February 27, 2008
First off, if you are a friend of mine who has a wee one, you (ie, Shawna) are NOT allowed to buy the products I am about to talk about because these will be guaranteed to be winging their way to you at some point for birthdays et al.
Now, allow me to introduce you to Amy Wilson Sanger’s World Snacks series of kids’ books (which I first saw on Tigers & Strawberries).
In “First Book of Sushi” for example, you’ll find gems like:
Miso in my sippy cup
tofu in my bowl.
Crab and avocado
fill my California roll.
And from “Hola Jalapeno“:
Corn tortillas make my tacos,
my tostada,… and my chips.
Tomato salsa, por favor,
and guacamole dip!
So far, she’s covered soul food, sushi, dim sum as well as Italian, Spanish and Jewish food. The seventh book on Indian sweets is coming out in April.
February 28, 2008 at 9:41 am
Foodie in training! Remember when some lame Uncle made that snarky comment to us when I was 8 and you were 12 - about us having boyfriends who would have to deal with our ‘worldly’ palette and how McDonald’s just wouldn’t do for dates? I think we had just devoured a lot of sashimi. Little did he know how that palette includes Tim Horton’s breakfast sandwiches and Denny’s romantic meals.
February 28, 2008 at 9:57 am
I am glad that I inspired others to check out this series of books for babies. Our favorites are still “Yum Yum Dim Sum,” and “My First Book of Sushi.” Zak and Morganna and I have those memorized, we have read them so many times to the wee Kat.
G–as for the lame Uncle (everyone has at least one of those in the family–we have two in ours, not to mention some creepy cousins) and his comments–it is funny how others often assume that because one has a palate that includes ethnic food that it “ruins” you for anything else. Ever since I graduated from culinary school and started working as a culinary instructor, chef and food writer, people assume that I would find food that they cook for me to be–somehow beneath me. That I would judge their homecooked food the same way I look at restaurant food.
And of course, that isn’t the case. I love homey food. I love humble foods from all over the world, including the staple Appalachian country foods I grew up with like biscuits and gravy or cornbread and pinto beans!
People get odd ideas, sometimes.
February 28, 2008 at 11:57 am
that is all kinds of awesome.