As we prepare to dine out, my four-year-old enthusiastically declares her choice: fish and chips with plenty of ketchup. While this classic dish sounds appealing, I can’t help but feel that the adventurous spirit of childhood should be nurtured with meals that encourage broader tastes, rather than steering towards the familiar comfort of beige foods.<\/p>\n
My slight sense of relief comes from a thought that maybe the hospitality sector shares some responsibility for this trend. The prevalence of fish and chips on children’s menus seems to stem from a broader industry practice where many restaurants stick to the same limited options for kids.<\/p>\n
Curiosity leads me to a Substack by food writer Mallika Basu, who describes children’s menus as a contentious topic. She notes that they often feature a monotonous selection of fish fingers, burgers, and pizzas, designed to keep children entertained while parents enjoy their meals. This situation resonates with many parents who find themselves rushing through their food, hoping to finish before their child becomes restless.<\/p>\n
Basu elaborates on the issue, explaining that restaurants face a dilemma: they must cater to what children will eat to remain profitable, yet this perpetuates a monotonous diet that lacks excitement. She argues that without offering more adventurous and appealing options, children’s culinary experiences will remain limited.<\/p>\n
Some establishments are challenging this norm by introducing a variety of flavors and creative dishes for kids. Motivated by this, I decide to take my daughter on a month-long journey to explore different children’s menus and identify what makes a great one.<\/p>\n
Our first stop is Domo, a Sardinian restaurant in Sheffield known for its extensive kids’ menu. I appreciate the range of choices, which includes caprese salad, various pasta options, chicken Milanese, and customizable pizzas. I present the options to my daughter, hoping to inspire her culinary curiosity.<\/p>\n
She opts for a chip pizza, a dish that has roots in Naples since the 1970s. I can’t help but feel a twinge of disappointment as I watch her dig into a pizza topped with fried potatoes. Reflecting on Basu\u2019s insight, I realize that while it’s important to give children some autonomy, guiding them towards more adventurous choices is equally vital.<\/p>\n
When I ask her to rate the meal, she responds by playfully inserting a chip in her nose and giggling instead of offering a score.<\/p>\n
Next, we meet friends at the Devonshire pub in Baslow, where the children’s menu features the expected fish and chips along with options like cottage pie and a beetroot burger. I try to make the alternatives sound appealing, but once again, my daughter chooses fish and chips. It dawns on me that the quality of a children’s menu often hinges on a child’s mood and willingness to experiment.<\/p>\n
The dishes served are a step above typical children’s fare, complete with a slice of lemon and pea shoots, though my daughter pays little attention to them. As a parent, I appreciate the effort made to enhance the dining experience.<\/p>\n
When I ask her to rate the lunch, she shrugs, saying she doesn’t understand the question and heads outside.<\/p>\n
After returning to London, I take my daughter to Tonkotsu, a Japanese restaurant known for its engaging atmosphere. Upon arrival, the waitress immediately engages her with options for her juice cup and provides crayons and stickers, highlighting the importance of a welcoming environment for young diners.<\/p>\n
The kids’ bento boxes, featuring noodles and various proteins, capture her interest. She selects the Yummy Yasai bento, and the edamame proves to be a hit, with its interactive eating experience. The colorful sauces and broth provide an engaging dining experience, and she praises the soup as “very marvelous,” a refreshing change from her usual ketchup-laden chips.<\/p>\n
This aligns with the insights of food writer Thomasina Miers, who suggests that allowing children to experiment with flavors, such as providing lemon or vinegar at the table, encourages them to try new things rather than feeling forced into it.<\/p>\n
When I ask her to rate her meal, she exclaims, “One hundred forty million a billion!” indicating her delight. I inquire why, and she points to her noodles as the reason. This outing is a clear triumph.<\/p>\n
Feeling encouraged by our success, I discover a unique five-course tasting menu designed for children at Apricity, a green Michelin-starred restaurant in Mayfair. Intrigued, I decide to take my daughter there after her dance class on a Saturday.<\/p>\n
Chef-owner Chantelle Nicholson explains that the goal of this menu is to introduce children to flavors they may not typically encounter or appreciate in their everyday meals, aiming to broaden their culinary horizons.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As we prepare to dine out, my four-year-old enthusiastically declares her choice: fish and chips with plenty of ketchup. While this classic dish sounds appealing, I can’t help but feel that the adventurous spirit of childhood should be nurtured with meals that encourage broader tastes, rather than steering towards the familiar comfort of beige foods. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4422,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[229,214,101,1023,597,236,100,88],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4423","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uk-children","category-uk-family","category-uk-food","category-uk-hospitality-industry","category-uk-life-and-style","category-uk-parents-and-parenting","category-uk-restaurants","category-uk"],"yoast_head":"\n