In this new section on the site, the Brunch With My Baby editors will highlight items that makes their lives as parents just that little bit easier.
We’re kicking off our new BWMB Loves section with Babiators! I love these sunglasses for Cheese because they stay on her tiny face, she can’t destroy them, and Babiators have an amazing policy where they’ll replace the sunnies if they’re lost or broken.
Want your own pair of Babiators? Enter our giveaway to win your choice of Babiator sunglasses.
The competition opens 12am Wednesday, July 31st, 2013, and closes Tuesday 11:59pm, August 6, 2013.
If you’re cruising down the Redfern side of Bourke St, do not pass the non-descript building that houses St Jude without tasting at least one of their delicious dishes. Whilst it’s a super busy tiny slip of a café, the outdoor tables make for a baby-friendly place to brunch.
St Jude exterior. Photo by Emily Staresina
St Jude’s brunch offerings are enough to please—and quite possibly impress—even the most seasoned Eastern Suburb gourmand. Neither Lorin nor I, nor Baby Lukas come to think of it, are vegetarian, but today we sampled two of St Jude’s vegetarian offerings. (St Jude isn’t a vegetarian-only café, but breakfast for us usually includes the delicious and revered pork in one format or another, so for us both to try a veggie-only breakfast, and to be fully satisfied, is a testament to St Jude!)
The interior is a little small, with the cozy booths lining the far wall making for comfortable baby seating. The handful of outdoor tables are ideal if you can get one—especially given the ridiculously nice winter weather we’ve been having!
This Saturday morning, we descended upon St Jude’s in a bit of hurry (with Baby Lukas possible ready to implode due to it being nap time). We were initially seated at the world’s smallest table but another waiter took pity on us and moved us to a larger table the second he was able to.
Choosing from the menu was hard, but we both struck gold. The Sweet Corn and Pumpkin Fritters with Avocado Cream, Poached Egg, Hollandaise and Baby Spinach ($14.50), sampled by Lorin, was a dynamite choice, and one worth getting, even if you don’t think you’re a fritters kind of bruncher. I went for the Avocado Smash with Salsa, Fresh Spinach and Feta ($14.50), which Baby Lukas and I pretty much fought each other for. Luckily for us, the servings were more than generous.
Avocado smash with salsa, fresh spinach and feta ($14.50). Photo by Emily Staresina.
Last bite: If you’re looking for a baby-friendly café where you can sit outside and enjoy these ridiculously sunny Sydney winter days while sampling some of the tastiest brunch this side of Bourke St, St Jude is the place for you.
Highchairs: No. Stroller storage: Not unless you sit outside. Easy access: Yes. Change tables: No. Kids’ menu: No, but kids won’t starve.
St. Jude
728 Bourke St, Redfern 2016
Phone: (02) 9310 3523
Prices: $
Hours: Mon-Sun 7am-4pm Get Directions
Baked is a Red Hook bakery created by entrepreneurs, Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito, with their dream to “Open a great American bakery that is not a cupcake shop”. Baked was born in January 2005 in the neighborly neighborhood of Red Hook, Brooklyn. It is now so well-known that people from all over Brooklyn and even Manhattan trek out to Red Hook (hey, there’s not much transport, it’s totally a trek!) just to try their treats.
The cafe is cute and cosy—with a long line snaking around the register of fellow cake-lovers. The booth cross-benches are filled with people on laptops and friends catching up over snacks.
With such a huge selection of treats, it’s difficult to know what to try. They’re well-known for their giant marshmallows, and, even though they didn’t want to be a cupcakery, their cupcakes are known to be pretty good too.
Where the magic happens!
We sat in a booth at the back where we could park the stroller behind us. The kitchen is next to the tables, with an open glass window to check out the baking in progress. Older kids will enjoy seeing their favourite treats being made before their eyes. Cheese just wanted to smash the glass jars.
Coca-cola bunt cake
I chose the intriguingly named “Coca-Cola Bunt Cake“. Disappointingly, it only had the slightest hint of Coca-Cola flavour in the icing—otherwise it was just another delicious chocolate cake.
Focaccia with Spinach, Tomato and Cheese.
Alec tried the Focaccia with Spinach, Tomato and Cheese as he’s not a big cake-lover (I know, right? How are we even married?!). He said it was delicious and would order it again.
Trying the bunt cake.Disappointed she’s not getting cake. Chocolate and Banana Scone.
We ordered Cheese a Scone of the Day in chocolate and banana. It was a good scone, but sadly Cheese just wanted the cake, of course.
Last bite: Join the rest of New York and take a day trip to Red Hook for delicious baked goods from Baked. Allow time for wandering around the quaint houses and parks in the area—and perhaps get the ferry home!
Highchairs: No. Stroller storage: Minimal. Easy access: No. There are a few steps to get in. Change tables: No. Kids’ menu: No.
Baked
359 Van Brunt St
Brooklyn, NY
Phone: (718) 222 0345
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-7pm Sat-Sun 8am-7pm
Documentary film maker, Nina Davenport, found herself 41 and single, and desperate for a baby of her own. This film is the story of her unconventional journey to parenthood. The deep, biological longing for a child that Davenport feels is something that will resonate with women all over the world who, for reasons they can’t articulate, desperately want a baby. It’s through this emotional connection to her audience that Davenport is able to take viewers on a journey that’s equal parts funny, sad and all-together touching. I can’t recommend this movie enough. See it, see it, see it.
Wahwah Lounge is one heck of a baby-friendly cafe. From the super cozy booths to the staff who treat your baby like a rock star, not to mention the yummy food, Wahwah Lounge in Waterloo is an easy, breezy place to brunch.
At Wahwah Lounge, the best place for containing a baby is in one of their cosy corner booths, which is where the friendly staff suggested we sit upon arrival. With Baby Lukas leaning over our booth and making friends with the people in the next one over (even the other patrons seem to love babies!), we ordered our food.
Baby Lukas making friends in one of the booths. Photo by Emily Staresina.
Wahwah Lounge has an awesome all-day brunch menu, and does staples like poached eggs, really well. This time around, I ordered their Free Range Eggs (poached) with Soy Linseed Toast ($10.50), and a cheeky side of bacon. Lorin ordered the French Toast with Maple Syrup, Strawberries and Crème Fraiche ($12.50), which I have to say, was also a very smart choice.
Wahwah Lounge – Poached eggs on soy linseed toast ($10.50). Photo by Emily Staresina.
Stuck into our food, it wasn’t until several mouthfuls later that we realised Baby Lukas was “drinking” (also know as “seriously leaking”) milk from his sippy cup, and it was going all over the clean upholstered booth. Now, not only did the staff not fuss when they saw (after I frantically and apologetically asked for napkins), but they told us not to give it a second thought as these things happen, and that’s why they have regular cleanings scheduled. Far more forgiving than they should have been, WalWah truly is a baby-friendly place.
Despite nearly destroying the joint, Baby Lukas got several high-fives from the staff on the way out.
Last bite: If you’re looking for a no-fuss, no-stress outing with solid food and where Baby will be treated like royalty (even if they’re a bit naughty), Wahwah Lounge in Waterloo should be your next brunch destination.
Highchairs: Yes. Stroller storage: Not really. Small strollers are ok. Easy access: Yes. Change tables: No. Kids’ menu: No. But lots for kiddies to choose from.
Wahwah Lounge
1 Danks Street
Waterloo, NSW 2017
Phone: (02) 9699 3456
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30am-5pm, Sat 8am-4pm, Sun 8am-3pm Get Directions
While food festivals are ideal outings to take a baby, toddler or older kid to, they can also be chaotic and overwhelming.
Here are our tips on how to survive (and hopefully enjoy!) a food festival with kids:
Pack your bag in advance. Lots of face wipes, water or milk bottles, bibs. Snacks, or possibly even an entire meal for the kid, incase the food takes too long to buy. Don’t forget sunscreen and a picnic blanket if there is no seating area at the event.
Bring entertainment for the child—a ball or baby doll stroller for restless toddlers, or something new your baby hasn’t yet seen.
Scope out what food vendors will be there or decide in advance what kind of food you are in the mood for so that there is a meal game plan of sorts.Remember, babies and toddlers have a very brief window of time in which they will tolerate, well, anything. Especially when it comes to you enjoying a meal.
Arrive early. We can’t emphasise this enough. If you are unable to get this step right, be sure to mind the following ones, or you might as well head straight home, feeling hungry.
When you first get there, have one person take the baby and stake out somewhere to sit. Find tables and chairs, or put down a picnic blanket on the grass.
Have the other person forage/hunt for food.
Note! The Food Hunter may have the urge to take her time browsing ALL of the food stalls and enjoy her time away from the baby. Don’t give in. Time is of the essence. If it’s a busy day, choose the shortest line. Lunch decision made.
Dramatic backdrop at Smorgasburg.
That’s it! You made it! Enjoy your food, lounge in the sun (or, if you’re like us, take turns chasing your toddler while your partner lies in the sun), and congratulate yourself on successfully taking your family to a food festival.
Looking for a food festival to try? Our fave is Smorgasburg DUMBO—with Jane’s Carousel and several playgrounds nearby, it’s the most kid-friendly food festival we know of.
What’s your favorite food festival to visit during the summer?
Today’s Brunch Special is courtesy of Kopal Goonetileke, co-founder of PishPosh Mommy—creators of stylish products that help you organize your life with a baby. Kopal lives with her husband, Malcolm, and her three children, Hariel (age seven), Kanya (age five) and Kyelle, (age three and a half). The family currently lives in Westchester, after having moved from San Francisco five years ago.
Kopal and her family.
How would you sum up PishPosh Mommy? We design and develop products that provide functional organization for stylish moms.
How did PishPosh Mommy begin? The PishPosh Mommy vision began in San Francisco in 2007 when I met my now business partner, Jenny Hong. We were two new moms who were equally frustrated by the lack of stylish solutions for carrying and organizing baby gear. We loved our new lives as mothers, but we didn’t want to feel sentenced to years of lugging around bulky, unattractive diaper bags! We created the Carryall, an innovative bag organizer that transforms any bag into a diaper bag. We sourced fun, modern prints for our bags and named them after our favorite neighborhoods in San Francisco.
Kopal and the Carryall.
Tell us about your products—why do you consider them “must-haves” for moms? Our signature product, the Carryall, allows your favorite handbag, tote or beach bag to function as a diaper bag. The Carryall also adds simple, stylish organization to any bag or stroller. We have a variety of chic prints to suit the tastes of any mom.
The PishPosh Wet Bag is our multi-purpose solution for all things wet. And with kids, let’s face it, something always gets wet! The bag’s uses grow right along with your child, from infant cloth diapers to toddler training pants to big kid swimsuits. The front pocket holds dry items while the water-resistant, leak-free main pocket keeps wet things contained. Moms can even use it to store make-up or toiletries for travel or quick trips to the gym.
Other great accessories by PishPosh Mommy include the Diaper Clutch, PishPosh Pad and arriving this fall, the Changing Clutch, Nursing Cover and large size Wet Bag.
You have the perfect gear for taking kids out and about. When did you start taking your kids out to eat in restaurants? We’ve been taking our kids to restaurants since within a few weeks of bringing them home from the hospital. It became a little more challenging once we had our third, but we believe it’s important for them to experience different cuisines and also to understand how to sit and wait, especially when sometimes they are the only kids at the meal and Malcolm and I are socializing with other adults.
What have you found are the easiest/hardest ages to eat out with your kids? When we had only one child it was always pretty easy to eat out. Then when our daughter came along it became a little more challenging especially since she is a pickier eater. From the age of about six months until three there were a lot of really quick eat-and-run-type meals in restaurants. Now that our kids are all over the age of three, dining out has become enjoyable again and we strive to avoid electronic devices to entertain the children unless the dinners run more than an hour.
Any stories of an especially successful eating out experience with your kids? Choosing a restaurant that is kid-friendly, or going at a time when the restaurant isn’t busy has always worked in our favor. Of course, a good server is always a bonus. We had one experience where our server actually took the kids back into the kitchen so that they could see their meal being prepared and it was fantastic! Not only were they excited to eat but they had so much to talk about during the entire meal.
Fave local restaurants/cafes to eat out with the kids? Landmarc in the Time Warner building is a great place to take kids. We also love Mary’s Fish Camp but it’s small so better to go during off hours.
Fave spot to stop for treats? We love 16 Handles Frozen Yogurt where the kids get to pull the handle and then add the toppings, so it’s like make your own sundae every time!
Do you have any eating out traditions with your family? We love to eat out on Saturday mornings after soccer. Lunch time menus usually offer more kid-friendly choices, and there are less crowds, making it a stress-free way to start our weekend!
Fave spot to go for special family occasions or events—but where kids are still welcome? Southern Hospitality has great brunch, and if you can get the back room for your event it’s perfect with kids so that they can run around while the adults relax.
Number one tip for other parents when eating out with kids? Fill your Carryall or Diaper Clutch with coloring books, crayons, stickers and don’t forget the wipes! If your little one is still in diapers then don’t forget your PishPosh Diaper Clutch. It looks just like a regular clutch but fits diapers and wipes, and even comes with a changing pad so toting your little one—and his/her gear—into tiny NYC restaurant bathrooms becomes a little more manageable. And, finally you will definitely need your PishPosh Wet Bag in case there is a food or drink spill. The dry pocket will hold that extra change of clothes and you can safely hide away the soiled clothes in the wet pocket until you can get home to wash them. The Wet Bag has a snap wristlet so that you can attach it to your stroller or to another bag easily.
Check out the PishPosh Mommy range below. Order your favorites at the PishPosh Mommy online store and enter the code “BWMB25” for 25% off your purchase, valid until 7/31/2013.
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It’s a rare day that I’m out without my kid. Usually she’s my trusty (although not at all trust-worthy) sidekick, for better or for worse. On this particular day, however, I found myself heading out to try Nom Wah Tea Parlor with some friends, with the promise that I would be able to eat my dim sum heart out with Nom Wah’s extensive list of vegetarian options.
So. Much. Food.
Nom Wah is a famous dim sum eatery in Chinatown, that has been operating in some shape or form on Doyers Street since 1920 (it originally opened as a bakery and tea parlor). People queue outside for a long time (how long, I don’t exactly know, as we got there when it opened to avoid that exact problem!) for a chance to squeeze into this retro tea parlor/dim sum emporium and eat, eat, eat the cheap and delicious dim sum.
Rice roll with fried dough ($4).
Which leads me to why I was childless on this day. Toddlers (particularly mine) have a set napping schedule that cannot be messed with, or bad things happen. Plagues of locusts and such. Since Cheese is a morning napper, it means we can’t ever have brunch somewhere at opening hour (10:30 am). With Nom Wah, getting there at opening hour is the best choice unless you want to join the giant queue, so that’s how I turned up to review a restaurant for kid-friendliness, minus the actual kid.
Tofu Skin Roll served with gluten-free soy sauce ($4).
Also in our party was a friend who is gluten-intolerant. Nom Wah is great for people with all kinds of dietary requirements because so much of the menu is made with rice instead of wheat flour, so my friend was in absolute food heaven with so many gluten-free food choices. Plus, the menu even indicates those items that are gluten-free.
Steamed vegetable buns.
While I ate at Nom Wah minus my toddler, the restaurant was packed with small kids, ranging from small babies and up. Children are very welcome no matter their age, so long as they’re happy to be squished into a small booth or sitting on an adult’s lap at the table. No room for strollers, so bring a carrier if possible. The service is fast if you can get their attention, and the food arrives swiftly, piping hot and flavourful. It’s a great opportunity to teach kids about dumplings in an environment where kids are welcome.
Last bite: Arrive when Nom Wah opens to be seated straight away, or be prepared to join a long queue. An authentic, affordable, and casual place to order lots of fun dishes so kids can experiment with all the flavours and textures. Chopsticks optional!
Today was a landmark day for us – we took Cheese to her first musical, at age 22 months. The show was Wanda’s Monster, a really cute off-Broadway show, perfect for kids aged two to 10. We weren’t sure if it was a good idea to take Cheese seeing as she’s such a wiggle monster that we can’t even take her to a 30 minute music class anymore, but I really wanted to see how she enjoyed watching a real show.
Wanda’s Monster, in its essence, is about a girl called Wanda who discovers a monster living in her closet. At first she is scared of the monster, then, after receiving some advice from her super-hip grandmother, pushes through her fear to get to know him, gaining a new friend in the process. While the story is very simple (hey, it’s a kids’ musical after all!), the underlying messages of tolerance and acceptance are important lessons for us to learn (and be reminded of) at any age.
We sat in the back row in anticipation of needing to bolt after 10 minutes or less, and were stunned that we made it through the entire show, without a single wiggle. Cheese loved Wanda and the monster – asking for Wanda every time she left the stage, and pointing to the monster and saying with conviction “Mon! Mon!” (she hasn’t quite mastered multi-syllable words yet).
After the show we met the cast. Cheese was too shy to pat the monster or high-five Wanda. As we left she stopped to wave to the cast, yelling “Bye bye Mon!”. A new musical (and monster) fan is born.
Wanda’s Monster is playing July 13 – September 8, 2013, at Vineyard’s Dimson Theatre, Union Square. At 50 minutes (no interval) it’s the perfect length to try for your kid’s first show, or to take older kids who enjoy monsters. A few of the older toddlers were scared of the monster (Cheese knowingly said “Baby” when one such toddler wailed and needed to be removed from the theater), but by the end all the kids were dancing in their seats and shouting out “Rooaaarrrrrrr!”.
Buy tickets here. Use the code MBSAVE to score a 25% discount on full-pried tickets.
I was not compensated for this blog post. While I was invited to attend a special bloggers’ preview of the show, all opinions are my own. The show rocked. Take your kids, you’ll all have a blast.
Like every family home, we have a lot of toys strewn about. Our almost-two-year-old, of course, only plays with a handful of her vast toy collection. Some of her current favourites were given as gifts over a year ago, and are only now becoming an engaging toy for her to play with.
Thinking of getting a gift for a two-year-old? Try one of the trusty favourites that’s a hit with our toddler.
Stroller: Ours was sent from an overseas relative, but the brand isn’t important. All of the mini strollers are equally great, and you can even get them in blue.
Megabloks: These are awesome first builders for toddlers. The Big Building Bag includes a car-type platform for building on and zooming all over the floor. The blocks are the perfect size for toddler hands to manipulate.
Mini Micro Kickboard Scooter: This is our toddler’s early second birthday gift. We chose the Mini Micro version with the additional O-bar handlebar for toddlers. She’s slowly learning to use it around the house.
Hape Kitchen: We have a tiny apartment, so found the smallest kitchen possible, this neutral-toned kitchen from Hape. We filled it with similar-looking Hape Play Kitchenware. Our toddler loves to make us “tea” in her kitchen, and “stir” up delicious dishes to share with this cute wooden kitchen set.
Hoohobbers Jnr Director Chair: After making it clear that she wanted her own chair, we scouted around for something that didn’t take up too much room. The result is this great director’s chair that our toddler can fold up herself, and move around the room to wherever she wants to sit. You can even customize it with your child’s name.
Cars: We found a great, cheap car set from IKEA that our toddler loves to pull apart and drive all over the apartment.
Maracas: These maracas from Pylones are still a favourite and our toddler loves to “shake, shake, shake” her sillies out.
B. Rrrroll Model Boogie Bus: A gift for her first birthday, our toddler now loves to push the driver in his seat to start the bus engine, and arranges the passengers in the back.
Alphaberry: Your toddler won’t prefer this to your iPhone, but it is engaging and fun, playing the ABC song and saying all of the letters when they’re pressed.
Diddy-Doo-Dah’s Blue Owl Xylophone: The xylophone hammers are now used for actually playing music! We all enjoy this toy together, playing tunes for our toddler and singing simple songs.
Tupperware Shape O Ball: While her puzzle skills are definitely still developing, this toy is helping our toddler recognize shapes. She struggles to work out how to rotate the pieces and doesn’t recognize all the shapes and where they go, but she is drawn to this shape sorter and loves to keep trying to work it out.
