Heading into December, it’s the season for family outings.
Toddlers were easy — some sparkly lights and chocolate and you’ve made their day. Teenagers are trickier. Takes a bit more to entertain them, so if you’re looking for foodie festive treats for your older children, here are a few teenager approved London outings for this December:
Blondie’s Cookie Pick ‘n Mix and the lights:
A table stacked with thousands of cookies is going to impress any biscuit-loving teen. My 14-year-old daughter and her friend had eyes like saucers when they spotted the Blondie’s cookie bar as we descended the stairs from the upstairs store. You’re given a box — think slim shoe box — that you can fill with as many cookies as you can fit in there. The only rule — the lid must close.
It would have been impossible to choose between the huge range of flavours from sparkly red and white shortbread circles to apricot, coconut and white chocolate oaty cookies; gingerbread and lotus; dark chocolate and sea salt and (my favourite) mince pie cookies. Lucky then that we could fit them all in.
We left with our stash and wandered up Regent Street’s lights to browse the Wicked-inspired displays in department store, Liberty. The perfect outing.
£39.99 for a ticket for 2 and one box which can take around 1kg of cookies. (Annoying under-12 year old siblings go for free)
Click here to book one of the five dates available this December.
Reuben’s Café cereal shakes plus Jelly Cats or pop art
The kosher Baker Street café was a huge hit with my teenage daughter and her friend and it’s no wonder. The wall of bagels is a wow, the menu is packed with teen friendly treats, and then there’s the cereal milk shakes. The only kosher cereal milk ice cream machine in London — issuing 48-hour infused cereal milk-flavoured ice cream is the reason why the milk shakes are, in my daughter’s words – ‘banging’.
The Oreo shake was a huge hit and they both chose to customise their bagels, picking the bagel and filling for their perfect lunch. I was happy with my afternoon tea.
We then strolled down Baker Street to the Jelly Cat fish and chip shop in Selfridges, but another option is the fantastic Frameless immersive art experience at Marble Arch. Housed in the former Odeon cinema, it’s a spectacular mix of digital art – reinventing classic paintings – and music that will pique the interest of the fussiest teen. Prepare for eye rolling and the odd glare when you tell them that’s where you’re headed but they’ll be won over — even if it’s by the clever effects that allow you to virtually kick animated leaves along the floor. Even grown ups (me) felt the need to join in.
More info here.
Sticks ‘n Sushi, Islington and thrift fashion
My 16-year-old son is finally open to new flavours and foods, making eating out far more fun than the (plain) burger years.
With GCSE’s looming this year, I took him for a half term treat to eat at one of the newest branches of the upmarket Danish chain that offers a range of sushi and — as the brand name suggests — food cooked on skewers.The vibe is upmarket with a mix of high tables with bar stools and regular tables. The menu — anxiety-inducingly long. Our friendly waitress gave me a steer as to how much we’d need and then I was on my own.
Photos of each item on the menu were useful — especially for the mixed platters. I’d normally run a mile from any restaurant sharing images of the food — it’s up there with those plastic models or worse, lacquer-coated actual plates of food that you get sometimes in holiday destinations.
This is nothing like that — it’s classy and helpful. The Green My Day platter was a succession of Japanese themed vegan dishes including spicy miso edamame; seaweed salad; deliciously chewy nuggets of deep-fried cauliflower with a pungent black truffle and sesame dressing; sushi rice topped with three different veggie-based toppings and vegetable kebab sticks. The teriyaki sweet potato was punchy.
We added a few fishy options — because 16-year-old boys are all about the protein. — opting for tasty salmon teriyaki and black cod skewers plus a black cod-filled sushi roll. Both gone in seconds.
With an afternoon of shopping ahead, I needed to keep a clear head so picked one of the several interesting looking mocktails and then a no-alcohol beer. We couldn’t finish it all so left with a bag to take home. It’s not cheap but there’s a luxe feel that left us both feeling pampered. More info here.
Then it was off to explore the Upper Street’s bougie thrift shops — what we once called charity shops. Brilliant bonding.
Donutelier Carnaby Street and festive windows
The gourmet doughnut brand has opened a second West End store. Their new Carnaby Street outlet opened last week — just in time for Chanukah and the festive period. Both my teens are huge fans of the treats that are baked and iced on site and include flavours like Carnaby Toffee (date toffee and Chantilly cream filling, crumble, sugar dusting and a pipette full of caramel to squeeze into it) which is a special at the new store; Vanilla Pecan (vanilla ganache and pecan praline filling, Chantilly cream and caramelised pecans) and my favourite, the Rochers Gianduja, and ott explosion of chocolate ganache and hazelnut praline filling, hazelnut and chocolate crust, milk chocolate Chantilly cream and gianduja flakes.
The perfect outing for highly Instagram-able Chanukah doughnuts — so rich that one is generally enough. More info here.
Follow it up with a spot of window shopping on Carnaby Street, which never loses its appeal. A huge hit with both my teens.
Mazal, Camden and an escape room or market browse
Teens don’t like cutlery. And, luckily Mazal’s colourful tasty spread of kosher meats, salads and dips. Puffy pita, smooth as silk hummus and tahina and crunchy falafel went down a storm with my everyone on Team Prever.
The mezze mix is full of crisp, colourful salads and pickles. Shawarma in laffa, pita or with salad is full of juicy flavour and the smash burger with chips a popular teen option. Golden-brown potato wedges are super more-ish and crisp cauliflower is sweet and tender. Find their menu here.
The look is basic with a gorgeous spray painted mural wall of icons including my daughter’s new favourite, Amy Winehouse, up front.
After they’ve filled up on (healthy) fried foods and Israeli favourites, you can either trail behind them around the market stalls and shops or for max teen approval, follow the meal with a visit to an escape room. Just don’t ruin it by making helpful suggestions for how to get out, or by speaking too loudly (or at all) or by joking with (or even talking to) any strangers.
It’s Bagels late night window
And finally, It’s Bagels have a temporary late night window at their Soho store. Open until midnight from December 4 – 6 and again from December 11 – 13. So if you’re in the West End seeing a show or late night shopping you finish your trip in the time-honoured tradition of a hot bagel. An end-of-the-evening bagel is a time-honoured tradition for London teens and this is a fun way to do it with yours. Hot egg and cheese bagels to sustain you on the journey home. Who didn’t end their teenage Saturday nights fressing on a smoked salmon bagel outside Carmelli’s or driving to Brick Lane for a salt beef special? But it’s only available on the stated dates so if you miss them you can head for Golders Green (or east London) instead.
