There has never been a children’s list in any of Henri Alén’s restaurants. However, that does not mean that children are not welcome, on the contrary.
Food culture should be taught to children from an early age, says Henri Alén. Tommi Anttonen
Top chef Henri Alénia has guided throughout his career the idea that a good food culture belongs to everyone, including children. Among others, the restaurant behind Muru, Finnjävel and Alén, who think that children belong to the restaurant. Also for great ones.
– It is worth taking the child to the restaurant to enjoy being together and sitting at a table right from the moment he knows how to sit in a high chair, Alén says.
Indeed, he is reminiscent of Italian culture, where the whole family from baby to granddaughter sits in restaurants, and that’s not a problem for anyone.
Many parents may be concerned about their child’s ability to behave in a restaurant.
– Of course, it is always the parents’ responsibility to take care of the children. For example, it may mean that you don’t have to enjoy a long dinner with the kids, but might want to eat through a shorter formula. But I have to say that I’ve seen more ill-behaved adults than children in restaurants.
Alén says he understands the parents’ prior concern about the smooth running of the restaurant.
– It is natural to wonder how a child behaves and whether this disturbs others. I’ve been thinking the same things with my own child, but we’ve still been to Michelin places since we were little. Sometimes there are good days, sometimes it goes to wading. Good hall staff have often been able to help the situation a little, the top chef says.
He emphasizes the importance of the hall staff in sensing and creating an atmosphere in a service situation. The top guideline is that children should be received in the same way as adults and, for example, they will be presented with the food on the list where the adults are.
Not for children’s lists
Henri Alén does not consider children’s lists with sausages and French to be necessary.
– Maybe there’s a place for them somewhere, but I’ve never had one in my own restaurants. Children are offered the same as adults, and asking for doses will always give you a smaller dose size for your child.
Alén thinks it is not to be feared that a child will not eat.
– It’s OK. Just try and taste. In my opinion, however, the children are quite willing to experiment, and the hall staff also play a big role in encouraging.
Top chef reminiscent of Fiasco? by A little, happy girl who went to Ultima in the spring, who ordered an octopus and ate half more of her parents’ plate on top of her own portion.
– He had never tasted an octopus before and liked it a lot. The parents were surprised. If there had been sausages and french fries on the list, one great experience would have been missed.
Alén has also remembered a customer encounter a few months ago, where a 5- to 6-year-old daughter arrived to eat a four-course menu with her mother.
The menu included tartar, tomato paste, fried pikeperch and minimal fish, and apricot sorbet with milk chocolate mousse.
Alén invited the girl to the kitchen to prepare desserts for herself and her mother.
– The mother praised her very much and said that the girl is usually really shy and careful. Getting the girl into the kitchen was a big deal, just small for us. This is a reminder that even small things give children positive experiences and a relaxed atmosphere.
“I don’t know where the idea came from”
Alén wonders the often audible generalization that young children don’t like spiced food. In making his own baby food series, he has come to another conclusion.
– I don’t know where that idea came from. Really, even quite small children can like sour berries or blue cheese, for example. And tasty food does not necessarily require salt, the taste can be sought through many more.
Herbs, olive oil, garlic bring flavor to even baby food, and for a little bigger, the structure is available with couscous and red lentils, for example.
– The child is not able to make his or her own food choices, it is the parents’ responsibility to ensure that the food is varied, colorful and tastes good. If you yourself wouldn’t want to eat the food you provide for your baby or toddler, then why should food appeal to it any more than a baby?