5 L.A. Restaurants Where Feeding My Kid Veggies Isn't A Chore

A Saxton Freymann creation

The act of convincing kids to eat vegetables can, at times, be...well...an alternative form of birth control. Even my adventurous little gourmand treats my nerves like her own personal Theremin when she finds something non-starchy, non-protein-y and non-cheesy on her plate.

But, for whatever reason, she will relent when the veggies are offered up by a professional food server. (She's even been known to cave for the sample lady at Trader Joe's!)

So, when the budget allows, I will gladly pay for a meal's worth of sanity. Here are my best bets for getting my daughter to show some love for The Forgotten Food Group.

Stereotypically Speaking, I Want Some Chocolate!

I seldom have one of these moments:

But today, it seems I've made an exception. All day long, I have been thinking about the sublime Tofu Chocolate Pudding (I know, I know...but seriously, it's actually good!) at Veggie Grill. It comes as the dessert with the kid's meal and I routinely snag it from my daughter because I'm like that.

The only thing stopping me from getting some is this: My little corner of the world is seemingly the only place in the world that isn't 8 million degrees today and the nearest Veggie Grill is about 20+ degrees away. Thankfully, I bookmarked the recipe when Daily Candy posted it months ago.

Now, if I can just figure out what a double burner is (and stop myself from just filling up on the remaining chocolate chips in the two hours it takes to chill), it's on!

Cafe Habana West, Andale!

I only lived in New York (Queens, that is) for one year and I spent much of that time broker than a joke. I'm talking constant ramen/cereal status. But best believe, come payday, I was heading out to explore the city's restaurants and front with the best of 'em. On more nights than were in any way reasonable, I could be found walking from my Soho office to Nolita's Cafe Habana.

It was teeny, always crodewd and offered little that fit into my then-vegetarian diet. But, oh...the tlacoyo tres marias! That cornmeal cake bursting with goat cheese, beans and sun-dried tomatoes was always well worth my hard-earned shillings (so what if I'd have to bum a token to get back to the outer buroughs afterwards). Just the warm, cheesy, bean-y memory of the meal has me shooting daggers of disgust at the bowl of peanut butter Puffins sitting in front of me. I've been looking for a close approximation ever since I left NYC, but kept coming up with nothing. Until now!

The restaurant just opened a West Coast spot. Sure, it's all the way the friggedy-frig up in Malibu, but I vow to make the trek sooner than later.

There are a ton of pix on Eater LA and it looks laid-back, yet gorgeous. Lush Caribbean vibe aside, the new restaurant will automatically come up short for me, because their (temporary) menu doesn't have ttm!!! (I eat meat now, though, so I'm willing to try new dishes.) There won't be the long waits that afforded an excuse to window-shop at Nolita's exquisite boutiques. There won't be the always amusing site of PYT's huddling around the corner cafe's outdoor benches, trying their best to eat cotija-encrusted corn cobs without losing their aloof miens, or jeopardizing their expensive outfits. And, let's talk about the time I waited outside for a table, only to look up and into the window and lock eyes with a dining Mos Def, who smiled and waved at me! Really, what is the likelihood that I will be able to replicate this dream-like scenario in Malibu?

There's only one way to find out!

3939 Cross Creek Road, Malibu, 310.317.0300.