The heart of the home beats strong with the familiar hum of family – especially when all gather around to celebrate Father’s Day. Whether you’re reminiscing about Dad expertly flipping pancakes on a Saturday morning, carving a roast for guests during the holidays, or giving Mom (or you) a peck on the cheek for cooking his favorite birthday dish, the sights, smells and art of preparing a meal on this special day can conjure wonderful memories.

With another Father’s Day nearly here, I want to share a story of Robert Mondavi Jr. and his son in the Mondavi home in Beaufort, South Carolina. Located on the banks of Port Royal Sound overlooking Parris Island, the home blends the best of Napa’s acclaimed wine country with the casual elegance of the Lowcountry to embody the family’s passion for entertaining and keep them connected to wife Lydia Mondavi’s South Carolina heritage.

During the construction of his home, Robert shared that he found his own passion for cooking and spending time in the kitchen when he was a young boy, and he hopes to instill the same enthusiasm for culinary living in his son. Whether preparing an extravagant meal for family and friends or a simple lunch with his son, the joy and emotional connection shines through in Robert’s loving preparation and instruction.

To create new culinary memories, Robert and his family turn to innovative and powerful Thermador appliances to be the star of the kitchen. In fact, the family’s kitchen was designed around the Ultimate Culinary Center – the Pro Grand® Steam range. It was strategically set in the center island to enable Robert to interact with guests while he cooks, and is an ideal setting for his son to look on and learn about the art of culinary creation.

On the day we had the pleasure of stopping by, Robert and his son prepared fresh quesadillas using the nonstick griddle feature on the range, heating the tortilla to a perfect golden brown and melting the cheese to perfection. It was special to see this bond between father and son grow, as the next generation of culinary enthusiast learns about the joy of cooking from a simple – yet satisfying – recipe.

Whether Father’s Day brings memories of cooking with your Dad, or perhaps teaching your own children how to become stars of the kitchen, we hope your table is filled with love and laughter this weekend.