children's menus - tell me what are their favorite things to eat ?

[banshee]

I will soon be opening a new tea shop and i am just costing a menu for kids. i would be interested to know what mums would like to see on the menu and what kind of price you are willing to pay. the emphasis of the tea shop is fresh cooked to order food as well as yummy cakes and traybakes.

[Blu]

Pasta,about £3-75 for childrens portion.
Chicken
Omlette

[Newbarnsleygirl]

I paid £3.99 for a meal for dd on sunday which included a drink, main meal and a desert. I thought that was very reasonable.

Pasta, an alternative to chips, soup, mini stews with loads od veg in.

[jampots]

i would like to see less of the standard "childrens food" ie. chicken nuggets, burgers etc and more "real" food just smaller portions and big emphasis on vegetables

[banshee]

don't worry jampots- definitely no chips or nuggets in my shop!
so- a pasta dish- maybe with a fresh tomato sauce could do chicken wings ??
was also thinking of a shepherds pie( with hidden veg) and a veggie version of same made with lentils and fresh veg)topped with cheesy mash
was also thinking of a kids risotto- well rice with corn and bacon through it
also an egg based dish- would it be a bad idea to have boiled egg and soldiers?

[melsy]

I agree , think less of nugget things (orange bread food we call it) and more veggy & fresh stuff.

Howsa bout diff Rissottos , Chunky minestrone soup, fresh chicken burgers , made with chicken mince, chicken,tomato and chunky veg casseroles, sliced spanish omelette???

I think around £4 inc drink and fruit or small yog desert.

[melsy]

was gonna suggest smoke salmon scramlbed egg , too decadent for kids ??

rissotto is lovely with mushrooms, herbs, chicken garlic??

[milge]

spag bol, chicken strips coated in parmesan, thick soups, boiled egg and soldiers( optional marmite for us marmite lovers who have bred marmite addicted kids), variations of things on toast, eg scrambled eggs, garlic mushrooms, beans plain pasta with cheese, lasagne, moussaka, kedgeree, veggie crumble from The Dinner Lady, veggie lasagne... to name but a few!

[giraffeski]

Message withdrawn

[NoPearls]

Agree with things mentioned so far. I would appreciate a place that gave small children drinks in appropriate sized glasses - we had a drink out yesterday which arrived in a tall glass with a non-bendy straw - once on the table the straw was level with DD's eyes - it was just asking to be knocked over!! Also, child-sized cutlery if you're serving main meals would get you a gold star from me.

[bundle]

i made a lovely quiche the other day, with "hidden" lentils in it

[chipmonkey]

ds's have always eaten spag bol. chicken wings might be a bit dangerous for v. small ones, hazard of choking on bones? But fine for bigger kids.

[banshee]

ooh lovley ideas everyone -thanks!
was thinking around £4 for main course+pud+drink
so far puds are:
2 scoops of homemeade icecream
fresh fruit salad(kiwi apple strawbs grapes in juice)
mini pancakes with blueberry compote or syrup
fruity jelly ( low sugar set with rasps and blueberries)
banana split)small banana with scoop of icecream and choc sauce)
mini choc sponge with hot choc sauce

[Thomcat]

please offer vegetables. Kids do eat carrots and green beans and baby sweetcorn etc.


pizzas

chicken gougons, made with chicken breast

lemon sole / fish goujons

spag bol

shepherds pie

pies

[chipmonkey]

Oh yes, agree with NoPearls on the drinks, and no ice either, ds2 always insists on fishing it out with his fingers!

[banshee]

on subject of vegetables- if i offered a small portion of peas, baked beans, sweetcorn,carrots,broccoli, at 50p to order seperately- good idea??? in small ramekin??

[tassis]

A child size portion of soup with bread?

A cafe near here has a toddler platter with bread, cheese, carrot sticks, raisins, a fromage frais - that kind of thing. It also offers child sized cakes - wee iced cup cakes that only cost about 30p. I love not having to share my cake!

Have you thought about having a microwave for parents to heat baby mush like they have in IKEA. I understand it's illegal for cafes to re-heat parents food, but this seems like a good way to do it...

Please have fruit juice, milk and diluting juice and not just fruit shoots and fizzy drinks.

Another thing to think about is having booster seats as well as high chairs. And I love it when there's nappies, wipes etc in the loos.

(Gosh, I must spend far too much time in cafes!!)

[tassis]

I think 50p extra for veg would irritate me. Sorry. Can't it just be included?

[bundle]

my girls love garlic bread, pesto pasta and salad. smoothies would be nice too.

[FrenchGirl]

How about veg and dips in summer? Also easy to eat salads like grated carrots with french dressing (dd loves it), or new potatoes with dressing. Like the idea of little 'side' ramekins with veg or salad.
How about savoury snacks? Cheese muffins, cheese, apples and crackers?

[melsy]

oh this place sounds lovely , wish we had some more like this round my way. This country needs to get better and REAL child friendly places as a commonplace thing.

[milge]

my local child friendly cafe does home made belgian waffles topped with bacon/cheese/beans/eggs/whatever you want here .

[melsy]

Nice website milge, shame they dont have piccys of the place online.