Around the table
Jan. 16th | Posted by Nicky
7 comments
I guess every family has their own customs about eating, and family traditions. In my family, for example, we always used chopsticks growing up for Chinese food, and then sushi when it came en vogue. It actually started when my dad was in uni and her had a Chinese roommate – and only a wooden spoon and chopsticks to eat with for a year. when I went to Japan as a 15 year old, my host mom told me I had better chopstick manners than her daughter! Anyway, so when our local sushi hole-in-the-wall restaurant offered us specially cobbled-together trainer chopsticks for the girls, we said “sure!” and they’ve been practicing with asian food ever since.
People often comment that the girls will eat anything – that’s not true, of course. But another family tradition is to try a lot of different food. My sis and I started making family meals at the ripe old age of 12 and never looked back, experimenting with all sorts of flavours and combinations – some successful, some not! In fact, I think food has opened our eyes to more than flavors. It really is a cultural bridge, too. I remember shen we were teens/preteens my dad telling about this restaurant he really liked in Vancouver (he used to travel tons when we were young) and how the man he took there was a little shocked that there were justmale couples eating supper – but gosh, it has the best ribeye, so why not!
I digress – but when the girls first came to Canada they wouldn’t eat any fruits of vegetables, period. BUT, they have really expanded their pallets. Their all time favorite food (just like their dad) is now Indian – we are lucky to have a fab Indian family restaurant just 3/4 blocks form our house. Here you can see them scarfing some Tom Ka Gai (Thai lemmongrass/coconut soup with chili oil on top) from another favorite haunt downtown.
Honestly, some of the Canadian stand-bys (pancakes below) were a tougher sell – just because our food is so sweet (oh, they didn’t eat any sugar either, when they came to Canada) and so foreign! I mean, where are the spices? The onions? They tried a knife for the first time today, though – I thought they are ready for it, and it’ll be great when we don’t have to cut their food so much when we are out in restaurants, etc. Hey – maybe that’s why we like Indian and Japanese so much! No fork or knife involved!
Nicky, how did the restaurant make the trainer sticks? It looks like elastic and ?? I’ve been looking for rookie stix here in town but can’t find them. Maybe I can just make some myself.
Our kids are adventuresome eaters too. We are big fans of middle eastern/Egyptian food and both kids lap it up. We haven’t tried sushi yet but we now have a Japanese restaurant (miracle!) so we’ll have to give it a go.
Have a good weekend,
Michelle
I just love pictures of your girls. They always look so happy and vibrant!
the trainer sticks… hmmm… they are wooden s t i ck s with an elastic wrapped around the end. Then there is a rolled up little piece f paper next tot he elastic with the elastic once crissed crossed over it to hold it in place. The paper keep it open and they have to squeeze it to close it.
Ingenious!
They have such cute smiles…love the photots. You have two really sweet girls (-:
I love Indian food too! That is great that it’s a family tradition to try different foods!
Mary
Your post has made me hungry.
So great to see children trying food from all over the world. And they are super cute ta boot. 
Theresa
My local toy store actually sells really cute trainer stix – with animal heads at the joined end – all of $3 a set. It would be worth checking out your local toy store, too, if you’re not the crafty type.