Bringing children along in food & wine

[Priscilla]

Hello Jancis thank you for taking the time for this Q&A.

Since reading your autobiography I have been interested in your thoughts on bringing children along foodwise, and of course later, winewise.

What sort of dishes do the children of a wine writer and a restaurant critic claim as favorites? What might be a typical family meal?

How old does a child have to be before he or she gets a little wine in his water glass? How old before beginning to learn the pleasant ritual of wine service?

Or indeed any other related thoughts!

[Jancis Robinson]

A good domestic topic of vital importance to the future of the wine and food business.

No point in forcing any child to take an interest in wine but I have always encouraged my three to use their noses - say just by wondering how they would describe the smell of that bubble bath, shampoo or whatever. Mainly because I think our sense of smell can bring such pleasure but tends to be under-used and under-trained.

Our youngest is 12 and has been encouraged cautiously to sip a wine of her birth year just for fun but she's clearly not ready to enjoy the taste yet. The 18 year old boy showed a serious interest in taste (but not alcohol) in his quite early teens but still forgets to finish what's in his wine glass. The nearly 21 year-old daughter has tried to distance herself from wine for obvious reasons but now has to admit to a serious penchant for fizz. Fortunately, for the moment ,she does not demand the best.

Favourite foods? They're all extremely discriminating and the best food of all is that cooked by their father, the chef in this household.