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News & ArtsTuesday, February 24, 2009
Chow Children: Seen, Heard?
Posted by Bethany Jean Clement on Tue, Feb 24, 2009 at 2:37 PM
Mark your calendar—whether it's to go or to stay the hell away—for the return of the Family Dining Series.
Back by popular demand ("so high during the first series...that the restaurants were booked within a few days"), it's designated family-friendly nights at Seattle restaurants:
MARCH
March 17: Monsoon Capitol Hill, 615 19th Ave. E., 206-325-2111
March 24: Osteria La Spiga, 1429 12th Ave., 206-323-8881
APRIL
April 5: Monsoon East, 10245 Main St. (Bellevue), 425-635-1112
MAY
May 4: Monsoon East, 10245 Main St. (Bellevue), 425-635-1112
May 5: Monsoon Capitol Hill, 615 19th Ave. E., 206-325-2111
May 10: Lark, 926 12th Ave., 206-323-5275; Mother’s Day steak-and-eggs brunch, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., $40 per person (3 courses for adults), children 12 and under, $12.
Per a public relations human:
The point of the series is to create nights at restaurants when families can dine without feeling self-conscious, because they will be surrounded by other families. Even though you could bring your family to any of these restaurants on any given night, chances are, you will get stares if your infant cries out or your toddler gets squirmy.
It's not about transforming these restaurants into Gymboree; it's simply about creating a stigma-free night when parents can enjoy great food and expose their future foodies to the culture of dining out. There will be menu items for children at each restaurant that reflect the cuisine—no fried chicken fingers and pizza. In particular, La Spiga will be launching its new permanent children's menu.
The Family Dining Series is brought to you by something called Future Foodies of America (hatred of the word "foodie" may be found here).
[Families love Vios on Capitol Hill because there's a pit full of toys you can hurl your children into. I went recently with friends, whose kids deeply enjoyed the small-scale toy stove. The food was good, but MAN WAS IT LOUD IN THERE.]
Photo from the Vios website.
1
The phrase "future foodie" made me rolf just a little.
Sounds like a decent gimmick to get families business to me, but if it's merely a mythical stigma that keeps families home, they should remember that fellow parents are annoyed by badly behaved children the same as singles are.
My sympathies to the wait staff.
Sounds like a decent gimmick to get families business to me, but if it's merely a mythical stigma that keeps families home, they should remember that fellow parents are annoyed by badly behaved children the same as singles are.
My sympathies to the wait staff.
2
Hope they realize they need to tip extra...getting out the vacuume and/or the mop to "clear" a table is not par for the course.
3
Hopefully they're teaching the "future foodies" that part of the "culture of dining" is that children are to be seen, not heard.
6
Thanks for the warning...
why would you WANT to take kids to any of these restaurants? None of them serve kid-friendly food and none of them have kid-friendly prices.
Does little Spencer and Annabelle really want to give up a night of eating their Tofurky sandwiches and Trader Joe's Mac n Cheese while watching a Jonas Brothers dvd to hang out in some posh restaurant?
why would you WANT to take kids to any of these restaurants? None of them serve kid-friendly food and none of them have kid-friendly prices.
Does little Spencer and Annabelle really want to give up a night of eating their Tofurky sandwiches and Trader Joe's Mac n Cheese while watching a Jonas Brothers dvd to hang out in some posh restaurant?
7
@6, No worries; we have no plans to go out to eat at any "posh restaurants" for the rest of this recession (the next decade and a half?), kids or no.
Also, my kids would rather starve than eat "tofurkey" and I've never been in Trader Joe's even though I've lived within walking distance from one for at least a dozen years.
Also, my kids would rather starve than eat "tofurkey" and I've never been in Trader Joe's even though I've lived within walking distance from one for at least a dozen years.
8
@2
You have just brought memories that I had repressed for many years which involve my time spent working in a "family friendly restaurant." I couldn't eat cheerios for many years after the post family apocalypse that families can visit upon a table or booth. Generally they were crappy tippers to boot. But not as bad as the Sunday post church (this was in NC) bible banger crowds we got who would often tip not in cash but in bible pamphlets.
You have just brought memories that I had repressed for many years which involve my time spent working in a "family friendly restaurant." I couldn't eat cheerios for many years after the post family apocalypse that families can visit upon a table or booth. Generally they were crappy tippers to boot. But not as bad as the Sunday post church (this was in NC) bible banger crowds we got who would often tip not in cash but in bible pamphlets.
9
My nephew once threw me for a loop by ordering escargot at a restaurant. He was nine at the time. Ate the whole plate.
Give kids a chance to try new things and they'll often take it willingly. I feel sorry for children who are/were raised solely on dumbed-down food. They grow up to be adults who look back fondly on chicken nuggets.
Give kids a chance to try new things and they'll often take it willingly. I feel sorry for children who are/were raised solely on dumbed-down food. They grow up to be adults who look back fondly on chicken nuggets.
10
"families can dine without feeling self-conscious"
-News Flash-
Families with well brought up well behaved children can dine anywhere and anytime without feeling self-conscious.
If you have a tribe of no-neck-monsters that are disobedient and disrespect others, you should be more than self-conscious. You should be deeply ashamed (and pistol whipped).
Suckling infants should be dined with at home. Period.
-News Flash-
Families with well brought up well behaved children can dine anywhere and anytime without feeling self-conscious.
If you have a tribe of no-neck-monsters that are disobedient and disrespect others, you should be more than self-conscious. You should be deeply ashamed (and pistol whipped).
Suckling infants should be dined with at home. Period.
11
Correction-
Suckling infants and any other person (of any age) that can not successfully operate a fork and knife should be dined with at home.
Period. Period.
Suckling infants and any other person (of any age) that can not successfully operate a fork and knife should be dined with at home.
Period. Period.
12
i don't need family night. if some cunt in skinny pants dont like my nephews they can fuck off to some other hipster dive and cry in their pbr. they can write a poem about how my snotty nephews oppressed them and read it at a slam. lol
14
@7: if you've never been in the grocery that's within walking distance of your house, AND it's a trader joes, you're a double dumbass.
TJ's is a good thing. stop hating & go. you have to buy groceries somewhere.
TJ's is a good thing. stop hating & go. you have to buy groceries somewhere.
15
@13: Yes it is. For those on a Mac, open Terminal and type "say -v Albert" and cut and paste the comment text. Hilarity ensues.
17
Holy crap, the world just shuddered on its axis. I agreed with YGBKM on something.
Ah well, broken clocks, blind squirrels, whatever.
Ah well, broken clocks, blind squirrels, whatever.
18
This isn't mentioned, but the first round of these dinners was from 5pm-7pm. My wife and I took our nine-month-old to Tilth at 5:30 on a Tuesday, which inconveniences no one because A) it's 5 fucking 30 and B) it's fucking Tuesday. We would gladly eat at 5:30 early in the week if it means eating in a place we love without shelling out for a babysitter. Our little girl loved the kidfood Tilth lovingly made and we loved being there with her. And yes, we tipped great and sent a note of thanks to the management afterwards. The people who go to these events aren't the ones you see at Spaghetti Factory or Red Robin.
20
@18 I totally agree! The people who bring their kids to these events aren't simply busting out of their usual "Chili's rut" -- these are parents who dined out at these restaurants pre-kids. To everyone else -- quit your whining. Someday you too will have kids and you won't want to pack up and move to Redmond and hole away in some suburban hell. So give us urban parents an effing break already!
21
Oh my. This seemed to have raised the ire of people for no real discernible reason.
If people would like to take their kids to a good restaurant, and they have the money for a once-in-a-while splurge, why should it bother you? Kids like food. Our daughter loves food. It's a sad myth that kids need chicken nuggets and boxed macaroni and cheese to be kids.
But really, what everyone has overlooked is that this is for the parents. Even if you love food and your kids, you're often too tired, or can't find a shirt without spit-up on it, to go out to a place like this. It's impossible to explain, and I would have found this statement off-putting before I had our baby, but you really are part of a different club when you have kids. If a bunch of parents want to eat good food in the kind of place they used to go before they had kids, and bring their darlings with them, and meet a bunch of other parents with similar interests, then why should it bother you?
I'm with John Scott Tynes. Are you going to dinner on Tuesday at 5? Come on. Lighten up.
If people would like to take their kids to a good restaurant, and they have the money for a once-in-a-while splurge, why should it bother you? Kids like food. Our daughter loves food. It's a sad myth that kids need chicken nuggets and boxed macaroni and cheese to be kids.
But really, what everyone has overlooked is that this is for the parents. Even if you love food and your kids, you're often too tired, or can't find a shirt without spit-up on it, to go out to a place like this. It's impossible to explain, and I would have found this statement off-putting before I had our baby, but you really are part of a different club when you have kids. If a bunch of parents want to eat good food in the kind of place they used to go before they had kids, and bring their darlings with them, and meet a bunch of other parents with similar interests, then why should it bother you?
I'm with John Scott Tynes. Are you going to dinner on Tuesday at 5? Come on. Lighten up.
22
I'm really grateful for FF and the local eateries for putting things like this on for people who want to take their kids out to eat wholesome, lovingly prepared meals. Creating a new version of 'kid friendly' isn't just about a place that where it doesn't matter if the kid screams, throws up, or squeels with delight. Its about rejecting the myth that kids have to be entertained by their food, and that good wholesome, well prepared food isn't enough for them. I haven't gotten a chance to go to an event yet, but I'm certainly planning on it......once more, I always tip well, and if I like these place, I will return, with or without my daughter ...
23
YGBKM - The parents bringing their kids to these restaurants during this time are people who enjoy good food and want their children to as well, that's all. It is not an attack on you. Just because someone has a infant/toddler doesn't mean they have to be a recluse for your enjoyment. Kids are a necessary part of the world for life to continue. Those who choose to have them don't have to stop living.
Like others have said, this is a great way to introduce kids to food that is not box mac-n-cheese and chicken fingers. The earlier you introduce a good variety of food to your kids the more foods they'll be open to in the future.
Parents who take their kids to events like this or just out to restaurants can teach their children how to behave in this environment. I won't bring my toddler out if I know she's been in a bad mood and will throw things and scream. If she does this while we're out, I take her outside and if she doesn't calm down my husband gets our dinner to go. I tip well, especially as a former waitress. Don't let a few bad apples ruin your view of parents and kids, YGBKM.
Like others have said, this is a great way to introduce kids to food that is not box mac-n-cheese and chicken fingers. The earlier you introduce a good variety of food to your kids the more foods they'll be open to in the future.
Parents who take their kids to events like this or just out to restaurants can teach their children how to behave in this environment. I won't bring my toddler out if I know she's been in a bad mood and will throw things and scream. If she does this while we're out, I take her outside and if she doesn't calm down my husband gets our dinner to go. I tip well, especially as a former waitress. Don't let a few bad apples ruin your view of parents and kids, YGBKM.
24
Before I had kids I was just as snotty as the folks writing on here.
Just wait you hipsters, soon you'll be thankful that Seattle is such a kid friendly city. You will give in!
Just wait you hipsters, soon you'll be thankful that Seattle is such a kid friendly city. You will give in!
25
Come on! Grownups like to be entertained by our food as much as kids do...it's why we dine out! I agree that you shouldn't have to be annoyed by misbehaving litle children if you're paying a lot of money to eat in a nice place. That's why you should go after eight, when all of us pesky families are likely to have cleared out. (Incidentally, I find that many parents I know won't take their kids to a restaurant if the kid is likely to be a pain the ass. It's no fun for anyone.)
As for condemning suckling babes to their homes until they are no longer suckling...Fer Christ's sake, the moms need to get out! Deal with the cycle of life and avert your eyes.
As for condemning suckling babes to their homes until they are no longer suckling...Fer Christ's sake, the moms need to get out! Deal with the cycle of life and avert your eyes.
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