Kiddy Cuisine Chicago

I'm always searching for the perfect diaper bag . The Momma Couture is the only bag I've ever had that keeps Gabby's snacks cool and fresh. It lets me store snacks directly inside of them...goodbye ziplocs! The best part is the bags are stylish, I actually WANT to carry them around.

Try the Stash & Go,  you can carry a drink, snacks, wipes and a diaper in something that is small enough to throw in an over sized purse, while avoiding nasty spills.
The Momma's Wristlet is the one I really like,  I can either store snacks or wipes for Gabby.

Check them out at www.mommacouture.com

Momma Couture is giving Kiddy Cuisine users 10% off any bags purchased from their website from now until 11/31/09. Use coupon code KC10

I am big fan of Pinkberry yogurt shop in New York and California and I have been patiently waiting for one to appear in Chicago. The frozen yogurt is unique because it is actually real, healthy yogurt that has been frozen, rather than sugary custard disguised as yogurt. The best part is that my kids love it as much as they love the unhealthy alternative.  Although Pinkberry has not made its debut, three new stores have appeared in Chicago. We tried Starfruit in Wicker Park first. We were immediately disappointed. The yogurt was not smooth and creamy, it was more like a water ice. It tasted like a healthy snack. We tried Berry Chill in Streeterville next. Yum! The yogurt was smooth, creamy and sweet. They have a copious selection of toppings and a festive atmosphere. The last place we tried was Yoberri in Lincoln Park. The yogurt was also delicious, as good as Berry Chill. The store is a little bare and boring, and they don't seem to want to market or appeal to children.

 

I still miss Pinkberry, but Chicago's own Berry Chill , is helping me get over it!

 

More Information:

 

Berry Chill

Highly Recommended: The yogurt was smooth, creamy and sweet and the atmosphere was very kid-pleasing.

 

(312) 266-chil

635 N. State St.

Chicago

www.berrychill.com

 

No Highchairs Available

 

Semi-Friendly Staff

 

Sunday through Thursday: 8am-11pm

Friday and Saturday: 8am-4am

 

Yoberri

Recommended: The yogurt was delicious but the atmosphere is not kid-friendly.

 

 (773) 348-3762

2814 N. Halsted St

Chicago

 

Highchairs Available

 

Un-Friendly Staff

 

Tuesday-Thursday 10 am-10 pm

Friday-Saturday   10 am-11 pm

Sunday 10 am-9 pm

closed Monday

 

Starfruit

Not Recommended: The yogurt was way too sour and the texture was like water ice.

 

(773) 328-2900

1745 W. Division St.

Chicago

www.starfruitcafe.com

 

Highchairs Available

 

Semi-Friendly Staff

 

Sunday-Thursday   8 am-11 pm

Friday-Saturday   8 am-2 am

If you have had a positive or negative experience at a restaurant in Chicago with your kids that you would like me to post, please send tips to liz@kiddycuisine.com

It is not easy bringing one or two kids to a restaurant. So when I say going out to eat with my THREE kids is hard, let's just say I would rather go to McDonalds. Here are ten places that me and my mommy friends recommend as the most child-friendly, least fast food-like in the city:

The Hot Spot
Kid-Friendly Menu Picks--French Toast Sticks, A Short Stack of Buttermilk Pancakes

(773)276-0115
2824 W. Armitage Ave
Chicago

Highchairs Available

Friendly Staff

Monday-Thursday 9 am-3 pm
Friday, Saturday and Sunday 8 am-2:30 pm
Closed Tuesday

Riverside Deli
Kid-Friendly Menu Picks--more than two-thirds of the awesome buffet!

(773) 278-3354
1656 W Cortland St
Chicago

Highchairs Available

Friendly Staff

Sunday Brunch Buffet 9 am-3 pm

Stanleys Kitchen and Tap
Kid-Friendly Menu Picks--the entire awesome buffet!

(312) 642-0007
1970 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago

Highchairs Available

Friendly Staff

Saturday and Sunday Brunch Buffet 10 am-5 pm

Bin Wine Cafe
Kid-Friendly Menu Picks--Chocolate Chip Pancakes; Chocolate, Vanilla and Strawberry Milk Flight

(773) 486-CAFE
1559 N. Milwaukee Ave
Chicago
www.binwinecafe.com

Highchairs Available

Friendly Staff

Saturday and Sunday Brunch 2pm-5pm

Northside Bar and Grill
Kid-Friendly Menu Picks --Waffles, Breakfast Sandwich

(773) 384-3555
1635 N. Damen Ave
Chicago
www.northsidechicago.com

Highchairs Available

Friendly Staff

Sunday Brunch 11:30 am-2 am

Sola
Kid-Friendly Menu Picks --Short Stack of Pancakes, Malasadas (Portuguese Donuts)

(773) 327-3868
3868 N. Lincoln Ave. @ Byron
Chicago
www.sola-restaurant.com

Highchairs Available

Friendly Staff

Saturday and Sunday Brunch 10 am - 2 pm

Breakfast Club
Kid-Friendly Menu Picks --Whole Wheat Pancakes, Cinnamon Rolls, Chicken Sausage

(312) 666-2372
1381 W Hubbard St
Chicago
www.chicagobreakfastclub.com

No Highchairs Available

Friendly Staff

Monday-Friday 6 am - 3 pm
Saturday-Sunday 7 am - 3 pm

Hot Chocolate
Kid-Friendly Menu Picks --Smoothies, Buttermilk Pancakes

(773) 489-1747
1747 North Damen Ave
Chicago
www.hotchocolatechicago.com

Highchairs Available

Friendly Staff

Saturday and Sunday Brunch 10 am-2 pm

Milk and Honey Café
Kid-Friendly Menu Pick--Buttermilk Granola Pancakes

(773) 395-9434
1920 W. Division
Chicago
www.milkandhoneycafe.com

Highchairs Available

Friendly Staff

Saturday and Sunday Brunch   8 am-2 pm

The Bongo Room
Kid-Friendly Menu Pick --Chocolate Chip Brioche French Toast

(773) 489-0690
1470 W. Milwaukee Ave
Chicago

Highchairs Available

Friendly Staff

Monday-Friday   8 am-2:30 pm
Saturday-Sunday 9 am-2:30 pm

By: Special Mommy Staff Writer Mara Perlow

Thundershowers in the weather forecast didn't keep the crowds away from opening day on
May 14^th of the Green City Market, located at the southern border of Lincoln Park Zoo. Fortunately, the rain held off and organic devotees came well-armed to fill up their canvas or hemp shopping bags with fresh asparagus, spinach and kale. Regular consumers enjoyed opening day nibbling on the variety of freshly prepared lunch food, like juicy burgers from Green Acres, creative salads and veggie sandwiches from Tiny Greens and melt-in-your-mouth Butterkäse cheese from Prairie Pure Cheese.

Little tykes in tow however were a little less pleased with the lunch choices. Green City Crepes, always a popular choice among the under three feet crowd, ran out of batter before noon. The usual 20 gallon order arrived on-site 10 gallons less than their standard order, at only 10 gallons. The scrumptious and well priced crepes were always a dependable stand-by for picky eaters like Katelyn and Andrew. A plain crepe is $2, butter and sugar $3, maple $3, cherry jam $3, and cheese and herb only $5. When the crepes no longer became an option, hordes of kids pulled their mom's hands over to the Bleeding Heart Organic Bakery stand only to discover that my friend Jenny purchased the last scone for her daughter Lilly. Subsequently, Jenny's friend ran over to Eat Green Foods and scored the last granola bar for her son at 11:40 am.

Plenty of kid-size chairs were available as well as the expected adult chairs and a couple of tables. Instrumental and pretty sounding music played, but the kids didn't seem to know how to dance and jump up and down to the music. In the past years, there was upbeat music for the kids to get excited about which will hopefully come back sometime this summer, as it adds a fun vibe to the venue.

At the information booth, kids can participate in a tasting of the new food of the day. The information booth lady was offering business-size cards that she stores in her index file with the child's name on it. Each time the child visits the booth and tries the food of the day, she hole punches a corresponding number on the card. When you reach number eight on the card, the child receives a free apron. Fun idea, but with items like radishes on the menu, my almost three year old Andrew is a long way from reaching that apron. But there still may be hope for other adventurous little eaters like the little boy next to Andrew, maybe just six months older, who loved the radish and wanted another one.  

In short, check out the Green City market, open on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Just be sure to provision your purse with some string cheese or PB&J sandwich in case the vendors again run out of kid-pleasing food.

Important Information

Green City Market

(773) 435-0280
1750 N Clark St
Chicago
www.chicagogreencitymarket.org

 

I've always been a firm believer in the theory that if you can't be original with your birthday party venues make the birthday party itself unique and fun. Kids like the same stuff, gyms, playgrounds, bouncy castles, and any old thing they have done a million times before. For that reason, we did Chase's birthday at My Gym on 1880 W Fullerton. It was a race car theme, we got the cake at Cakegirls ($200.00), a little expensive, but certainly worth the wow factor. Not only was it the most beautiful cake I've ever seen, but it tasted so delicious, not too sweet and unnatural, just homemade. I only did Pizza Hut for the kids; however, I had one of my staff members come in and roll sushi for the adults ($200.00). It didn't occur to me that a sushi chef would be a great commodity until someone called me after the party asking to hire my "Sushi Chef". Anyway, I passed the work onto him and I will put his information at the bottom of this entry so anyone that wants to can contact him.  The goody bags were my favorite part. Everyone got a race car cookie, made by "Cookies by Kay" ($3.00/cookie) She makes her own cookie cutters, which means she can pretty much do anything. The party was a huge success and people are still talking about it!

Important Information

Cake
Cakegirls
(773) 404-3147 (call early!)
2207 W Belmont
Chicago
www.thecakegirls.com

Friendly Staff

Tuesday through Saturday 9 am to 5 pm

 
Sushi Chef
James Whiddon
(940) 206-6666
jwhiddon@gmail.com

Goody Bags
Cookies By Kay, Inc.
Kay Vanasco
(312) 622-0113
cookies@cookiesbykay.com
www.cookiesbykay.com