Dad will simply glow — as will that big old barbecue you just gave him — if you amp up his grilling experience with the best books, tools, and tastiest slabs of beef around. — Jenna Schnuer

Keep That New Grill Looking, Well, New

You like to see your pop get a good workout — here’s to long life and all — but surely there are better things he can do for his health than spend time scrubbing a dirty grill grate. Give Dad back his cleaning time with a pack of Clean BBQ disposable grill liners. Pack of 20, $18. Available at Home Depot and some Wal-Mart stores. www.cleanbbq.com

Prime Reading. And Cooking.

Don’t let Pop go with the same ol’, same ol’ every time he steps up to the grill. Give him a whirlwind tour of outdoor cooking possibilities with any (or all — come on, it’s Dad!) of the following new cookbooks:
-- Raichlen on Ribs, Ribs, Outrageous Ribs (Workman, $13) by Steven Raichlen
-- The Big Book of Outdoor Cooking and Entertaining (Morrow Cookbooks, $25) by Cheryl Alters Jamison and Bill Jamison
-- Dr. BBQ’s “Barbecue All Year Long!” Cookbook (St. Martin’s
Griffin, $18) by Ray Lampe

To Market? Nah.

Sure, you could buy some Father’s Day steaks at your local supermarket. Or, you could consider ordering your meat from one of these top-notch protein purveyors. (You’ll thank us in the end.)

-- Give your grill a Texas spin with a boneless rib eye or strip from LoneStarSteaks.com. Feeling really hungry? Round out the meal with a few of their tamales. (800) 239-9886, www.lonestarsteaks.com

-- The Lobels are, in our minds, the first family of meat. They’ve been selling USDA Prime beef for 20-plus years and have been butchers for five generations. (When Martha Stewart wants to talk grilling on her show, she calls them.) (877) 783-4512, www.lobels.com

-- Is Dad the kind of guy who likes to put a healthier spin on decadence? Then go organic. All the cows who contribute to the stock at 53 Organic Beef are raised free of growth hormones and antibiotics. (888) 469-0343, www.53organicbeef.com

-- You’ll find the name Niman Ranch mentioned on many of the finest restaurant menus in the country, but there’s no need to get all dressed up to eat their well-marbled steaks — you can have them delivered straight to your door. (866) 808-0340, www.nimanranch.com