Expand ethnic horizons at the dinner table
When you see babies in bibs that announce “I'll Have the Domestic White” and dimpled arms peek out from toddler T-shirts that say “Sippee Cup Sommelier,” you know that the American foodie phenomenon has reached across the generations in a mere decade or two. The obvious way to expand a kid's palate is to start them young — after all, children in other countries are eating dried fish, pickled vegetables and curries by the time they're toddlers. Whether tyke or teenager, what simpler way to expose your child to the world than through food? Let the gastronomic world unfold for your family at some of these reliable restaurants and soon Junior will be ordering the upside-down bittersweet dark chocolate soufflé for the table to share.
You're in desperate need of Pad Thai, but the only noodles your kid knows are made by Chef Boy-Ar-Dee? Hit up one of the Big Bowl restaurants (Schaumburg, Lincolnshire and Chicago) that have a kids' menu that will satisfy both of you. Dan McGowan, president of Big Bowl, says that when it came time to create a menu for children, #8220;it had to be great and taste as good as everything on the adult menu.#8221; So they looked at the top ten sellers on the regular menu and made smaller versions. The teriyaki ribs with rice are a safe bet #8212; delicious baby back ribs sporting a sticky-sweet glaze are served with broccoli and jasmine rice #8212; or they may go for crunchy, sweet orange chicken. The kid's chicken Pad Thai is full of noodles and who wouldn't go for the kid's combo? It has meat on a stick (two chicken satays), filled noodles (two chicken pot stickers) and fun stuff to dunk into like plum and peanut sauces. Even the pickiest kidlets will go for the chicken noodle soup (made from a true stock, with long wheat noodles, chicken and a few veggies thrown in). There's no mystery meat here #8212; chicken and beef are all natural, pork is heirloom, entrees are trans fat free and contain no corn syrup. Kids can get free refills on milk and juice but not soda.
#376; Big Bowl: 1950 E. Higgins, Schaumburg (locations in Lincolnshire, Chicago also), (847) 517-8881, bigbowl.com
When you have a yen for sushi, point your culinary compass to historic downtown Hinsdale. Open for three months, Nabuki serves contemporary Japanese fusion cuisine and sushi by Executive Chef Juan Perez who has fashioned a seasonal menu with a Latin flair. The list of items just for kids includes a hearty chicken teriyaki, stir fried udon noodles with vegetables, Panko-breaded chicken breast strips served with edamame (lightly salted steamed soybeans that are fun to eat) and a perfect intro to sushi #8212; a hot dog roll. It's an all-beef hot dog rolled in rice and sliced just like traditional maki rolls.
#8220;The hot dog roll is, by far, our most popular dish with kids. Rolled with white rice, then fried, cut and served with ketchup, the hot dog roll is truly unique to Nabuki. Though I would say that the udon noodles seem to be a close second. Another great dish for kids to try is the Nabu chicken fingers served with edamame. Once kids try the edamame, they absolutely love it.#8221;
You'll find plenty on the regular menu that young palates will appreciate, too: shumai (steamed shrimp dumplings served with ponzu dipping sauce), grilled chicken on skewers with teriyaki glaze and sesame seeds and 21 tempura items from the traditional shrimp, green beans and sweet potato to chicken, lobster, pumpkin, mushrooms and avocado. And those are just the appetizers. If they like tempura, they can graduate to rolls such as the Godzilla -shrimp tempura, cream cheese, avocado, cucumber or anything with barbecued eel since it has a sweet finish.
#376; Nabuki, 18 E. First St., Hinsdale, (630) 654-8880, nabukihinsdale.com
You dream of your next visit to a sushi counter but wonder if Junior will chuck the California roll at the nearest table? In the city, SUSHISAMBA rio not only wows adults with its inventive menu but has also dedicated a good amount of time developing a diverse children's menu that incorporates the restaurant's notable Brazilian, Peruvian and Japanese fare. The restaurant recently conducted a tasting with local children to get feedback about food and to hear what they want from dining out. Among the choices are a Baby Bento box of grilled organic chicken, steak or salmon served with purple potato mash, veggie roll and seasonal fruit; or go all Peruvian with Anticuchos #8212; grilled organic chicken, beef, shrimp or vegetable skewers sided with jumbo corn on the cob and seasonal fruit. While they're taking the plunge with Sushi Bites (four bite-sized rice balls topped with tuna, yellowtail, salmon and cucumber served with a veggie roll and seasonal fruit) explain how thousands of Japanese émigrés landed in South America at the turn of the last century. Tell them Brazil boasts the largest number of Japanese people outside of Japan then it's onto Mochi, traditional Japanese ice cream bonbons sprinkled with candy confetti and a cool South American drink like a coconut milk, pineapple and mango juice concoction.
#376; SUSHISAMBA rio, 504 N. Wells St., Chicago, (312) 595-2300, sushisamba.com
One of Chicagoland's hippest Japanese fusion restaurants, RA Sushi, offers youngsters a class they can sink their teeth into. Kids Sushi 101 is a hands-on workshop for children ages 8 and up. The two-hour tutorial, ideal for a birthday party or afternoon out, includes a take-home apron, sushi rolling instructions, ingredients for both California Rolls and Candy Sushi Rolls, a beverage, and of course, sushi to eat. Cost is $15 per child. Register for the next one by calling (630) 627-6800
#376; RA Sushi, 310 Yorktown Center, Lombard, (630) 627-6800, RAsushi.com
Color their world!Children's lunches in Finland consist of raw or cooked vegetables covering half the plate and proteins and carbs each taking up one-quarter of the plate. Finnish kids gobble up carrot and beet salads. How do you get yours to go for the green (or orange and red and yellow)? Take #8216;em to South America by way of Schaumburg or Chicago at Texas de Brazil, a Brazilian steakhouse.
If they're meat eaters, they'll like the drama of gauchos slicing beef, pork and chicken off swords tableside in true Churrascaria fashion. If not, the 50- to 60-item salad show in the middle of the space may be your kid's nirvana. Younger kids adore buffets because they can gratify their hunger immediately and they can fill their own plates. At Texas de Brazil, teenagers can graze the salad offerings and stay on their diet or wolf down tons of fresh food. The salad structure is paved with composed salads like potato and pasta salads as well as various lettuces, cukes, tomatoes, crispy bacon, croutons and all the fixings for a traditional salad. Then there's fun stuff like baby corn and miniature beets, olives, caramelized sweet onions, shrimp, salami and French cheeses, asparagus slathered in strawberry sauce and everything is artistically plated and enticing to even the youngest eyes. Soup could be cream of red or yellow pepper, cream of artichoke, or a rich lobster bisque #8212; each perfect with the light, slightly sweet Brazilian cheese biscuits that hit the table. The table gets sides such as mashed spuds and hot bananas covered in a sugary confection, too. Adults may go gaga over the February special on the salad extravaganza #8212; seared tuna served with a house-made tangy citrus sauce.
Adjacent to Woodfield Shopping Center, Texas de Brazil offers family-friendly dining: kids 6 and under are free and gauchos aged 7-12 pay half price. All kids get fun plastic cups with straws and lids and Wiki Stix #8212; a moldable wax toy to play with while you get another helping of filet mignon.
#376; Texas de Brazil, 5 Woodfield Shopping Center, Schaumburg, (847) 413-1600, 51 E Ohio St, Chicago, (312) 670-1006,
Vive La France!The lunch line at French schools stocks everything from veal scallops to fish with lemon sauce, sided with fresh bread and salad. Dessert? Fruit and yogurt. After all, young Jacques will be having chocolate mousse at home later. For an authentic taste of France, take your petite French chefs to L'eiffel Bistrot Creperie in South Barrington. Classical preparations of bistro dishes and #8220;nouvelle cuisine#8221; made with locally sourced ingredients whenever possible keep diners returning to the chic spot in the Arboretum of South Barrington. Unadventurous kids may not be keen on frog legs or snails in garlic butter but Marketing Manager Kathy Bay-Lichte recommends kids/tweens/teens try a Croque Monsieur sandwich (toasted brioche bread, ham, cheese and béchamel sauce) or one of the savory crepes like La Bistrot Crepe (country ham, Swiss cheese and a béchamel Parmesan sauce.) Ask them where they think French fries were invented and let them loose into a plate of authentic pommes frites. #8220;Our desserts would be a huge hit with kids as well. We have a variety of crepes with different fillings as well as a delicious apple tart (tarte Tatin) plus Mousse au Chocolat and Profiteroles.
#376; L'eiffel Bistrot Creperie, 100 W. Higgins Road, South Barrington, (847) 428-4783, leiffelbistrot.com
Other French restaurants that are particularly good with young diners include Bistro 110 and Bistrot Zinc, both in Chicago. Chef Dominique Tougne of Bistro 110 has a big personality, two children of his own and the chops. Joel Robuchon, thought to be the best chef on the planet, recruited Tougne to be executive sous chef at Le Relais du Parc in Paris in the early 1990s. The menu includes Julia Child's roasted duck a l'orange.
#376; Bistro 110, 110 E. Pearson St., Chicago, (312) 266-3110, bistro110restaurant.com
Bistrot Zinc is a very approachable and its weekend brunch menu offers kid-friendly items such as crepes with bananas and Nutella or with yogurt and fruit. In addition, the daily quiche would be a fine choice for kids who love eggs.
#376; Bistrot Zinc, 1131 N. State St., Chicago, (312) 337-1131, bistrotzinc.com
There may not be a better avenue to expanding taste for global cuisines than by having them cook it up themselves. The storied Le Titi de Paris offers monthly #8220;Cooking with Kids#8221; classes during which kids spend time in the kitchen with Chef Susan Maddox and the Le Titi De Paris staff learning how to prepare cuisine magnifique! On March 6, the young toques will prepare #8220;Bistro Favorites#8221; in a two-hour hands-on class followed by a three-course lunch. Or wait until April for #8220;It's Creamy: Crème Brûlée, Custard Filled Crêpes, Pot au Crème, and More.#8221;
Apron and recipes are provided for each student for $45 per child, for children 8 and older.
#376; Le Titi de Paris, 1015 W. Dundee Road, Arlington Heights, (847) 506-0222, letitideparis.com