R:A weeknightmealinourhouseholdis fairlychaotic.I often
finishworklateorwemighthavea cookingclassinourkitchen,
sowetrytokeepit fairlysimple.Quiteoftenit willbea bunchof
dishesthrownintothemiddleofthetable,orsomethingsI’ve
broughthomefromtherestaurant;ourstyleofeatingis very
communal.Pastais popularbecauseit’sfairlyquickandeasy,and
winteris quitehandyforusbecausewecanpop,say,someporkin
a LeCreusetpotwithsomevegetablesandslow-cookit intheoven.
R:Whenit comestoeating,thekidsareverydifferent.Chloeis quite
adventurous,soshelovesoysters,olives,sardinesandanchovies.
WhereasTristanis thecompleteopposite:helikesveryplainfood
withouttoomanyspices.Sowetrytocookformultipletastes.
S:Wesitdownasa familyeverysinglenightfordinner– around
a table, not at the TV. I think that comes from my upbringing. Even
whenthekids’friendscomearoundfordinnerweliketostick
toournormalroutineandsitdownalltogether.
R:If thekidshavetaughtmeanythingaboutfoodit’stochill
outa bit– they’renotgoingtoloveeverythingthatyoumake
andthey’regoingtotellyouwhentheydon’tthinkit’sright.Kids
aregreatlevellers;theykeepit realandhelpyoutopullback
andseethebiggerpicture.Aschefs,wecangeta littlebitfull
ofourselvesandgetstuckthinkingthatfoodis everythingin
life.It’sjustfoodattheendoftheday!
R:I’ma bigbelieverintrainingpalates,becausepalatememory
is sostrong.If youputalltheworkinwhenkidsareyoungand
helpbuilda strongbasepalate,thenlaterinlifetheyhavesomething
toreferbackto.I havecountlessconversationswithguestsinthe
restaurant and at the cooking school about how ingredients orSÉVERINE& RODNEYDUNNTHE AGRARIAN KITCHEN, TAS
Tristan (13) and Chloe (6)
Mostkidswilleat whatever
theirparentsareeating,and
that’swhat wedowhenwe
goout.We’re notlooking
for the chicken nuggets.