DINE OUT IN STYLE

Site Default - 28 Apr 14

There are two types of toddlers when it comes to eating out – the will-sit-and-colour-in-for-ages variety (usually girls) and the let’s-tear-around-and-cause-havoc type (often boys). I’m blessed with two of the latter, so dining in public is usually a quick and stressful gulp-down-your-food experience coupled with mega death stares. No wonder I cowardly stick to the child-friendly chains, chewing on greasy dough balls and covering myself in moustache stickers in an effort to keep the peace.

After all, my boys have been known to ram into waiters at lightening speed, smash water jugs into smithereens, suffer major meltdowns over broken breadsticks, waste whole plates of food due to sulking under the table, start apple-juice-chucking fights and explode with jaw-dropping wailing when chef’s all out of chocolate sprinkles.
These horrific ordeals often leave me vowing never to leave the safety of my own kitchen again.

So when my husband suggested we try the local sushi restaurant the other weekend, I was dreading the consequences. And the thought of my little terrors armed with chopsticks filled me with fear. But, you know what? Our troublesome tots actually behaved themselves. They even seemed to relish tasting something new and a bit more daring than bog-standard margheritas or pesto pasta.

To our amazement, our normally frustratingly fussy eldest tucked into vegetable tempura and miso soup. And my fidgety youngest sat for an entire hour while chewing on edamame and playing with udon noodles (‘wiggly worms’ to him). It was a foodie revelation for them.

More importantly, it was the first time in four years that we’ve eaten out en famille and all enjoyed ourselves. We laughed at each other’s attempt at dining Japanese-style and everyone had a go at sampling the weird and wonderful dishes that kept appearing. Plus, I got to sip on my wine, rather than down it in one while making a quick pre-tantrum exit – because there weren’t any. Result.

Okay, so I admit I did still arm myself with a handbag of tricks – micro machines, Hot Wheels cars, emergency sweets and a Smartphone full of time-consuming apps. But at least we managed to have a angst-free lunch for once, with no stir-crazy running around or disgruntled looks from fellow diners.

And, now we’ve ticked sushi off the where-do-we-dare-take-the-kids list, I’m tempted to venture elsewhere for a family culinary adventure.

Any tips?

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Fiona Pennell lives in the Cotswolds with her husband and their two boys, Jack, 6, and Otto, 4. A former YOU magazine sub-editor, Fiona now spends her days being trampled on, going on slug hunts and dreaming of lie-ins. (Twitter: @fiona_pennell)

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