Fast food and quick bites

I thought of doing a post on eating out post kids after reading this post on LLT's blog. Eating out was a time saver sometimes, after a long day at work and a fun way of catching up with friends too. Of course all this in my previous life - pre-kids. I love trying out new cuisines and the husband and me would go out exploring new places - alone or with friends. We had our favorite haunts too where we would keep returning to. Our food forays were always interesting.

When I came here to Belgium, fresh-of-the-boat types, I was surprised to see a limited street food concept  here. There are fine-dining restaurants and speciality cuisine restaurants from various countries - Belgian, French, Indian, Italian, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, too many to list. For fast food here is Mac Donald's, Quick, Pizzahut, numerous pita and durum shops. Lunchtime food business is catered to by these sandwicheries/snack bars, which normally are not open for business at night. And the closest to street food if I were to draw a parallel to the options available in India are the frietkots (shops selling french fries) and waffle stands.

I remember a time when Big G was 7 months old and I wanted to eat Indian food. So we went to an Indian restaurant. Seeing a baby we were not given a warm welcome but we did not want to go back since we had cabbed to the place. Our table was sandwiched between two big groups (and Belgians believe in long leisurely dining). So Big G got very excited and started gurgling and cooing and we had all eyes on us, we became very conscious and had to take turns, one person taking her to the terrace and the other eating, rather swallowing food as fast as one could. Some experience.

When we travelled to Rome, Big G was all of 9 months and wanting to move all over the place - so we had to resort to  take-aways. Every single day! Being a tourist place and heights of summer, no place was doing slow business then. Mostly after kids, it's been Mac D, Quick, Pita places, Pizza Hut which is where all families with kids flock to and the food is strictly incidental. I am so off french fries and pizzas I tell you, I can only recommend the apple-pear milkshake at Mac D. Being mostly vegetarian can also restrict choices pretty much.

In India, most places are okay with small children and that is such a welcome relief. When we are in Bangalore we try to visit  MTR, Vidhyarthi Bhavan, Swati Snacks, Italia or is it Little Italy and such. Once I was craving for Chinese food and the brother-in-law recommended a place called Inchara. When we went there, he said it is renowned for its dal-fry!!!  Some hits and misses. Another time we had attempted to eat out with my parents Big G wanted to do potty and only at home! So we had to opt for take-away. A third time 3-month old lil G was literally jumping from my hands onto the plate!! Not very long ago, I had taken her to a friend's cafe and she went and asked for a chocolate bar, which was very embarrassing and they refused to take any money for it o:O

I don't enjoy going to restaurants with small kids as you have to order something which you think they will eat but never do. They are full with juice etc. Then you spend a lot of time in rest-rooms or running behind them. A lot of places don't have high-chairs and it's difficult to eat with kids on your lap. Or you are so intent on feeding them that you don't really enjoy the ambiance, company or anything. And then have to quickly gulp your share as everyone else is about to order desserts. Anxiety whilst eating spoils the fun.

Which is why our last family eating out trip was quite enjoyable. Big G ate on her own, lil G with a little help from me. We ate at a leisurely pace and enjoyed the food and some family time. It is a place I have come to love - Wagamama for it's fusion South-Asian cuisine. I think and keeping fingers crossed that we are almost ready to eat out now and then.