my brother David’s confirmation in 1961 and I am in front of my dad Bernie at age seven. This photo always gives our family a laugh because, though we all look so put together – we kids were sporting childhood injuries.

My sister Melinda, on the left, has a big curl on her forehead that is hiding a bruise that she got on the playground when she was accidentally hit in the head with a baseball bat. My sister, Cheryl in the middle with the hat, has a broken leg with a cast to her knee. I have a bandage on my right arm up to my wrist as I ran my arm through a glass door. I was running to open it, missed and hit the glass. I was wearing white cotton gloves to disguise and still have the scars! My little brother Greg was awakened from his nap to come just for the photo, so he is at the end of a tired-cry. So they propped us behind the plants to hide all the flaws. But that’s life with kids!

This is dad on Father’s Day 2015, a year before he passed, Happy Father’s Day dad.

I hope you enjoyed these sweet and personal family stories from us at The Companion Group. Do you have a memory you would like to share about pops? We would love to hear it! I encourage you to take a minute and think about dad. And maybe, if you can, give him a call.

Daniel Replogle

Daniel does business development and marketing at The Companion Group. When he isn’t writing you can find him rock climbing or doing ceramic artwork.