Families eat out together more than ever. But @Working_Mum, who blogs at Adventures of a Working Mum, finds the situation not quite up to snuff when it comes to the food on offer for the kids. Find out what she has to say about it and tell us whether you think the “children’s menu” should be ditched.
Apparently London has been confirmed as the gourmet capital of the world after a record 53 restaurants were awarded Michelin stars in the 2011 guide. Really? Well here’s an idea for you Mr Michelin Inspector: try eating out with a toddler. Go on. I’ll loan you mine if you like.
Take Toddler-Not-So-Tiny-Temper out to eat and you’ll soon find a whole new area of the restaurant scene. Introducing the dreaded ‘Children’s Menu’. Not so fancy now is it? The main menu may be full of ‘seared breast of this’ and ‘tartare of smoked that’ but ask for a children’s menu and the options are somewhat limited. All together now mums: “Fishfingers and chips, sausage and chips, or pasta with tomato sauce”. We all know it – it never changes.
If you’ve seen my blog you’ll know I’ve been ranting about this recently. OK, I’m sure if we were in one of those glorious Michelin-starred havens they’d create whatever hand-picked-truffle-shaving-enhanced delight our child desired, but what about all the nice restaurants, lovely gastropubs and well-known quality food chains that are so keen so foist this junk food onto our little ones?
We, as mums, are being blasted from all sides about our overweight children, the ‘junk food generation’ who don’t know what vegetables are. So how about turning the heat on some of the chefs for a change? Why do they think it’s acceptable to put zero effort into the children’s menu? And zero taste? And zero goodness?
I have started asking for half portions of ‘real food’ for Toddler-Not-So-Tiny-Temper, but you’d be surprised how many places won’t do it. Why on Earth not? It should be easy – half the portion, half the price. It’s not rocket science.
Restaurant owners, chefs, I’m begging you: please ditch these awful children’s menus and just introduce mini-portions. It doesn’t have to be across the whole menu, just a selection of dishes offered in miniature. Happy children, happy mums. And trust me, if mum isn’t happy, then no one’s happy.
There are many local places that have been blacklisted in my house for crimes against children. So come on chefs, bring on the Mini Portion and Michelin, let’s see the launch of a Mini-Michelin guide.
Image: artemisphoto / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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Adventures of a Working Mum
Thursday 1st of September 2011
I've just logged on here to get the link for someone and noticed all these comments - thank you! Nearly all of you are completely in support, which is great, and thanks also for the wonderful suggestions of places to eat such as 'That Place on the Corner', 'Mess', 'Wagamama' and the rest. Sam, your pub sounds FAB! You'll have had your baby boy by now so hope all went well. Thanks again everyone for you comments. Bring on those mini-portions!! x
iota
Wednesday 27th of July 2011
Great post. Yes. Why assume that all kids want is the usual unimaginative stuff? Though it would be nice if that was on offer too, because, let's not be smug here, sometimes it saves the day.
Tattie Weasle
Tuesday 26th of July 2011
Hate "kidz" menus with a pasison. My eldest eats off the adult menu and although Bog Boy, our youngest, has a very narrow view on culinary delights I opt for things I know he does like or else just offer him bits and pieces off our plates as portion sizes are usually rather large! I was rather sad to see menus in France now having a kidz special....burger and chips/fish fingers and chips/sausage and chips...
Elena
Tuesday 26th of July 2011
I totally agree! Having Baby-Led Weaned' our daughter (nearly 2), although her tastes are much more narrow than when she first started eating, she loves olives, prawns, risotto, most fish and various steamed vegetables. Now, doesn't that sound like 'Modern European / Modern British' cuisine? I can't bear the fact that most dishes on a kid's menu come with chips - DD LOVES chips obviously, but is also a big fan of boiled potatoes or even mash. Surely a much healthier option? What we tend to do is choose a dish each from the main menu that we know our daughter will like, then order a starter that she'll like too and ask for everything to come together. We then put a bit of each of our dishes on her plate, along with the starter. But would be gorgeous if she could get a mini-version of what we were eating? Thanks for raising this issue. And @Sam Wydymus, if we're ever in your area, we'll be sure to visit your pub! :-)
Fran
Monday 25th of July 2011
I couldn't agree more! The choice of food on the childrens menus are dire. I really wish that more places would offer small portions of the main menu too! Have actually got round this with the twins by ordering one main meal then asking a unsuspecting waiter for another plate. Happy twins, happy Mummy. If we could just get them to actually CLEAN the highchairs and tables in restaurants properly, eating out might almost be pleasurable!