Mon, Jul 13, 2009

Diva

Food is the universal language of love, some might say. Even though the school holidays are over, there are still plenty of fun food activities to do with your child - like exploring new restaurants and taking cooking workshops together.

We round up the latest offerings in town.

Restaurants

Gordon Grill for the budding food connoisseur

The children's menu is suitable for kids aged 7 - 12.

It's probably a new concept in terms of family eating - a degustation menu just for the kids. Gordon Grill at the Goodwood Park hotel has just launched just such a menu, specially created for the budding food connoisseur. 

Kids can munch on old favourites exquisitely jazzed up. A favourite among kiddie gourmets are the meatballs, which are made using freshly ground wagyu beef and juicy bits of foie gras before being covered with a velvety cheddar cheese sauce. 

For something with a bit more of an Asian twist, there is the double-boiled chicken broth, an intensely-flavoured clear soup that cradles a perfectly poached egg. The egg is harmoniously topped off with the nutty-tasting Iberico ham, made from the Spanish black pig. Portions in the children's menu are smaller to cater to diners aged seven to 12.

Parents are not left out either, with new a la carte dishes, like the wagyu beef carpaccio ($28) and the dessert platter for two ($22).

The new children's menu is available for lunch (three courses, $38) and dinner (six courses, $68). There's a special promotion on weekends - with every adult who orders a four-course set lunch or main course, one child enjoys a complimentary three-course child degustation lunch.


Let your kids have their fun at 3-Monkeys

Don't want the hassle of planning a kid's party? Consider throwing one at 3-Monkeys.

What better way to let your kids have fun and for you to have a breather than to have a place that will plan your child's menu, and throw in a party to boot on his special day?

3-Monkeys, which opened its second outlet at Holland Village, offers a comprehensive children's birthday theme party package to cater to harried parents who want to provide a memorable time for their little ones.

With an entire second floor devoted to letting children have their time in the sun, kids can let off steam here and still indulge in yummy food, as there are two kids' menu to choose from.

There are six party themes to choose from: Pirates and Mermaids, Cowboys and Red Indians and Fairies and Gypsies and staff there provide the birthday kids and her friends two hours of non-stop party time with activities like face-painting, manicures and tattoo for all guests, themed costumes for the birthday child and other child guests to wear on that day. To top it off, a 2-kg birthday cake is thrown into the mix and there are themed goodie bags for every child to bring home at the end of the day.

Parents and adult guests can either choose to hang around the party to snap photos for memories, or choose to chill with a banana blend ($7.50) as their children let off steam.

The food at the jungle-themed restaurant is also suitable for adults - we recommend starting with its appetizer (Awesome Adventure, $18.70).

3-Monkeys Café, Holland Village is located at 267 Holland Avenue, Singapore 278989. Opens daily from 11:00am to 06:00am. For reservations, please call 6469 1338.

Buddy Hoagies

Buddy Hoagies lets kids colour and sketch to their hearts' content.

If your child is an artistic genius who cannot sit still, she can let off some creative steam atBuddy Hoagies. This restaurant at Downtown East provides drawing paper for kids to colour and sketch to their hearts' content. Upon completing their masterpiece, they are able to place them on the restaurant's wall for all to admire.

Other popular kiddie-friendly features include puppets and children's reading material, so parents can feed and entertain their tykes.

Items in the kids set menu include fish and chips ($5.90) and spaghetti bolognese ($5.90).

Buddy Hoagies is located at 1 Pasir Ris Close, #02-126 E!Hub @ Downtown East. Call 6582 1477 for enquiries.

Just Acia

Parents don't have to worry about their children bumping into corners here.

Kid-friendly is one of the themes at this noodle and rice restaurant known for its value-for-money sets.

Not only are there  no sharp edges present in most of its furniture, kids can also have active fun at its play area.

Kids' meals start from $4.90 onwards, inclusive of a free toy and free-flow drinks.

Just Acia is located at 1 Pasir Ris Close, #01-30 Downtown East. Call 6581 8379 for enquiries.

Baking workshops

Here's an idea to get your children interested in the kitchen - baking workshops that promise to give you and your offspring some quality time together and then sample your hard work after that.

Here are some places which offer child-friendly bakery workshops:

Bakincow
This local baker specialising in scrumptous tofu cheesecakes offers fun parent-and-child baking workshops. Families can look forward to making delightfully themed creations, like the popular cookie bouquet - where baked goodies are colourfully arranged like a flower bouquet in a pot - and spaghetti cupcakes. The best part? You get to bring the goodies home. 

Workshops start from $40. Email bakincow@yahoo.com.sg for more details.

Genius R Us
A school for enrichment classes, it offers baking classes for kids as young as 2 1/2 years old. Courses start from $42 and include pizza and ice cream making.

Visit http://geniusrus.com for more details.

more: restaurants, bonding, food, baking, childhood