We've come to accept Father's Day as a predictable parade of lengthy rounds of golf, World's Greatest Dad mugs, and piles upon piles of meat. Yes, on this day each year, our lives seem to devolve into carnivorous chaos as flimsy paper plates carrying 14-ounce ribeyes follow appetizers of burnt ends and cocktails, all coming out of the kitchen in rapid succession. A salad may have been prepared, but someone managed to devour the bacon before a vinaigrette could be made, so the greens are pretty much as good as forgotten.
These dishes offer a much-needed respite from the typical Dad's Day feast. Hearty salads, summer tacos, and fresh seafood are the new showstoppers, inspiring the rejoice of dads and guests alike.
Mussels with Spices, Ginger, Lemongrass, and Coriander by Meike Peters ° eat in my kitchen
![Mussels with Spices, Ginger, Lemongrass and Coriander](https://images.food52.com/cXoWe2DH17gGlEVysakrZm_FNVM=/51ed7130-bd0c-434b-8399-f00e7c5ad04f--2014-0429_WC_mussels-w-ginger-lemongrass-coriander-008.jpg)
Cacio e Pepe Pizza with Roasted Radishes by fiveandspice
![Cacio e Pepe Pizza with Roasted Radishes on Food52](https://images.food52.com/TccYlMAdw9rwH9iysnquAZM-NBo=/3b2a2bec-2903-4a09-93d9-42927d5a6c73--food52_06-05-12-2421.jpeg)
California Chicken Tacos with Corn and Red Cabbage Slaw by Linda Burkhart
![California Chicken Tacos with Corn and Red Cabbage Slaw](https://images.food52.com/32lZ8VgGaZtWksUHS7kIHlBrZnA=/27a5d12c-fd63-414f-98ec-f58ff66fc69e--2014-0603_CP_soft-chicken-tacos-corn-red-cabbage-006.jpg)
Vegan Lentil Sloppy Joes by Gena Hamshaw
![Vegan Lentil Sloppy Joes](https://images.food52.com/oCa048k0KH-kNZbUh8pjefoWMPc=/5e19c983-24ff-49e1-9288-8ba7353082d0--sloppy_joes_.jpg)
Warm Chicken Salad by Merrill Stubbs
![Warm Chicken Salad on Food52](https://images.food52.com/UE1-PwGewDCX3STbV9EDET5Lm5g=/12eaf65b-5866-4da9-8e16-b7ff91609677--2013-0715_warm-chicken-salad-011_copy.jpg)
Steak for a Brooklyn Backyard Barbecue by Giulia Melucci
![Steak for a Brooklyn Backyard Barbecue](https://images.food52.com/STBX51_rWCxnC0w-w9DpN6epx7A=/544f4345-8a51-4278-bf5e-ea1f62c11377--food52_12-18-12-0748.jpg)
Summer Weekend Pasta by Amanda Hesser
![Summer Weekend Pasta on Food52](https://images.food52.com/8v8KQ_T18gn-CWKDncwbZgNiOtA=/0669e91a-d6f4-4e24-9476-2bd2be891c32--food52_07-10-12-2-83.jpg)
Brigit Binns' Crab Cakes by Genius Recipes
![Brigit Binns' Crab Cakes on Food52](https://images.food52.com/2BcLrRhY8jgIbZx-nXkrtVqNIas=/cc5bdcd4-73c8-4cd6-9a80-883f7a96188a--2013-0606_crab-cakes-029.jpg)
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