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- n144mann - 03-26-1999
IT is a sad situation, but true foodie!! We don't go out often with the faimly because buying dinner for 5 at a "nice" restaurant is really a lot of $$$. If we go to a nice place it is with just the hubbie and I...spend the kids bucks on the wine. [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img]
That brings to mind another restaurant subject tho.....do you bring small children into a nice restaurant?? I have gotten really rude comments from other people in the restaurant and rude looks from the staff, for bringing my 2,5 and 11 year old into a fancy french place.( I understand to a point becuase I have had my meal ruined by poorly disciplined children, but....) Of course, those same people later came and complimented me and my choldren on their behavior. Just wondering how you guys feel about it. It is my opinion that if you want kids to appreciate and learn how to behave in such a place....you have to teach them...which mean taking them. Know its not directly a wine issue, but these ARE our future wine drinkers and restaurant go-ers, do we want them to know that there is an alternative to McDonalds??? I have had people tell me that small children can't/don't appreciate it anyway....but that isn't true. In our family on your birthday you have two choices....go out to mod $$ restaurant....or have mom cook ANYTHING you want from hot dogs to lobster. For my son's 5th birthday, he asked for primerib and lobster.....since he was 5 I talked him down to porterhouse and snow crab. [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img] they do learn to like the nicer things and consider them to be special!
Foodie, would you explain the details of Gillespe's plan to me please. IF you don't want to take up posting room, email me privately. We don't hear anything about it here in MN, and I haven't read much on it.Thanks!
Nancy
[This message has been edited by n144mann (edited 03-26-99).]
- Jerry D Mead - 03-26-1999
Take your children to restaurants owned by European nationals and you usually won't have a problem...they believe in family dining, and the Frenchmen would permit dogs too if the law allowed.
When they're very young, I probably would start them out at slightly more casual places...Mexican restaurants, spaghetti joints...and if going to really classy white tablecloth places early on in the training...I'd dine very early, when the restaurant first opens (5-6pm) and before the children have a chance to tire.
Re the Gillespie plan...it's a generic ad campaign which is destined to fail. I can't believe the slogan chosen "What are you saving it for?" is going to sell wine to people who don't already drink it.
Here's a better one...might even crack a smile...how about "Wine! It's not just for breakfast anymore."
Or, "Wine! You don't have to get out the crystal" And then show attractive, fun-loving young people drinking out of jelly glasses, beer mugs, coffee cups...whatever.
I keep pitching, but they still haven't made me Wine Czar. Curmy would solve all problems.
JDM
- n144mann - 03-26-1999
The french restaurant thing was not a problem....at least not for me, my kids showed that they were worthy of being there.....and it was several years back, my kids are not that young anymore. I was simply trying to see what the consensus was on taking kids to nice restaurants.
Agree with you on the slogan Mr. Czar. I don't think it will help. Like the "don't need the crystal one." Have to get the everyday with every meal thing across....they should be eating burgers or do we dare suggest PB&J with those jelly glasses??? Tho not sure what wine choice would be appropriate for that. [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img]
Nancy
[This message has been edited by n144mann (edited 03-26-99).]
- amshih - 03-26-1999
Now you're talking!
Sorry, don't have any suggestions for a wine match with those PB&J's, but I do enjoy sparkling wine with my potato chips, zinfandel or chianti with my chili/pizza/spaghetti/anything tomatoey, sauvignon blanc or pinot gris with anything light and vegetarian (my usual fare), and pinot noir most any time.
The whole purpose of making wine approachable is not to think about it too much. Yes, there are some wine/food combinations that are just orgasmic, but, like sex, trying too hard often takes all the fun out of it.
- Randy Caparoso - 03-27-1999
Hmmm. Interesting new points and topics of discussion.
I've been following the "Wine, What Are You Saving It For?" campaign, and I think it's as good as anything that's come out. I've also like some of the Sutter Home commercials that have come out the past two years, as well as the new ones showing Gina Gallo -- at long last, the public can see that wine can be fun (not just "fine"), and that people involved in the business have "personality."
Think about it. I buy wine from people who not only make good wine, but who are also real characters in my life (my favorites: Jim Clendenen, Tony Soter, Lynn Penner-Ash, Forrest Tancer, and Patrick Campbell, to name a few). I don't buy heavy, on the other hand, from anonymous figures. And I'm sure it's the same with all of you who've been around, and met winemakers and proprietors. So the question is: how come the industry has capitalized on that super-basic, human appeal?
I have four kids, by the way -- 11, 13, 16 and 19. The oldest has gone away, but is quite the gourmet (although not a big wine drinker). All of them, as you might imagine, grew up knowing exactly what shiitake shrimp risotto, Caesar salad, vine ripened tomatoes, and the differences between linguine and fettucine, basil and tarragon, striploin and filet mignon, white rice and basmati rice, sour dough and French bread, cappuccino and latte, etc. are. Simple reason -- their dad's in the business, and mom's a great cook!
Consequently, I'd bet my bottom dollar that they'd never grow up and abuse alcohol. They know its purpose because we've always shown it to them; and I confess, we also let them enjoy the taste of wine (although not actually "drink" it).
But they're still kids. In fact, we took three of them out tonight, and they were fighting about seats, whose knee was touching whose, tattling when extra sugar went into the decaf mocha, blah, blah. Not exactly the most restful meal, but pretty typical.
I'm digressing, so here's my opinion on bringing kids out in public: restaurateurs that don't welcome them are damned fools. If they don't know how to handle them -- which means serving THEM first, and thus allowing parents to relax (and spend more money) -- then they should figure it out. Where do you think America's future customers -- and wine aficionados -- are coming from? I can talk, because we totally welcome them in our James Beard Award winning, two-toque restaurants.
Of course, if you're a super-fine French restaurant, why would you worry since you'll rarely see kids (few can afford to bring offspring with hamburger tastes to $100 per head restaurants), and those that you do will be pretty much schooled anyway (by rich parents who would be determined to get their money's worth)?
I say that if a restaurant does not welcome and pamper your kids, they really do not deserve your business. Take them somewhere else. This is, of course, presuming that you've done your part by teaching them some basic etiquette.
- Jerry D Mead - 03-27-1999
AMSHIH...I am not practicing medicine here, but am told that the combination of Champagne and popcorn is an aprhrodisiac of considerable power...sort of a bi-sexual Viagra.
Something about the salt commanding you to drink more bubbly, the tossing of popcorn at various and sundry orfices and licking butter from each other's appendages...may have something to do with it.
Dr. Bucko...Anything in the medical literature on this?
Bad Curmy
- amshih - 03-28-1999
Curmy -- you're *such* a dirty old man! ;-)
Sounds like a whole new thread in itself: creative uses for wine/food as an aphrodisiac.
- Thomas - 03-28-1999
I always thought wine and food were an aphrodisiac, and how did WC discover my fetish? Does he know about the hot dogs and Gewurztraminer trick?
- n144mann - 03-29-1999
HEY, no smut talk!! [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img] Ok maybe just a little. About ORGASMIC food/wine pairings......if food and wine are as good as sex....YOU AINT DOIN' IT RIGHT!! [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img] (or maybe I need to compliment the hubbie)