I have two teens and they like to eat. Food appears - food is gone. In fact sometimes I'm not even sure it appeared before it was gone. Nothing new here. But these teens might also be part alien. Here's where it gets weird -WEIRD food appears - food is gone too!
So, let's talk oysters - not a kid food right? Wrong! I reminisced with kids about awesome oysters and soon family foodie talk turned to oyster-only talk. The next step of course is to go eat awesome oysters somewhere awesome!
French Bistro
Cluny Bistro in Toronto's Historic Distillery District has both foodie and 'awesome' covered. 'Awesome' perfectly describes that old historic ambience, the warm welcome and special attention for my teens, and the focus on making dinner at Cluny's into a fun and unique experience.
French Bistro style decor includes black and white tile, original weathered brick, a wall-full of gilt mirrors, perfect warm lighting. A dream of a kitchen shows chefs creating feasts through giant glass windows. Cluny's oyster bar is, of course, beautiful too - wrought-iron chairs and marble counter circle a mouth-watering display of Belon, Chef's Creek and Acadian Gold, And it wouldn't be a French Bistro without the bread station - fresh baked, still warm, and - if you're not convinced yet, that delicous aroma assures you that Cluny's has got 'French Bistro' covered!
Focus on Foodies
We reach our table and that's how I know my teens are ready to eat.
Andrew, our host, has other ideas though. Out comes a cutting board, a tea towel, shucking knifes, and a couple of un-shucked oysters. Kids forget their greedy stomachs and are instantly on it - excited to try shucking-before-eating. Andrew's lesson is pure entertainment for two kid-foodies who also happen to be kid-cooks. Forget eating - opening an oyster without loosing a finger was the first item of business. Yay - both completed the task with same ten fingers they started with.
We learned slurping technique, sprinkled a little fresh horshradish, doused liberally with Cluny's fermented hotsauce and savoured those delish little creatures. The verdict? Well, let's just say, family foodie-talk will probably continue to be oyster-only talk for a while!
More 'weird' kid-food on that menu - how could we say no to Ginger-Chili Fried Frog's Legs? I can tell you that we just could not. Those Frog's Legs were gobbled. They were awesome. And they tasted just like chicken - of course - foodie-teens will have to work on their palates!
I enjoyed Veal Meatball "Tomahawk". Anika enjoyed it too - "BEST MEATBALL EVER" - we said simultaneously - followed quickly by Anika - "Jinx - you owe me a soda!". Silly girl - after 'BEST MEATBALL EVER" I'm sure I do not!
Copy-cat teens both had Provencal Seafood Stew. Anika declared "BEST SEAFOOD STEW EVER" - no doubt hoping to JInx her poor unsuspecting brother. No go - Adam was enjoying seafood stew too much to compete for a boring old soda!
A Giant Dessert
You might think our host Andrew and our awesome server Laura nailed it with our great family dinner event. And you'd be right! But those darn people still had more fun up their sleeves! Instead of bringing dessert to two foodie-teens - why not get them to make it themselves? Anika started in the kitchen with Tip and layered milk chocolate, salted caramel and raspberry sorbet. Teens switched and Adam piled on profiteroles and white cloud cotton candy. Our giant dessert took a half hour to make, and max zero point five seconds to gobble.
An awesome dinner was had by all. I hope future family food events can involve more savouring than gobbleing cause once the food is gone, all you have is memories. Thanks for the memories Cluny Bistro!
For more information: Cluny Bistro
Please note, my family dinner at Cluny Bistro was hosted by the restaurant.
All opinions however are my own.
So, let's talk oysters - not a kid food right? Wrong! I reminisced with kids about awesome oysters and soon family foodie talk turned to oyster-only talk. The next step of course is to go eat awesome oysters somewhere awesome!
French Bistro
Cluny Bistro in Toronto's Historic Distillery District has both foodie and 'awesome' covered. 'Awesome' perfectly describes that old historic ambience, the warm welcome and special attention for my teens, and the focus on making dinner at Cluny's into a fun and unique experience.
French Bistro style decor includes black and white tile, original weathered brick, a wall-full of gilt mirrors, perfect warm lighting. A dream of a kitchen shows chefs creating feasts through giant glass windows. Cluny's oyster bar is, of course, beautiful too - wrought-iron chairs and marble counter circle a mouth-watering display of Belon, Chef's Creek and Acadian Gold, And it wouldn't be a French Bistro without the bread station - fresh baked, still warm, and - if you're not convinced yet, that delicous aroma assures you that Cluny's has got 'French Bistro' covered!
Focus on Foodies
We reach our table and that's how I know my teens are ready to eat.
Andrew, our host, has other ideas though. Out comes a cutting board, a tea towel, shucking knifes, and a couple of un-shucked oysters. Kids forget their greedy stomachs and are instantly on it - excited to try shucking-before-eating. Andrew's lesson is pure entertainment for two kid-foodies who also happen to be kid-cooks. Forget eating - opening an oyster without loosing a finger was the first item of business. Yay - both completed the task with same ten fingers they started with.
We learned slurping technique, sprinkled a little fresh horshradish, doused liberally with Cluny's fermented hotsauce and savoured those delish little creatures. The verdict? Well, let's just say, family foodie-talk will probably continue to be oyster-only talk for a while!
More 'weird' kid-food on that menu - how could we say no to Ginger-Chili Fried Frog's Legs? I can tell you that we just could not. Those Frog's Legs were gobbled. They were awesome. And they tasted just like chicken - of course - foodie-teens will have to work on their palates!
I enjoyed Veal Meatball "Tomahawk". Anika enjoyed it too - "BEST MEATBALL EVER" - we said simultaneously - followed quickly by Anika - "Jinx - you owe me a soda!". Silly girl - after 'BEST MEATBALL EVER" I'm sure I do not!
Copy-cat teens both had Provencal Seafood Stew. Anika declared "BEST SEAFOOD STEW EVER" - no doubt hoping to JInx her poor unsuspecting brother. No go - Adam was enjoying seafood stew too much to compete for a boring old soda!
A Giant Dessert
You might think our host Andrew and our awesome server Laura nailed it with our great family dinner event. And you'd be right! But those darn people still had more fun up their sleeves! Instead of bringing dessert to two foodie-teens - why not get them to make it themselves? Anika started in the kitchen with Tip and layered milk chocolate, salted caramel and raspberry sorbet. Teens switched and Adam piled on profiteroles and white cloud cotton candy. Our giant dessert took a half hour to make, and max zero point five seconds to gobble.
An awesome dinner was had by all. I hope future family food events can involve more savouring than gobbleing cause once the food is gone, all you have is memories. Thanks for the memories Cluny Bistro!
For more information: Cluny Bistro
Please note, my family dinner at Cluny Bistro was hosted by the restaurant.
All opinions however are my own.
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