As usual, we arrived on the early side – just after 5:00 – of dinner service. Only a few tables of this huge dining room are occupied and like any young family, we appreciated that we get seated immediately.

Simpatico has undergone a renovation just this past May and they’ve done a terrific job. They’ve kept their old chairs and the worn floor, but the overall look, with its friendly blue gingham table-cloths, is clean, fresh and updated – a modern bistro.

Because it’s hot outside, my kids are dying for something to drink. All the way to the restaurant, my younger daughter was asking for chocolate milk and when we arrive, we’re disappointed to discover that the restaurant doesn’t carry it. No matter – the kids settle in for an apple and orange juice instead.

We order a plate of hummus even before we have a chance to look at the menu. It comes fairly quickly and my kids are kept busy swirling their pitas into the yummy dip.

If like in this case there are no kid-specific meals, my husband and I tend to share dishes with our kids since they aren’t big eaters. He orders a medium pizza – half cheese and half capricolo. I opt for a large souvlaki dinner with chicken breast. My kids are surprisingly only lukewarm on the pizza, but they love my meal, which comes with a large helping of Greek salad, a generous skewer of chicken, two potatoes, rice and a healthy dollop of tzatziki – everything that makes a kid-friendly meal. My kids enjoy munching on the cucumbers, and the chicken is a terrific hit. We have more than enough pizza to box up and bring home for a snack later in the evening.

The bathrooms don’t have change tables, but they are clean. There are a couple of chairs in the bathroom (possibly for storage reasons?) that came in handy for helping my two-year-old wash and dry her hands.

There are plenty of high-chairs but no booster seats for older children. My husband did mention that he spotted some ancient seats that bolted onto the table but also looked like they were about 30 years old.

Service overall was neither friendly or unfriendly. I did think that our hummus appetizer, once done, should have been cleared, and there was no inquiry about whether or not we wanted more water or beverages. It also didn’t occur to our server that I would be sharing my meal with more than just one of my kids so she only brought one extra plate.

Two dinners, a beer, two juices, a pop and an order of hummus cost $64 with tip.

Simpatico Ristorante

2222 W 4th Ave, Vancouver (Kitsilano)

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I had picked them up just after 3:00. Made earlier that day, the picnic bags are available in the cold section of the store and attractively packaged in green Whole Foods reusable bags. Since your choice might not be readily available, the Whole Foods prepared foods staff recommended calling ahead and asking them to set your bags aside for you to pick up. We chose the crunchy chicken menu as well as the quesadillas.

First off, I apologize or not having taken any photos of the picnics. We were, well, starving and eager to get into the pool, so we tore into the meals before I had a chance to snap a few photos.

First impressions: the meals themselves are huge. Two people can easily share one bag of food, which comes with a main dish, starter, dessert and beverage. Three portions would have been ample for our family, which has two kids under five.

Be sure to pack utensils, plates and napkins with your meals. For some reason, I had assumed that the meals would have been packaged in a way to make it easy to just open and eat; but things like macaroni salad obviously require a fork and if you’re not sharing with people who are close to you, you’ll also need plates to dish it onto.

It may have been the excitement of jumping of the pool or my choice of menu items, but my kids had mixed responses to the food. They loved the taco chips and were happy with the crispy chicken once the spicy coating was removed. My younger pasta-loving child enjoyed the macaroni salad and both were curious about the chicken quesadillas. I was surprised that they weren’t more enthusiastic about the juice. And of course, the chocolate chip cookies were a huge success.

Going to the pool on Friday evenings has become a Friday night ritual for us. We tend to order fries and burgers from the concession stand, but when I compare the prices (the Whole Foods meal costs $10 less), the variety of menu options and the healthy nature of the meals themselves, it’s no contest: the Whole Foods meal wins hands down. It just requires a tiny bit planning and foresight – a small price if you’re hell bent on not making dinner.

It’s not too late to enter our Whole Foods Fireworks Picnic Menu giveaway!

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Checking out the Celebration of Light with the family? Here’s your chance to cross making dinner off your list: enter to win a special picnic dinner for eight courtesy of Whole Foods valued at $72. Whole Foods has created a healthy family-friendly menu designed specifically to enjoy before watching the fireworks and available at $9 per person. With this much food, you can bring your family and the grandparents and a couple of cousins too!

But even if you’re not planning on going to the fireworks, these meals are a great option for packing for any picnic. I’ve got kids under five who can’t stay up for the fireworks, so tonight we’re hitting the outdoor pool and will be munching on a couple of these choices. Stay tuned for a review.

Although not all Whole Foods locations have these menu options (Cambie and Park Royal most definitely will), here’s what you can expect.

Whole Foods Market Special Fireworks Picnic Menu

Baguette Box

• Choice of Caprese, Curried Chicken and Basil, Black Forest Ham or Hummus and Grilled Vegetable
• Spinach and Strawberry Salad
• 365 Italian Soda
• Two Bite Brownies or Cookies

Crunchy Chicken Box

• Crunchy Baked Chicken
• Choice of (two) Picnic Potato Salad, Macaroni Salad, Tailgate Coleslaw or Cabbage Crunch
• 365 Italian Soda
• Two Bite Brownies or Cookies

Vegetarian Box

• Sweet Potato Quinoa Cakes
• Tofu Skewers with Miso BBQ Glaze
• Spinach Orzo Pasta
• Caprese Salad
• Baguette
• 365 Italian Soda
• Two Bite Brownies or Cookies

Fiesta Box

• Choice of (two) Quesadillas: Grilled Chicken & Peppers, Grilled Vegetables & Cheese or Smoked Mozzarella & Spinach
• Chips and Salsa
• Agua Fresca
• Two Bite Brownies or Cookies

How to Enter

To enter, simply enter a comment on our Facebook page letting us know which menu option you like best (don’t worry, you can still make a final choice if you win!), as well as who you’ll be bringing with you to the fireworks. For an extra entry, you can also enter a comment on this article on VancouverMom.ca. Picnic will be available for pick-up the afternoon/evening before the final fireworks event on Saturday, July 31.

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My husband and I are huge Vietnamese food fans. We don’t like the restaurants too fancy and generally prefer hidden neighbourhood gems. Hasting-Sunrise’s Bau Chau Vietnamese hits the mark on all counts – and is a great option for young families like ours.

A few Sundays ago, we visited this restaurant after a morning at the park. The place was hopping, but at 12:30 still had a few tables left for us to be seated right away – likely because Bau Chau Vietnamese has mastered the art of turning over tables. Service is attentive and quick, with plenty of people on hand to notice when someone needs some assistance.

If you’re a fan of Pho Tai, Bau Chau Vietnamese’s rare beef soup is one of the best I’ve had. The beef is thinly sliced at just the right rareness, with perfectly seasoned broth that will satisfy any umami craving. Be sure to finish off your meal with a Vietnamese coffee and condensed milk, brewed right at your table.

For our kids, we ordered a bowl of vermicelli noodles and pork hash, accompanied with a spring roll. The portion is large enough to be shared among three kids. My kids gobbled their lunch up and particularly enjoyed nibbling on the julienned cucumber and carrots.

As for kid-friendliness, Bau Chau Vietnamese gets high marks for bringing our kids’ meal with two bowls, two spoons, two forks and most impressively, a pair of kitchen shears for me to cut my daughters’ noodles and meat – all without us asking. There are also ample high-chairs and booster seats. Unfortunately, I was hoping for some of the usual Vietnamese milkshake options or even a choice of juices for my kids, but there isn’t much selection in the beverage department for children.

The dining room itself is very clean and the bathrooms are well kept. There’s ample free parking in the back, but street parking is also available. Be sure to come with a few bills in your wallet since this restaurant only accepts cash.

Three main dishes, a coffee and a can of pop costs $27 with tip.

Bau Chau Vietnamese

2717 East Hastings St., Vancouver, BC
(604) 251-6956

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Campagnolo has been on our list for some time – ever since we moved back to Vancouver nine months ago. There’s something appealing about being able to get what’s rumoured to be fabulous Italian food in a somewhat dodgy location – albeit a gentrifying dodgy location – near the Ivanhoe Hotel on Main Street.

My husband and I are both working from home and tummies rumbling at 11:15, decide to make an early lunch of it. We’re the first diners to arrive just after the restaurant opens for service at 11:30. By the time we leave an hour later, the dining room, which seats about 100 people, is about a quarter full with business lunches, old girlfriends “doing lunch”, and a 30-something son having what seems to be his monthly meal with his mom.

The dining room itself is beautifully modern, with exposed cinder block walls and a wonderfully natural wood wainscoting that seems to have a random subway tile, brick effect (you’ll have to see it to know what I mean).

We take a seat by the window. My husband speculates that maybe the frosted glass on the window is purposefully high so that diners aren’t distracted with the seediness of the street. It also adds mystery for those passing by.

We share the arugula salad as a starter. The pine nuts add a lovely crunchiness and while I’m not normally a fan of radish, paired with this dressing and thinly sliced, I lap the radish up.

We’re both in the mood for pasta. He orders the Arlecchino, a wide noodle with fennel sausage. I decide on the Tagliarini, also a wide noodle but paired with pork ragú. When our meals arrive, I feel that momentary jealousy when you think you’ve ordered the lessor dish. But upon sampling, I realize that although his plate is more attractive, I’m not in the mood for the saltiness of the fennel sausage and am delighted with my choice. We both agree that the small portion is the perfect amount for a lunch meal.

And because I’m pregnant, the vanilla panna cotta is a requirement. The candied orange and hazelnut combo is particularly to die for. When the server brings my Americano, she realizes that she’s spilled half of it in my saucer and returns to the back to replace it. When she comes back, the saucer is clean, but the cup is still streaked and messy with the spill. A small annoyance, however, amidst a terrific meal.

Two lunch entries, salad, dessert, no alcohol cost $58 including tip.

Campagnolo

1020 Main Street, Vancouver, BC
www.campagnolorestaurant.ca | Twitter: @campagnoloMAIN | Facebook

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So I picked them up early one afternoon and took them for a cone at Gelateria Dolce Amore on Commercial Drive.

A few months ago, when my husband and I were on the hunt for gelato, we stopped in on this cute gelato store only to find it closed. We ended up visiting La Casa Gelato, but I’ve been meaning to return.

My kids can easily see the ice cream cases and eagerly pick their scoop. My four-year-old has developed an affinity for mint (in this case “menta”) since that’s one of her father’s go-to flavours. My younger daughter remembers having had cherry at another gelato outing and chooses it again. I’m never devoted to my flavour choices, but I do always stick with more caramel, coffee and nut flavours. I select a half-and-half combo of pistachio and cota panna, which I’m told resembles crème brulee. And it does.

Since it’s late afternoon on a rainy weekday, we have the entire place to ourselves. I like that there is seating in the shop – enough to accommodate a few groups of people at least.

My kids happily settle in their chairs and offer up their scoops for each other to taste. My two-year-old isn’t one for fruit (go figure), so she avoids the whole cherries in her cup. But other than that, the gelato is delicious and a big hit with the three of us.

And I feel like the best mom ever.

Two kiddie scoops and one adult scoop cost around $10. Photo courtesy of Gelateria Dolce Amore.

Gelateria Dolce Amore

1590 Commercial Drive (at Graveley), Vancouver

www.gelateriadolceamore.com

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Having just moved back to Vancouver, White Spot scores really high marks in the nostalgia department. It seemed that Ontario’s only equivalent was Swiss Chalet (or “dirty bird” as some Ontarians call it), and, well, it just wasn’t the same.

I used to pine for a Legendary Burger, oozing with Triple O sauce. I imagined a time when I could pull up to a White Spot drive-in, flick on my lights for service and wait happily for my car tray to arrive at my door – something I used to do with my parents at the Lougheed location in Burnaby when I was a kid.

So when our server asked us whether we should have a car tray for the back seat, I had a momentary lapse in judgment and said, “Why not?”

Here’s why not: While no pirate packs went flying out the car window, there were some near accidents where my kids almost toppled the tray, apple juice and all. Since the tray was too awkward to reach from their car seats, we unbuckled them and having little kids out of car seats who are free to roam the back seat. Well, you know what that means: Parents who are too occupied with their kids to eat their own lunch.

At least the kids enjoyed their chocolate medallions.

If you’re thinking of bringing your kids to the White Spot drive-in, do yourself a favour: say no to the tray in the back seat and opt for handing parts of their meal to them in the back seat. Or better yet: get your Triple O fix in the dining room.

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Know Your Limits

While the options for dining out with preschoolers are greater than one might suppose (no need to limit yourself to pizza and fast food), there are just some restaurants that should be avoided. Restaurants that are especially expensive or quiet, or those whose meal service lasts longer than an hour (hour and a half tops) are best avoided, for everyone’s sake. Make sure that there is something on the regular or children’s menu that your child will eat.

All in the Timing

If you plan on going out to dinner with your preschooler, choose a time that makes sense for your family. Dining on the earlier side is helpful; your child will be less cranky, more able to cope with new surroundings, and less likely to go ballistic during the appetizer course.

A Learning Experience

Your child is learning all about manners and social expectations. Ask her what she wants to eat; let her know what the menu choices are; let her sample some of your food. Teach her to say please and thank you to the wait staff, and include her in your conversation as much as she wants to be included.

Toys

Some restaurants have toys (or at least crayons and paper). Novelty is always good; toys that are new (or re-introduced after being absent) can keep a preschooler engaged until the meal arrives. Grownup conversation is hideously dull to preschoolers, so keeping them amused is crucial. You’ll have a much more relaxing time yourself as a result.

Tip Top

Good tipping is still cheaper than hiring a babysitter. Look at it from a hard-working waiter’s perspective: a child’s entrée costs much less than an adult’s, so one might expect proportionately less tip—he’ll be pleasantly surprised that you left a little extra money. Similarly, if your child makes a mess or otherwise acts like a kid, leave enough to make the waitstaff look forward to a return visit, instead of feeling dread when you walk in the door.

Know When to Fold ‘Em

Always have an escape plan—one parent to get a screaming child into her coat and get her outside stat, one to get the food boxed and pay the bill. Every now and then, you may have to cut your losses, and that’s okay. The food will still taste good at home.

Relax

Sometimes, it can seem challenging to include your preschooler in adult environments—even a source of stress. Instead of thinking of all the things that could go wrong—tantrums, spaghetti sauce everywhere—indulge in the power of positive thinking. It will probably be just fine, so go and have a good time. Kids feed off of the emotions of the adults around them, so attitude does make a difference.

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“I haven’t been to Havana since before I had kids,” she replies. “I had no idea that kids would even be welcome there.”

It’s understandable. From the outside, Havana looks like one of those artsy, intellectual places where patrons would frown upon anyone in the five and under set who might possibly ruin their evening. But once you walk through the sizable patio perfect for people watching and arrive in the main dining area with graffiti scrawled all over it, look closely at the guests: kids are aplenty.

We arrived at around five o’clock and we managed to get a seat right away. Any later and we’d likely find ourselves waiting for a table – not good for a preschooler and toddler. A colouring book and crayons appeared, along with a booster seat and high chair. While choosing our dinner, our server informed us that there were a few kid-friendly items that weren’t on the menu: a penne in red sauce and a grilled cheese. We ordered one of each for the girls, as well as a strawberry-orange smoothie for the girls to share. I chose the seafood paella.

While waiting, my husband and I took turns taking the kids to the gallery at the back of the restaurant, which is apparently available for event rentals. The girls liked checking out the paintings and sitting on the hodge-podge of chairs – it was a good way to pass the time while our meal was being prepared.

We didn’t wait long since our food came surprisingly fast. It’s almost as if the kitchen knew that we had kids in tow.

It’s funny: I didn’t have a lot of expectations about the food, but I’ll say that the food well exceeded them. I haven’t been to Cuba, so I wouldn’t know how authentic the food is, but my safe bet would be that it’s really an mix of different Latin American influences. My daughters especially loved their meals, eating every last morsel off their plates.

Overall, the service was excellent. Our server continually anticipated our needs as if she knew exactly what parents of young kids would need.

Other than a lack of a change table, Havana gets high marks for family friendliness. Show up early enough and you’ll have time for some playtime at the Grandview Park playground before heading home for bathtime.

Havana

1212 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
604-253-9119 | www.havanarestaurant.ca

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Whole Foods on Cambie is the perfect spot for moms. It’s great to meet other moms socially or to get out of your home office for a few hours – and get a few things errands done at the same time.

For those of you not familiar with Whole Foods, they are an American high-end grocery chain. Most of the products you’ll find here are gourmet and organic. If you watch Top Chef, you’ll know that the competitors always go to Whole Foods as part of their challenges since the produce, seafood and meats, and packaged goods are top notch. Think about the health food grocery stores in your neighbourhood, combine that with a Safeway, add a few more gourmet items, and you’re on the right track.

There are two eating areas at the Cambie location. When you emerge from the parkeing garage (free for an hour and a half if you’re shopping at Whole Foods), a small cafe is within view. You can order specialty organic teas and coffees. If you are a vegan or eating a gluten-free diet, they have plenty of baked goods that you can choose from. They also have many milk options for your lattes, including soy and almond milk.

You don’t have to stay in the cafe if you don’t want to. Right beside the cafe is a little cafeteria area – and this is where the Whole Foods really shines for moms. There is plenty of room for strollers; groups of two, three or more moms and their strollers can easily converge onto this area. Smaller kids can also occupy themselves in the play area, equipped with a little table, some cute kid-sized wing back chairs and a few toys. The bathroom has change tables and also a little built-in step that pint-sized tykes can stand one when they’re cleaning up – no more trying to hold them up on your knee while they do a spotty job of washing their hands. And the bathroom has that fabulous Dyson Airblade hand dryer; I have to admit that I still get a bit giddy when I see one of those gadgets.

The cafeteria offers a phenomenal selection of healthy eating options. If you meet for breakfast, they have a hot breakfast counter where you can order pancakes and omelets until 11:00. Lunch is even better. Fill your plate up at a huge and attractive salad bar, with healthy favourites like tofu, chickpeas and tuna. You can also order a sandwich or pick up some sushi. My personal favourite are the thin crust pizzas and the spinach, mushroom and blue cheese option was a hit. But beware if you come at lunch: the place is a bit of a zoo.

If you live or work in the area, you can get anything to go. But if you’re someone who works from home and who wants a change of scenery, you can take advantage of Whole Foods’ free wireless, and a counter that has ample power stations for you to plug in that ailing laptop. Once you’re done, spend a few minutes shopping for dinner. the supplements that you keep forgetting to pick up or a fresh bouquet of flowers for a little pick-me-up.

In fact, I’ll probably close this laptop and do that right now!

Whole Foods Cambie

510 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver, BC

www.wholefoodsmarket.com

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