Three local daddy chefs in Honolulu share ways to foster a child's appreciation for good food and eating well together.
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Fred DeAngelo. Chef/owner, Ola Restaurant, Turtle Bay Resort, and The Grove, Kailua. Dad to Maya, 5 years old.
DeAngelo enjoys exposing his daughter to the culinary world whenever possible. He suggests the following:
1. Always provide a safe environment when cooking with children. The DeAngelos use a “learning tower” when they cook with Maya. Think of a safe, well-made step stool.
2. Educate and develop a routine with children. Explain the importance of sanitation, hand washing, keeping a clean work surface and being careful around tools and heat. Have children wear a uniform to set the mood, such as an apron, a chef coat and toque, etc.
3. Encourage children to taste what they are cooking throughout the process.
4. Involve them in the entire process from an early age, including cleanup.
5. Go on eating adventures when dining out. Explore foods from different cultures and have children try something new each time.
OLA 57-091 Kamehameha Highway, Kahuku, 293-0801 THE GROVE 33 Aulike St., Kailua, 262-2898
Johan Svensson. Executive chef, BLT Steak Waikiki. Dad to Freja, 2 years old.
Want to encourage your child to try various ethnic dishes you grew up with? This is chef Svensson's challenge. Here are his tips:
His daughter, Freja, will try everything. “She may not like it, but she will try it,” he says. Svensson and his American wife, Jessica, do not prepare special kiddie meals for their daughter. She eats what they eat. How does Svensson keep his Swedish heritage alive in his Hawaii home? His strategy is to slowly introduce her to the foods that he grew up with so she grows to love them as much as he does. Also, try hiding veggies in meat dishes and sauces for children who aren't too fond of vegetables.
BLT Steak Waikiki 223 Saratoga Road, Honolulu, 683-7440
Ed Kenney, chef/owner, TOWN, and the former Downtown at the HiSAM. Dad to Duke, 11, and Celia, 14.
According to chef Kenney and his wife, Kristen, aka “Spanky,” their children have always been adventurous eaters with sophisticated palates. The family not only cooks together, but also grows together. They tend a home garden that produces fresh basil, arugula, kale, tomatoes and sweet potato.
Fresh, organic fruits and vegetables are staples in Kenney's cooking at work and at home. Three items always stocked at the Kenney home? Rice, olive oil and preserves.
For parents looking to improve their children's eating habits, Kenney recommends three important activities sure to make a positive impact:
1. Grow food together 2. Cook food together 3. Eat food together Town 3435 Waialae Ave., Honolulu, 735-5900
