Kitchen Report

Two interesting news reports this week that show a loosening of controlled spaces to allow for new food experiences in unexpected places. Who is being affected? Corporate America and the toddler set.

First, The New York Times had an interesting feature describing the “Rise of Company Gardens.” Doing a little weeding on your coffee break is taking off, it seems, and not just for sun-splashed corporations such as Google and Yahoo. Kohl’s headquarters near Milwaukee is also growing veggies for local kids. The receptionist for Harvard Pilgrim in Quincy, Mass., waters their company garden before work and harvests at lunch time. The article references several other companies across the United States that have a new crop of raised beds.

Next, CNN took a hot debate (1,111 comments at this posting) on fine-dining restaurants catering to the 3-and-under crowd to a national level. The CNN post was simply responding to  NYT article “Fine Dining Where Strollers Don’t Invite Sneers” about Manhattan restaurants that are welcoming little people.

The comments range from: Children need to be exposure to restaurants beyond Chucky Cheese, to please don’t train your child on my expensive dinner tab. For most, “haute tots” are only cute for about five minutes, it seems.

Kitchen Report weighs in:

Corporate gardens = Great!

Toddlers in expensive restaurants = Not so much.

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