To think that this menu isn’t suitable for children?

[Mummyofabear]

A few months ago I booked to take my children to Matilda in Concert at the Royal Albert Hall this month (October), I had to book hospitality tickets because those were the only tickets left at the time of booking. And then today have been sent an email with the hospitality details and this is the menu! They don’t have a separate children’s menu either even though Matilda is a family event! AIBU to think this menu isn’t suitable for children? My children have autism and are very fussy so the only thing that they will eat on this menu will be the desserts but even then I don’t think there’s much on this menu that most neurotypical children would eat either? In my opinion it’s not suitable for families or children even though it’s supposed to be a family event!

I’ve copied and pasted the menu below incase the image doesn’t work:

Snacks (served pre-show):
Black garlic polenta crackers

Seaweed tapioca crackers

Canapés (served pre-show):
Glazed beef skewer, chimichurri

Parmesan churros, tomato and Parmesan sauce (V)

Cold Bowl (served pre-show):

Pumpkin seed houmous, maple-roast pumpkin, pomegranate, pickled pumpkin ribbons, mint oil

Sliders (served pre-show):
28-day dry-aged beef patty, crispy bacon, tarragon and chive aioli, confit garlic,
served with potato hash puffs, truffle mayo

Moroccan-Spiced lamb slider, grilled onions, sumac mayonnaise & pickled cucumber,
served with buffalo cauliflower

Dessert canapés (served during the interval):
Mango, passion fruit, coconut pavlova

Millionaire's chocolate mousse, salted caramel, vanilla sablé

Milk and Cookies

Drinks:

Trebbiano, Rubicone, Novità
Sangiovese, Rubicone, Novità
Estrella Galicia 4.7%
Ginger bitters (soft cocktail)
Sparkling mineral water
Still mineral water

I really hate the idea of "children's" menus in pubs/restaurants that assume children will only eat sausages and mash or fish fingers and chips. Surely at home the children just eat smaller portions of whatever their parents eat?! It's insulting to children's palates to assume that they will only consume bland, predictable veg-free fare.
The menu is fine, it's just dressed up in restarant-speak to justify the extortionate cost. The kids will recognise the burgers etc and chocolate mousse. Bring some back up snacks just in case if you're that concerned or call ahead to see if they can make it "plainer".

A sauce with chilli. Not everyone likes chilli

Do you really like the flavour of everything you have ever eaten or do you just use so much garlic (and/or spices) that it all tastes similar? It’s a genuine question because I find that with food I can actually eat but isn’t that good, covering it with a specific condiment works very well

And sumac isn’t spicy it’s just flavourful. Meringue and cream are safe for 99% of people without allergies as is chocolate. Your perspective is unusual as you are a family of fussy eaters.

I eat everything, from snails to barnacles to spicy curries to Cullen skink. The only thing I won’t try is haggis because the description is off putting but I know if my parents had lied and told me it was lamb I probably would have tried it. Some food I had to eat several times like oysters and olives to like but no I genuinely love food and cooking.

I was pointing out that it isn’t always being ‘picky’ which on MN is a heinous crime.

Then they can choose not to dip the beef into the sauce?
No, I don’t like every single flavour. I can’t stand marzipan, for example. However every dish on that menu uses different ingredients and therefore has a different flavour. The only taste not really catered for is people who don’t like much flavour, and I’m sure they would accommodate specific dietary requirements if asked.
Its really weird to assume that children as a whole wouldn’t like any of the flavours on that menu, when they’re so varied.

Bloody hell, there's nothing that literally everyone likes, not even chocolate or bread with butter or grapes.

The question was would your children refuse to eat anything here and many people have children that would give these things a go and probably enjoy them.

For her particular children, OP should obviously just get in touch and ask if there are any options for plainer fare. I'm sure at least some of these can easily be done plainer.

Some of the posters on this thread are the reason why people all around the world laugh at British cuisine (what cuisine?) 😳

She likely has just experienced similar situations on many occasions over the years and knows for a fact that her children wouldn't eat them.

Good for you, but you do know that not everyone can or will eat everything and not everyone cares about food to the extent you clearly do? I know if you are a foodie then you are generally up for anything

But with that range of food thst you will eat, do you not eat anything without garlic? Because you seemed genuinely amazed at the idea.

Weirdly I have always fancied trying oysters because I enjoy seafood (on its own, not cooked into a dish)

That’s another things, this assumption that anything with flavour is ‘spicy’. Most of those dishes won’t be ‘spicy’, they’ll just be flavourful. Chimichurri contains chilli but even that doesn’t tend to be ‘spicy, it just has a mild warmth.

It is, and so convivial and part of life's richness!.

Well you booked those tickets expecting a selection of food

That is a very good selection of food!

It’s been described in the posh way, but it’s all fine for kids

i’m wondering how much it all cost looks amazing! Enjoy

It’s a 2 hour play, they’re hardly going to starve if they don’t eat it and they’ll probably eat one or two things!

It's not justified though. There are plenty of strong flavours in British food - blue cheeses, horseradish, pickled foods, smoked foods. There are strong spicy flavours, strong umami flavours, strong salty or sour flavours.

There are also plenty of interesting ingredients.

But there are fussy eaters everywhere. Plenty of British people won't eat horseradish as it's too spicy for them, even though it's a traditional British food. For example.

TBH I wouldn't be keen on this menu myself, and Im not a fussy eater.

Actually I can’t see anything spicy on the menu at all?

It’s glazed - isn’t that the chimichurri or is that just with it?

I like plenty of flavour, just not chilli/spice as it makes everything taste the same to me and I don’t eat garlic out of consideration for others.

Yeah, let's keep a sense of proportion. They're not going to Tibet and drinking fermented yak's milk.
Has anyone tried that, by the way?

I cook from scratch and just don't add it if I don't want to......the clue is in the name...."cooking from scratch"

Do you cook from scratch? Most dishes start with the golden triangle which is garlic, some type of onions, and celery or ginger if it’s Asian. In Europe it’s usually onions garlic and carrots or celery with olive oil. It literally blows my mind you can get a lot of recipes without garlic!

Why do you think they'll probably eat one or two things?

As her children have additional needs, hopefully they will be able to offer an alternative.

No of course there isn't, not for most people. Some people find black pepper too spicy though! That's fine, nothing wrong with it. It's not 'normal' as in average though.

Good point. I love pickled vegetables, blue cheese, smoked fish and cheese etc.

As I said… what do you cook? Most dishes start with onion garlic and celery/ginger/olive oil. It really does blow my mind