Whether you’re child is 2 or 12-years-old, it’s always a nice idea to encourage good eating habits and a healthy interest in food and cooking. As a celebration of all things food, we’ve put together a list of great restaurant ideas, cooking classes, cookbooks, and toys that will nurture the littlest of chefs. —
Foodie Kids Eat Out!
Eating out in NYC with your children does not mean you have
to be relegated to your local pizza joint, greasy spoon or (gasp!) a “theme”
restaurant. There are plenty of amazing restaurants that welcome children and
actually serve more than the standard chicken fingers and mac n’ cheese to help
broaden your little one’s culinary horizons. To help lead the way, we asked Carla Sullivan of our Yummy Delicious blog to list her family favs.
Ruby Foo’s: Located in Times Square, this Chinese food destination
features kid-sized portions of spareribs and shrimp dumplings. Visit on a
Sunday and your tot will learn the art of origami!
Rosa Mexicano: If you haven’t taken
your child to a Mexican restaurant then why not start at the top with Rosa Mexicano?
This high-class Mexican joint offers entrees such as Tortilla Pie and Tortilla
Rolls especially for the kiddies, if they don’t fill up first on the guacamole.
Sushi Samba: Yes, there is a kids menu at both locations of this hip sushi restaurant.
Tots can master their chopstick skills while dining on yummy authentic Japanese
dishes including “baby bento” and “sushi bites.”
Candle Cafe: Trying to raise your child healthy, vegetarian, organic or even gluten-free?
With such yummy entrees as grilled seitan skewers and pizza made with tapioca
cheese and truffle tomato sauce, kids will be begging to come back.
Fatty Crab: Craving something
different – why not Malaysian? Kids can try the fish fry
or dumplings with soy sauce at this very cool UWS outpost of the W. Village hot
spot.
TriBeCa Grill: A downtown favorite, TriBeCa Grill is a culinary gem. Kids will relish
American classics like herb roasted chicken with smashed potatoes and yes,
chicken fingers. But when dining on white tablecloths and fine china, it’s not
your typical kids fare.
Carla Sullivan is the
founder and Mommy Muncher of MiniMunchers.com,
the internet’s only source and resource for restaurants that are kid-friendly in
NYC.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Foodie Kids Cook!
Cooking instruction classes are no longer just for adults. Now, kids can thrive in the kitchen while learning basic skills in food preparation, hygiene, cooking, and baking. Here are some of the city’s finest institutions for cultivating mini chefs.
74th St. MAGIC: Kids can get a head-start in the kitchen and learn all about
cooking at 74th St. MAGIC.
Preschoolers can learn cooking basics, including how to mix, measure, and pour.
They’ll whip up kid-friendly recipes and snacks while learning about fresh
produce and the basics of food prep.
apple seeds: A “COOKing Monsters” class at apple seeds introduces kids to
various types of cuisine and the basics of measuring and mixing ingredients to
make a yummy meal. This is part art class, part math class, and a whole lotta
eatin’!
Home Cooking New York: Offering private at-home cooking classes, parties for kids and summer cooking camp, Home Cooking New York teaches essential kitchen skills and more sophisticated techniques to children of all ages.
The Art Farm in the City: The “Mini Chef” Cooking Class brings a “Culinary Playground”
to the farm, teaching kids the basics of mixing and measuring, all about good
nutrition, and cuisine from various cultures. Children of all ages will develop
a passion for cooking, with age appropriate menus. It’s a taste bud voyage!
Taste Buds: With classes ranging from “Summer Backyard Barbecue” to
“Cooking Science,” there’s something for everyone to make and bake at Taste
Buds. Your kids will have fun in the kitchen while learning how to zest, knead
and decorate everything from pizza to sushi. Classes are held at Taste Buds’s
new kitchen studio—the only one in Manhattan
designed just for budding chefs.
Cook with Class: Chef Rob Endelman offers cooking classes in the comfort of
your own home with his private one on-one and group lessons for children 6
years and older. With a focus on local and seasonal ingredients, Chef Rob
teaches growing kids how to avoid processed foods and appreciate the real
stuff.
Kidville: “Silver Spoons & Plastic Plates” introduces kids to
international cuisine and helps them create three-course meals from a different
country, like China,
Mexico, Japan,
or Chile.
Gymtime Rhythm and Glues: Combining kitchen time with gym time, this venue offers cooking and gymnastics in one comprehensive class. Kids will learn how to tumble and twirl alongside mixing and stirring.
JCC of Manhattan: Little chefs can learn basic cooking skills at The JCC.
With classes focused on culinary delights like challah bread and cinnamon rolls,
your child will gain confidence in the kitchen while observing dietary laws and
learning new nut-free recipes. A cooking camp for teens and parent-child
instruction are also available.
NY Kids Club: With NY Kids Club, children prepare delicious and healthy
meals. This is a hands-on, culinary arts immersion class, after which students will
receive their very own recipe book!
Young Chefs
Academy: The Young Chefs
Academy offers cooking classes to
children in a fun environment that encourages discovery and creativity. Through
weekly cooking classes, workshops and cooking camps, YCA teaches a variety of
food preparation skills, kitchen safety, table setting, and menu planning.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Foodie Kids Play!
A great way to encourage a curiosity in food and cooking is with kiddie-sized versions of kitchen toys. Little ones will want to imitate Mom and Dad with their own utensils and kitchen gadgets!
Kaiser Bakeware KinderKinder Wooden Baking Tools Set: This 5-piece set is perfect for tiny hands in the kitchen. The young chef at
home will discover a whole new world of baking with a “my-size” spoon, pastry
brush, spatula, pastry cutter/wheel and rolling pin.
Cuisipro Zoo Animals Cookie Cutter Set: Shape your own wild animals—monkeys, hippos and elephants!—before decorating a
full family zoo. These cookie cutters are made out of safe, durable plastic and
are nonstick for easy cutting.
Kids Enamel Cookware Set: Raising the next Julia Child? Allow your mini chef to master the art of cooking
with this enamel cookware set. It includes a stock pot, sauté pan, and mini
pot, with lids to match!
Melissa & Doug’s Wooden Bake & Serve Brownies Set: For the smallest of bakers, Melissa & Doug’s Wooden Bake
& Serve Brownies are perfect practice for the real fudgy deal. With six
“slice and serve” brownies in a pretend baking tray, toddlers can practice
their oven mitt dexterity. Then, decorate the brownies with assorted toppings.
Melissa & Doug’s Food Groups Play Food Set: A well-balanced diet requires practice and planning. To help children on an
early path to success, let them play around with Melissa & Doug’s Food
Groups Play Food Set. This wooden set includes items from the five food groups.
Watch your little ones start to recognize cheese, cereal, fish and eggs.
Pottery Barn Kid’s Red Retro Kitchen Collection: Don’t be jealous if your little one has a nicer kitchen than
you! The Kid’s Red Retro Kitchen Collection by Pottery Barn will have you yearning
for the 50s. With an old-fashioned icebox, stainless-steel sink and stovetop
oven, you’ll have a hard time pulling your kids out of this kitchen.
Gripables Comfortable Cutlery: Utensils that kids will actually want
to use are a parent’s dream. Luckily, Gripables makes a Comfortable Cutlery
collection for children of all ages. With easy-to-grip plastic handles, this
silverware is available in blue, pink, red, and green.
Rosie Hippo’s Fruit Rattles: Soft and plush, Rosie Hippo’s freshly-picked crocheted fruit rattles are made
out of organic cotton, perfect for newborns. The bright colors will have
your child learning how to say “orange”
and “banana” before long!
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Foodie Kids Read!
Another fun way to involve your little ones in the kitchen is with kid-friendly cookbooks. We found some great reads that not only offer wonderful recipes, but also encourage child participation. Here are some ideas to get you inspired.%uFFFD
Helllo, Cupcake!:
Irresistibly Playful Creations Anyone Can Make by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson
Featured on The Martha Stewart Show the Hello, Cupcake! cookbook will take you and your tots on a fabulous
decorating ride. From simple and quick-to-make cupcakes to those made from
scratch, this book will teach you how to wow your family in cupcake making and
decorating. No skills or fancy equipment required!
The Toddler Cookbook
by Annabel Karmel
Acclaimed cookbook author Annabel Karmel has written the
perfect kitchen primer for budding chefs. From tropical ice pops to crunchy
chicken dippers, The Toddler Cookbook will
give you easy recipe ideas for cooking with children.
The Family Dinner: Great Ways to Connect with Your Kids, One Meal at a
Time by Laurie David
In an effort to keep the family mealtime ritual alive, film and TV producer
Laurie David sought out more than 50 child-care experts for The Family Dinner. Make
your family dinners easier to prepare and longer lasting with this fun cookbook,
which includes ideas for table games, creative table settings and how to
involve children in the kitchen.
Brain Foods for Kids: Over 100
Recipes to Boost Your Child’s Intelligence by Nicola Graimes
It’s a known fact that foods can improve one’s intelligence and Brain Foods combines your child’s
favorite meals with a focus on brain power. This clear and easy to follow
cookbook is filled with the latest information for brain boosting foods for
your tot from pregnancy to primary school.
The Everything Kids’ Cookbook:
From mac n cheese to double chocolate chip cookies – 90 recipes to have some
finger-lickin fun by Sandra K Nissenberg
The Everything Kids’ Cookbook teaches your child the basics cooking,
kitchen safety and nutrition. Written by a certified dietician, this fun
cookbook lends mom and dad a new pair of hands in the kitchen. With 90 new
recipes for all three meals of the day, you’ll have a new young chef before you
know it!
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-%uFFFD
Foodie Kids Go To Market!
Greenmarkets are the perfect teaching tool for helping your kids make the connection between what’s on their plate and where it comes from. Visit one of the city’s local markets for delicious offerings and to spark your child’s culinary curiosity. Also, check out a recent Yummy Delicious blog post from Jessi Walter on teaching our children about the environment.
Union Square Greenmarket: The largest and most well-known market in the city is open
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 8 am to 6 pm. About 140 farmers, fishermen, and
bakers sell their goods, providing hundreds of varieties of meats, cheese,
fresh fruits and veggies, artisan breads, flowers, and wine. Weekly events and
activities are provided. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays the Green Market
Education Station hosts school tours for students of all ages, featuring
interactive displays, tastings, and cooking demonstrations. On Saturdays, the
National Gourmet Institute leads cooking demos. Throughout the week, LES
Ecology Center
collects kitchen scraps for composting.
Abingdon Square Greenmarket: This market has been a staple of Greenwich
Village for over 15 years, offering city-dwellers fresh fish, goat
and cow milk cheeses, organic baked goods, and pasture raised eggs. Every
Saturday morning (8 am – 2 pm), the market hosts GrowNYC’s Compost Collection.
Bowling
Green
Greenmarket: Lower Manhattan’s Bowling
Green plaza houses its own greenmarket on Tuesdays and
Thursdays (8
am – 5 pm). Families can stock up on the season’s
freshest fruit and vegetables, quiches, and pot pies.%uFFFD
City Hall Park Greenmarket: Open every Tuesday and Friday from 8 am to 5 pm, City Hall’s greenmarket sells
all kinds of fresh specialties from Pennsylvania to New
York. From sheep cheese to creamed honey,
this market has unique offerings.
Columbia Greenmarket: A cornucopia of produce is available
for Upper West side residents at the Columbia Greenmarket. Open Sundays and
Thursdays (8
am – 5 pm), vendors at this market sell cider, farm baked treats,
preserved fruits and vegetables, smoked meats, and maple syrup.
Dag Hammarskjold Plaza Greenmarket: Around the corner from the United Nations is the Dag
Hammarskjold Plaza Greenmarket, open Wednesdays (8
am – 6 pm). Classics like sweet corn or unusual
finds such as microgreens and pimientos de pardon can be found alongside
traditional glass bottled milk.
Port Authority Bus
Terminal Greenmarket: Unbeknownst to many New Yorkers, the Port Authority Bus
Terminal is home to a Greenmarket every Thursday 8 am to 6 pm. Whether it’s certified
organic vegetables, berries, or wine that you’re looking for, you can stock up
while waiting for your bus!
Tompkins Square Greenmarket: There’s something for everyone every Sunday (8
am – 6 pm) at Tompkins
Square Greenmarket–affordable and specialty produce, orchard fruit and
berries, live plants and flowers, farmstead cheese, meat, baked goods, honey,
and maple syrup. Meet the farmers who grow and harvest your food and enjoy
free seasonal cooking demonstrations.
Tribeca Greenmarket: The best meats, fruits and vegetables, plants, and doughnuts
in the tri-state area can be found at the Tribeca Greenmarket. Open Saturdays 8 am to 3 pm
throughout the year and Wednesdays in the summer and fall, this market offers
sustainable meats and certified organic foods.
Tucker Square Greenmarket:Located just next door Lincoln
Center, Tucker Square Greenmarket
offers quality farm fresh food, including over 80
varieties of apples! Bring your friends every Thursday and Saturday 8 am to 5 pm to
shop for produce or join in on community events such as recipe exchanges and
cooking demonstrations.
World Financial
Center Greenmarket: Previously housed beneath the World
Trade Center,
the World Financial Center Greenmarket continues to serve the loyal customers
of Lower Manhattan. Visitors to the hectic financial
distract can enjoy delicious offerings from local farms every Thursday 11 am to 7 pm,
including microbatch sour cherry juice!
97th Street Greenmarket: Serving the Upper West Side for the
past 25 years, the 97th Street
Green Market is one of the longest running markets in NYC. Open every Friday 8 am to 2 pm,
this market is always well-stocked with produce comes from New
York, New Jersey and the Hudson
Valley.
57th Street Greenmarket: The 57th Street
Greenmarket serves the freshest foods to Hell’s Kitchen and Midtown West. Open
Wednesdays and Saturdays 8 am to 6 pm, market-goers can select from a wide variety of plants
to decorate their gardens and juicy fruits, vegetables and dairy to use in the
kitchen.
BONUS EVENT! The 4th Annual Taste
of Greenmarket: On Wednesday, June 22 (6-10 pm), over 20 of New
York’s most renowned chefs—including Michael Anthony
of Gramercy Tavern and April Bloomfield of The Spotted Pig—will provide
tastings of Greenmarket-inspired signature dishes. Tickets are pricey (starting
at $225), but for a good cause. All proceeds will benefit Greenmarket’s Youth
Education Program. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
Contributing writers: Chandni Rathod, Gavriella Mahpour and Melanie Dostis
