Restaurants now catering to younger foodies

Last Saturday, my daughter Emilee had the opportunity to participate in a cooking class just for kids at Henrietta’s Table in The Charles Hotel, Cambridge, MA. I was very much in favor of this lesson due to the fact that I am expecting and at seven months along, I need someone else to start picking up the dinner slack!

Though a little on the older side at 12, she relished in the fact she was tall enough to see over every other child’s head. This particular class was packed, with 18 little sous chefs crowded around, fingers in dough.  The goal was to teach children six and up how to make chicken stock, homemade noodles and add the right amount of vegetables to include in, you guessed it, good old-fashioned chicken soup.

Set in a bright, sunny windowed room, Chef Peter Davis, delighted children in this familiar dish. Each child donned their very own apron and jumped into the fray for an appropriate cold-weather activity.

Since this was a group effort (and we sometimes know how kids hands find themselves in the most unsanitary of places) the finished product was whisked away at the end and a fresh batch brought out for all participants to enjoy family-style.

At a reasonable $20 per child, the remaining classes are worth checking out.

• 2/6/10 – Tasting and cooking with American cheeses
• 2/13/10 – Vegetables with dips and dressings
• 2/20/10 – Chocolate chip cookies and build-your-own ice cream sandwiches
• 2/27/10 – Pizza
• 3/6/10 – Strawberry Shortcake

While parents are welcome to watch their budding Emerils, my husband and I opted to enjoy a satisfying adult lunch for two (with a 10% discount) while waiting.

All classes take place 12:30- 2pm on Saturday. Please call  (617) 661-5005 for more information. Henrietta’s Table, The Charles Hotel, One Bennett Street, Cambridge, MA 02138.

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Disclosure: Mom Central staffer, Erica Gatlin, received one complimentary cooking class to facilitate this review.

Stacy DeBroff

Stacy DeBroff, founder and CEO of Mom Central.com and social and digital consultancy, Influence Central, is a social media strategist, attorney, and best-selling parenting author. A sought-after expert for national media, she trend-spots regularly with national brands and speaks frequently to national and international audiences on a wide range of subjects, including influencer marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, and consumer trends. A passionate cook, gardener, reader, and tennis player, she adores this new chapter of post-college-age parenting.