Date Night & Kids in Restaurants

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The idea of taking a two-year old out to eat always makes me a bit...anxious. What if there's a melt-down mid-meal? What if we interrupt someone else's meal?

On the other hand, I think it's important to teach kids how to behave in the wild, and so far, my angst has been worse than Jack's manners when we have ventured out. He thinks it's such a treat, and usually his dinner is much earlier than most of the serious NY diners, so we can't offend all that many people. We also live in a neighborhood that's notoriously kid-friendly, which is definitely a perk.

However, I also feel like there's safety in numbers, so I'd never been out to eat with just Jack.

Last week, Peter had a business trip that took him out of town for two nights. On Thursday night, I really didn't feel like cooking, so I bit the bullet and asked Jack if he'd like to go out to eat--just the two of us. He was so excited about it. When I asked him what he wanted, he replied with his standard "noodles. and pasta." When I suggested we try something different, he thought for a minute and said, "fish!"

So, we walked a couple of blocks to the Grand Central Oyster Bar in Brooklyn and ordered home made fish sticks for him, some ($1!) oysters for me, and a side of rice and broccoli to share. It was such a lovely night. Here's hoping next time I'll be a bit more relaxed throughout the meal. :)

What are your thoughts? We have a friend who takes his son out for dinner every Thursday night, and also out for breakfast one morning every weekend. It sounds like such a nice tradition.

Weekend Links

How was your weekend? Ours went by much too quickly. Yesterday morning, Peter took Jack to the Water Lab in Brooklyn Bridge Park while I got a haircut nearby. And last night, we got a babysitter and went out to dinner to celebrate our 6th wedding anniversary. We went to Emily, which has gotten a ton of hype for it's burger. They only serve Pizza and Burgers for mains, and I have to admit: it lived up to the hype.

Next weekend, we are heading to Vancouver to visit family, so we are prepping this week. I've been trolling the internet for tips on traveling with toddlers. I've bought headphones, and am on the hunt for good apps that will keep a two-year old entertained...any suggestions?

Here are a few links from the web that have caught my eye lately:

This guide to tipping around the world is really helpful! (Domaine)

What are your thoughts on Facebook Scrapbooking? I have to admit, I'm anti. It kind of creeps me out that kids in this new generation have such public childhoods.

Mmmmm. Food Halls around the country.  (Fodors)

Rose wines to try. (NYT) To be honest, I've never been a fan of rose. It always looks so refreshing, but I'm disappointed when I drink it. I have a friend in Bordeaux who is a wine maker, and she said she believes that the paler the rose, the better it is.

A list of the Best Summer Books 2015. Have you read any of them? (Publishers Weekly)

11 Baking Tips from Bon Appetit.

I haven't seen a movie in ages. This list of the Best Movies of 2015 (so far) makes me want to hit up some theaters. (Vulture)

The Coolest Outdoor Art Exhibits for Kids.  We've seen a few of the pieces of Please Touch the Art in Brooklyn Bridge Park, but this makes me want to travel. How cool does that giant Radio Flyer look? (Red Tricycle)

Easy Recipes for Summer Nights

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It seems as though we are in the dog days of summer. NYC is hot and sticky, and I'm lamenting that we don't have outdoor space for a bbq. sigh.

In the meantime, we're throwing together lots of quick, easy meals. Here are some quick and easy recipes we've hunted down for this week's menu:

• Lemon-Soy Edamame Barley Bowl (Camille Styles)
• Baked Salmon w/ brown rice & broccoli (The Marathon Mom)
• Grilled Chicken Salad w/ Vinaigrette (I can't find this recipe online, but it's a favorite from Sara Foster)
• Pasta with Pesto: I've just discovered that Russo's Mozzarella and Pasta sells the most delicious pesto. So, I have just been buying that. If you're in brooklyn, they also have fresh, homemade mozzarella every day. 

Stay cool!