The Long Neck of Child Cuisine
One of the first times my mother met The Husband (of course then he was known simply as The Boyfriend) she took great pleasure at relaying stories about quite what an eccentric child I was. Her particular favourite is about my then obsession with the rain cover of my 1970’s Maclaren pushchair (in shocking scarlett) that I would insist upon wearing, albeit with a big gapping hole at the back, to lunch on Saturdays at our favourite Bistro. I would enter, like a grand dame, cape following in the wind, umbrella as tall as me in hand and politely request a table for three please. I would then quite often be found in the kitchen making friends with the chefs and visits to the toilets would normally total double numbers. It was then that my love for going out for a family lunch was cemented. This regular fixture has remained through numerous boyfriends, a turbulent adolescence and a newborn addition.
Our favourite place to eat en famille is the chain restaurant Giraffe. We’re such regulars that they know the Munchkin by name and follow her development like an dedicated friend or family member.
Sans baby, back in the day, we’d frequent Giraffe, usually for a delicious brunch followed by a light shop or perhaps an afternoon in the pub. The food then, as it is now, was eclectic, fresh and of an impressively high standard.
While a great place for an all adult affair, Giraffe certainly comes into it’s own when there are small children around. An extensive kids menu is offered and they’re always happy to tailor meals for fussy eaters. Quite early into motherhood I discovered the joys of meeting my friends at 5 pm, feeding the kids, and enjoying a glass of wine and a catch up. The kids are able to run around this child friendly haven, pick up books from the library there and have all in all jolly good time. Mid week, my friends and I able to take advantage of the two for one happy hour special so it works out to be a pretty cheap date, and something to look forward to when the day starts to drag. Numerous dates without kids have also enjoyed it - they can coo at the Munchkin and enjoy a cocktail or two, but then still have the rest of their evening to enjoy.
From personal experience the vibe rightly changes at about 7pm, the lights fade as do the bright colours and balloons, making it far more adult friendly … our love for it is so great we’ve even been known to go on a dates there.