Kids want fine dining, not fast food: survey
It seems that Master Chef has changed the dining preferences of children. Exposed to fine food, they now seem to go for that preferring it over fast food.
So instead of fish fingers and sausages, they’re asking for lobster and wagyu beef, Instead of cordial, they want coconut milk.
According to a new survey from Open Table, one-third of NSW children want fine dining instead of fast food.
And they know about it too - 49 per cent have dined at a hatted restaurant at least once
The survey found that about 75 per cent of Australian parents say their children eat out more often than they did when they were growing up.
And 18 per cent take their kids to a restaurant at least once a week.
John Fink, creative director with the Fink Group, whose restaurants include Bennelong and Otto, and the three hatters Quay and The Bridge Room, puts it down to the success of Master Chef.
The show, he says, has "changed everything, hands down.”
“Ever since MasterChef hit the small screens in living rooms across the nation young Australians have developed a unique fascination with good food and restaurant dining," Fink told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Added to that is the way parents are now taking their kids to quality restaurants.
He said he has seen an increase in children of all ages – "from first day of kindy to last day of school" – sitting down with their parents to eat at his restaurants.
"Australia has a growing culture of what I like to call 'socialised sophistication'; “ Fink said. "Years back, mum and dad going to a restaurant was a bit posh, and a bit of a deal. Babysitters and taxis got involved. Nowadays folk will head out for a meal with the kids. Dining in a restaurant is part of family life now."
by Leon Gettler, February 7th 2017
