YumSugar

Growing Trend of Child Foodies Faces Backlash

YumSugar — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:15:04 -0800

Last week, Rocco DiSpirito declared he was sick of foie gras. Then we made a list of things we're over. Here's another tired food trend to add to the queue: kid foodies. Lately, the little ones have been making a lot of noise in the kitchen. First, there was Greg Grossman, a 13-year-old who was the hottest rising caterer on the Hamptons circuit. Then the New York Times told the world about David Fishman, a 12-year-old aspiring food critic, and Paramount promptly purchased the rights to turn his story into a movie. Last, but certainly not least, was Julian Kreusser, a 5-year-old from Portland with a recurring cooking show.

What to make of this growing trend? While those with a fondness for a child's precociousness may be bowled over, the rest of us are left feeling slightly perturbed. In response, at least one journalist has voiced her issue with it.

In a Slate article, food writer Regina Schrambling argues that letting children into the kitchen at such a young age is both dangerous and premature. Childrens' taste buds differ from adult palates and they have a smaller frame of reference for food, making it hard to tell the difference between a good burger and a bad burger. Schrambling writes:

On a larger scale, the trend emphasizes the worst of the food frenzy today: The celebration of celebrity and novelty over authenticity and seriousness.

Maybe it's because I didn't hone my culinary skills until I was an adult, but I have to side with Schrambling. Kids should be kids - childhood, in all its joys, is short enough. Do you agree - are you equally sick of hearing about tots flipping omelets in the kitchen?

Source

Kid Food Critic Might Become a Movie Star, Too

YumSugar — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 03:00:38 -0800

Last month, when the New York Times wrote an article about David Fishman, a 12-year-old aspiring food critic, readers everywhere were thoroughly amused.

Turns out readers weren't the only ones to find the article entertaining. Variety reports that Paramount Pictures has acquired the rights to the story, which focuses on Fishman's journal of his fine dining experiences, as well as his friendship with a prominent restaurateur.

Saturday Night Live's Lorne Michaels will produce the adaptation, along with John Goldwyn, who felt the article "offered a recipe for a youth-themed empowerment film."

The producers are considering securing life rights of Fishman. I wonder if he would play himself in a movie about his life. Do you think the story would translate into a compelling story on film?

Source

Koodies: So Hot Right Now

YumSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:50:38 -0800

Meet the biggest buzzword in the food world this minute: koodies. No, I'm not referring to the term we used prolifically as fourth graders; I'm talking about kid foodies. Food trend analyst Phil Lempert, also known as the Supermarket Guru, coined the term to refer to children with an "ardent or refined interest in food" or "an unusual, sometimes fanatic, desire to eat unusual foods."

The term may be brand-new, but the idea of kids with refined palates has been on the horizon for a while. Remember Greg Grossman, who catered in the Hamptons? Or David Fishman, who dined alone at 12? Let's not forget Julian Kreusser, the 5-year-old with a cooking show. They're all poster children for the term "koodie."

Do you have any koodies in your life? Do you respect their precocious appreciation for food - or do you find it to be obnoxious?