Aussie kids are ditching chips for sushi and other gourmet food
Aussie kids are saying nah to nuggets and chips and switching to sushi, scallops and other sophisticated fare as the next-gen gourmands regularly dine out at restaurants.
Lifestyle
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It’s goodbye chicken nuggets and hot chips and hello sushi, scallops and wagyu steak.
Aussie kids today are increasingly dining fine, with four in 10 parents saying their children eat out with them twice a month.
Sushi, Wagyu beef, scallops and even oysters are now on the menu for these fancy little foodies, according to the Gourmet Kids survey by restaurant booking platform OpenTable.
Kids surveyed ranked sushi as their favourite food, followed by smashed eggs on toast.
Scallops, Wagyu beef, kangaroo and veal are also highly regarded by these next-gen gourmands, and more than a quarter said oysters were their favourite thing to slurp down.
Coconut water and almond milk were their favourite drinks.
On average, today’s parents eat a meal at a restaurant with their kids at least twice a month, with one in five dining out four or more times per month. More than three-quarters said their children ate out more than they did when growing up.
Boronia mum Jasmin Lim usually dines out with her daughters including Madison, 6, twice a fortnight.
She said they were confident eaters and were exposed to a wide range of food.
“They like to eat what we eat, my husband and I are adventurous eaters, from Asian to Greek, to seafood. We love our seafood and the kids absolutely love sushi. Even the 2 year old loves sushi!”
She said kids were welcomed by restaurants when they dined out as a family.
“The kids get used to eating out at restaurants, so we can all enjoy a meal.”
More than three quarters (82%) of Aussie parents indicated their children preferred to order food from the adult menu.
The Bank on Collins assistant venue manager Sandeep Banala said children often shared dishes with their parents when dining at the CBD restaurant.
“We definitely notice kids ordering more adventurously, going to seafood options on the a la carte menu, not just ordering from the kids menu,” he said.
“Parents are taking their kids to dine out with them more often. “
Tim Domelow from OpenTable said they’d seen a shift in the culinary choices of young diners.
“Many of our restaurant partners (are) responding by broadening their menus and offering smaller portions of main course dishes to satisfy the appetites of the next generation of foodies,” he said.
MOST POPULAR FOOD AND DRINK FOR KIDS IN 2020
1.Sushi
2.Smashed eggs on toast
3.Coconut water
4.Macaroons
5.Almond milk
6.Scallops
7.Wagyu beef
8.Kangaroo
9.Veal
10.Oysters
TOP FAMILY FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS
Little Collins Street, CBD
Highlights include an extensive children’s menu and a Kids Can Cook program during the school holidays.
The Bank on Collins, CBD
Popular with locals and tourists alike, suitable for large sit down lunches and dinners perfect for families.
Bam Bam Italian, Avonsleigh
The play area will keep the little ones occupied for hours while parents enjoy a post-meal espresso.
Red Gum BBQ, Red Hill
A local favourite with its own family area.
Halls Gap Hotel, Grampians
Offering spectacular views and veggies served alongside classic favourites on the children’s menu.
Hogans Hotel Bistro, Wallan
Situated in the Melbourne highlands at Wallan, there’s a fully enclosed kids playground.
The Deck at Flinders Hotel, Flinders
A relaxing outdoor eating area with an adjoining children’s playground.
Chocolate Buddha, CBD
Featuring an express delivery train to bring food ordered via a tablet, making it a crowd favourite for kids.
Source: OpenTable
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