Don’t know where to start? Here are some tips and ideas.

Planning

1. Gather a group of three or four parent-and-kid pairs (or even visiting grandmas!) to take turns hosting the kids in your home kitchens over one week or two.

2. Come up with a schedule and try to stick to it every day (say, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm).

3. Design a menu of meals that is simple and fun to prepare, and, of course, tasty for the kids. Mix it up with a combination of baking, stove-cooking, grilling, and no-cook dishes and pick a fun theme like “Global Kitchens” or “Picnic Time!”

4. Develop a recipe template that all the moms can use to type up their recipes.

5. To make the experience feel like a real camp, include supplies and gear for each child:

• • Aprons and/or toques (buy online or try your local art supply store). On day one, the kids can decorate them with fabric markers and gels.
  • A binder to hold the printed recipes.
  • A wooden spoon and plastic cutting mat.

The Menu

1. While one of the goals of cooking camp should be to encourage kids to explore new flavors, try and make dishes that kids are somewhat familiar with and would enjoy eating.

2. The plan is to keep the kids busy for a few hours so include a main course, side dish, and dessert for every lesson.

Ideas for mains include: mini pizzas, vegetable and meat kebabs, quesadillas, sushi, quiche, peanut noodle salad; side dishes: spring rolls, guacamole, arancini (rice balls), potato salad; and dessert: blackberry hand pies, watermelon granita, brownies, and berry and yogurt parfaits.

3. Come up with the menu together as a group to avoid duplication and divide up the shopping list. This way, you can save time and money by buying in bulk.

The “Curriculum”

1. Include a visit to a nearby farmers market, if possible, so the kids can meet the people who produce their food, be they farmers, cheesemakers, or beekeepers. They can also pick and choose the ingredients.

2. If you have a vegtable or herb garden, have the kids harvest some ingredients. There’s nothing like pulling a carrot out from the ground, soil clinging to its roots!

3. Plan dishes with steps that are fun for kids, especially hands-on (literally!) ones like rolling dough, skewering kebabs, cracking eggs, and cranking a pasta maker.

4. Teach different techniques like slicing vs. dicing, boiling, grilling, using a weighing scale, blender or food processor, as well as measuring (cups vs. ounces).

5. Explain processes and techniques as you go, and talk about the various ingredients that go into the dish.

6. Part of cooking with kids is teaching them kitchen safety. Here are some basics:

• Always wash your hands before handling food.
• Keep a safe distance from a hot stovetop and oven.
• Turn pot and pan handles inward toward the back of the stove to prevent accidents.
• Don’t sample raw eggs or meat.
• Let the kids practice cutting with a butter knife or a salad knife until they (and you!) are comfortable with a real knife.

Other Tips

1. Give the kids equal turns with gadgets, mixing, measuring, etc.

2. Don’t forget to give them a snack and play-break to re-energize.

3. Set aside a workspace—an island or a kitchen table—and have all the kids do the same thing whether standing on stools or sitting down.

4. Quiz them on what they’ve learned every now and then to keep them engaged and attentive.

5. Embrace the chaos and have fun!

Do you have tips for cooking with kids as a group or one-on-one? Please share!

Photos courtesy of Justycinmd, Carol Duncan, Rachel Tayse, and Coqui The Chef via Flickr.com

Café Besalu
Their croissants are heralded as the tastiest, flakiest specimens this side of the Seine, but Café Besalu also proffers their own standout version of an American classic. The chocolate chocolate chip cookie–with a cookie dough infused with cocoa powder and generously studded with chocolate chips–is surprisingly soft and has no crunch about it, in fact the texture is almost creamy. A must for the chocolate lover!

5909 24th Avenue NW
Seattle, Wa 98107
206-789-1463
Online: cafebesalu.com

Cinnamon Works
And the prize for Seattle’s heftiest chocolate chip cookie goes to…Cinnamon Works. At this popular Pike Place bakery, bigger does mean better.  Their chocolate chip cookie is about as big as your tot’s face and weighs maybe close to half-a-pound. Thankfully, it’s just as yummy as it is giganormous (yes, we just made up a word), and you’ll want to divvy up the cookie between two kiddos and/or yourself, or not.

1536 Pike Place
Seattle, Wa 98101
206-583-0085
Online: cinnamonworks.com

Flying Apron
At Flying Apron, gluten-free and dairy-free doesn’t equal taste-free, and that certainly applies to their chocolate chip cookie. Made with top quality organic ingredients—think brown rice flour, dark chocolate chips, molasses, and more–this cookie is crisp, and while a little crumbly, holds together much better than other gluten-free cookies we’ve had.

FREMONT
3510 Fremont Ave N
Seattle, WA 98103

REDMOND
16541 Redmond Way, Ste E
Redmond, WA 98052

Phone: 206-442-1115
Online: flyingapron.com

Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery
While your little one enjoys a traditional chocolate chip cookie (little does she know that a pinch more salt and some malt powder add extra oomph), you can treat your taste buds to the smoky, sweet flavor of Hot Cakes’ signature S’mores cookie. Reminiscent of campouts past and present, this cookie is greater than the sum of its parts: gooey roasted marshmallow, buttery graham cracker, and the taste bomb–dark chocolate chips cold-smoked over alder wood.

5427 Ballard Avenue NW
Seattle, Wa 98107
206-420-3431
Online: getyourhotcakes.com

Macrina Bakery and Cafe
Named for owner Leslie Mackie’s daughter, Olivia’s Chocolate Chip Cookie is crisp on the edges and soft and chewy toward the center. Dotted generously with semisweet chocolate chips and dusted with a sprinkling of fleur de sel for a sweet and salty finish, this chocolate chip cookie is the epitome of a classic Toll House-style cookie, but with a contemporary twist.

Various locations
Online: macrinabakery.com

North Hill Bakery
If you’re looking for a classic cookie that’s fuss-free and chockfull of homemade goodness, head to North Hill Bakery. Theirs is everything a chocolate chip cookie should be—crispy on the outside, rich and buttery on the inside, and with plenty of milk chocolate chips speckling the dough.

518 15th Avenue East
Seattle, Wa 98112
206-325-9007
Online: northhillbakery.com

PCC Natural Markets
We’ve discovered yet another reason to shop at PCC—their huge selection of chocolate chip cookies!  They range from traditional favorites like chocolate chip and mocha chip to special varieties such as vegan peanut butter chocolate chip and a chocolate chip rice flour cookie. Made from good-for-you ingredients (organic unbleached wheat or rice flour, organic sugar, etc.), their value is unbeatable at 99 cents!

Various locations
Online: pccnaturalmarkets.com

Specialty’s Café and Bakery
Thick, chewy and gooey—that’s a Specialty’s chocolate chip cookie alright. With every bite, you’ll score bits of buttery soft cookie and generous chunks of chopped chocolate (choose from milk, semisweet or white chocolate). Plus, they bake cookies all day long so you’re likely to be just minutes away from a warm cookie fresh from the oven. You can even sign up for warm cookie email alerts on the Specialty’s website.

Various locations
Online: specialtys.com

Did we miss your favorite place to score a chocolate chip cookie? Let us know in a comment below.

–Pat Tanumihardja (words and photos)

Getting there:

Washington D.C. is served by three airports. Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is 26 miles west of downtown Washington, D.C. in Sterling, VA, while Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) , 32 miles northeast of Washington, DC, serves the Baltimore–Washington Metropolitan area. The closest airport is Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) located 3 miles (4.8 km) south of downtown Washington, D.C., in Arlington County, Virginia. All major airlines fly into at least one of these three airports.

STAY:

Tip: Washington, D.C. has a wide lodging selection, with one for every budget. To save even more, keep in mind that weekend rates can dip 30 percent to 50 percent less than during the week, and try to stay away from the District during the high season (late March to mid-June) when prices are at their peak. The best time to visit is between mid-June and Labor Day, when Congress and your kids are on vacation.

Best package deals: Holiday Inn Washington DC-Central/White House 

This centrally located hotel is walking distance to the White House and two Metro stations but we love it because of their Family Fun Packages that come with lots of perks! Combine a stay here with metro passes, tickets to private museums like Newseum or National Geographic Museum, or sign up for the Panda package for a box of Panda-themed goodies. Plus, kids always eat free at the Avenue Cafe and parents have breakfast included with all of their family packages.

Best “home away from home”: The Helix 

Kids don’t like sleeping in a strange bed, don’t we know it. And so do the folks at the Helix Hotel. That’s why they’ve designed the awesome Family Bunk Room with a king and double-decker bed (top single, bottom double), and how about some hula hoops? Their large King studios (400 square feet) have a separate kitchenette with all you need to make breakfast, or a simple dinner for two when toddler needs an early night. Request an in-room child safety kit which includes outlet covers, toilet latches and nightlights.

Best family-friendly outside the city: Hilton Garden Inn

If you’d rather retreat to a tranquil neighborhood after a long day of sight-seeing, the Hilton Garden Inn offers spacious rooms and one bedroom suites. Located in the extremely walkable Shirlington Village neighborhood, you can shop at cute boutiques, eat at numerous restaurants, and even read books at the public library. Free parking means no extras to hire a car for trips further out, and the hotel’s complimentary 24-hour shuttle to the Pentagon City Metro station makes it a breeze to get in and out of the city.

PLAY:

Tips: The following museums are very popular so plan to arrive early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid crowds, and allow at least 2 to 3 hours. Download the National Parks Service app for no-hassle visits to the memorials

Best museum for interactive fun:  National Museum of the American Indian 

NMAI’s highlight for families is the imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Here, young kids can learn about Native cultures through a variety of hands-on activities, interactive games, and craft workshops: Weave a giant basket to learn about the various styles of basketry. Explore different modes of transportation like snowshoes and skateboards. Explore traditional Native dwellings including a full-sized tipi and learn about the buffalo. Explore music through Native percussion instruments. There’s something fun going on every day of the week!

Best museum for “digging” into the past: National Museum of Natural History

The National Museum of Natural History is a favorite with families and for good reason. In the Dinosaur Hall, kids will be awed by the skeleton of the giant Diplodocus and can watch paleontologists at work in the glass enclosed FossiLab. Elsewhere, an enormous prehistoric white shark and the 45-and-a-half carat Hope Diamond beckon. Other popular exhibits include the Insect Zoo which offers tarantula feedings, and touchable insects, while the Sant Ocean Hall showcases male and female giant squids and a replica of a living North Atlantic right whale.  And the butterfly pavilion with live butterflies and exotic flowers is a treat for the youngest of visitors. Purchase IMAX tickets in advance or as soon as you arrive.

Best “just for kids” venue: National Children’s Museum 

The new National Children’s Museum (phase one opened in December 2012), is a vibrant children-centered museum geared for kids eight and under. The “3 & Under” Gallery features Sesame Street characters and revolve around play, movement, art and discovery through the senses for infants and toddlers. Themes include a pretend play area, a baby crawlers area, and a play area for gross-motor play and building, arranging and exploring objects and shapes. The highlight of “Our World” – geared toward children over 3 is the “Pack Your Bag” exhibit, where a luggage carousel demonstrates that people travel to many destinations around the world and for many reasons. Children can learn to be responsible citizens in the “My Town” exhibit which showcases all the amenities in a town such as a store, school, home, fire station and a pizzeria, all to learn how to be responsible citizens. And finally, “World Cultures” aims to cultivate world citizens by featuring exhibits and programming such as kitchens with food, arts and crafts activities, traditional clothing, and a language area to promote cross-culture awareness and interaction among kids.

Best for wannabe astronauts: National Air and Space MuseumIf your kiddo is intrigued by flying and space—and really, who isn’t?–this museum is a must! At this museum which has the largest collection of historic air and spacecraft in the world, children will ooh and ah at lifesize exhibits including the original Wright 1903 Flyer, the Spirit of St. Louis, the Apollo 11 command module, and a “yes, please touch” lunar rock sample. Look out for Discovery Stations—interactive carts that encourage informal learning through active looking, discussion, and hands-on activities related to aviation, space exploration, astronomy, and planetary geology. You can even hop on a 4-minute flight simulator ride! If your kids still can’t get enough, visit the museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near the Washington Dulles airport.

Best memorial to romp around: Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial 

Spread over 7.5 acres, the memorial has a park-like setting animated by water, stone, and sculpture inspired by Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s life. As your little one runs around the green space, hops up stone steps, and zigzags around carved columns, she might stop to pet Fala, FDR’s beloved Scottish terrier immortalized in bronze.  She will, however, ultimately try to jump in a pond or run through one of the five manmade waterfalls. It’s too bad the National Parks Service, fearing accidents, rescinded initial permission allowing visitors to wade through the water.

Best memorial to get away from it all: Thomas Jefferson Memorial 

Inspired by the Roman Pantheon and Jefferson’s own design for the Rotunda at the University of Virginia, this beautiful memorial is surrounded by the iconic cherry trees that gave rise to the National Cherry Blossom Festival, gifts from the people of Japan in 1912.  Its location in West Potomac Park, overlooking the Tidal Basin of the Potomac River, is well removed from other memorials on the Mall which means you just might get it all to yourself (but don’t count on it during the Cherry Blossom Festival)! Your little ones can run around freely and there’s a good chance you’ll find free parking nearby.

Best ride for kids: The Carousel on the Mall

The time will come when your kids—and you–are tired of museum-and memorial going. The antidote? A ride on this old-school carousel situated outside the  Smithsonian “Castle.”

Best year-round market: Eastern Market 

Built in 1873, Eastern Market is the oldest continually run fresh food public market in D.C. The indoor market (South Hall) is always open, offering fresh produce, meats, poultry, seafood, pasta, baked goods, flowers, and cheeses. On weekends, the market moves outdoors with vendors selling the region’s freshest produce and handmade arts and crafts and antiques. Enjoy free concerts in May, June, September and October.

EAT:

Tip: Food trucks line the streets of D.C. by the dozen during the week feeding throngs of office workers quickly and cheaply. Keep your eyes peeled and you’re bound to find one close by serving everything from tacos and kebabs to cupcakes and crepes.

Best chi chi restaurant to dine out with kids: Zaytinya

With its sleek décor and revered status in the food world (notable D.C. chef Jose Andres is at its helm), this Mediterranean restaurant may seem off-limits to families with young kids. We disagree. Start with the pita bread and hummus-that “exotic” food every kid will eat-and let the kids choose from menu items such as chicken shawarma or kofte, which are just fancy names for grilled chicken and meatballs respectively. Moms and dads can satisfy their more adventurous palates with tapas-style small plates (mezze) from Lebanese-style beef tartar to grilled octopus and fried Brussels sprouts topped with yogurt and barberries. Opt for outdoor seating so restless kids can run around the courtyard or play hide and seek by the looming public art sculpture.

Best street eats: G Street Food

While not a food cart or truck, their two downtown locations (White House and Dupont Circle) pay homage to street food from around the globe. Choose from cheap and tasty, on-the-go foods such as: Montreal-style bagels, sausages, Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches, panini, socca (a savory chickpea pancake), rice bowls, and salads.  A high-energy vibe and somewhat noisy office crowd means boisterous kids will fit right into the cacophonous atmosphere.

Best pizza: Pizzeria Paradiso

For a good old standby, head to Paradiso for their classic wood-oven-baked pizzas. Their basic Margherita and Quattro Formaggi (four cheeses) pizzas are fabulous as-is or choose from a dozen in-house combos or select your own toppings. They also have a good assortment of salads, antipasti and panini.

Best for a bite of history: Old Ebbitt Grill

Established in 1856, Old Ebbitt Grill was a favorite of Presidents Grant, Cleveland, and Theodore Roosevelt. Just steps away from the White House and the Mall museums, its Beaux-Arts facade, mahogany and velvet booths, and bars set in marble, brass and beveled glass, jets you back to the past. The food is decent, the prices are reasonable, and the children’s menu has all the usual suspects. From crab cakes and meatloaf, to hamburgers and club sandwiches–even the pickiest eater will find something on the menu. But go for the old world charm and atmosphere! If you’re in Georgetown, check out their sister restaurant, Clyde’s, famous for its burgers, zesty chili and Sunday brunch.

Best food court: The Food Court at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center 

For cheap eats and a wide variety of choices, belly up to the Food Court at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center for familiar food court fare (salads, hamburgers, deli sandwiches, pizza, sushi, etc.). The centrally located building is ideal for hungry downtown sightseers and easy on the pocket.

Best picnic spot: Brown bag it and head to the National Mall for an alfresco picnic. The lawn between the Washington Monument and the Capitol has plenty of open spots for the taking. Or if you’d like creative company, the Sculpture Garden at the Hirshhorn Museum  or the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden  are both quiet oases amid the clamor.

Best sweet treat: Pitango Gelato 

Owner Noah Dan revived traditional Italian ice cream-making methods to make his gelato using only the finest ingredients: organic milk, cream, free-range eggs, raw cane sugar, fresh fruit and nuts, and premium chocolates. You’ll find classic gelato flavors such as stracciatella (vanilla chocolate chip) and nocciola (hazelnut) on the menu, plus vegan sorbets the likes of Bosc pear or strawberry. They serve only 20 flavors at any given time, so if you’re craving something more exotic, say, cardamom or orange dark chocolate, you might just have to come back. But no one’s twisting your arm right?

FESTIVALS:

Tip: The Nation’s capital boasts festival all throughout the year. A little research will likely yield a fun festival to complement your trip.

National Cherry Blossom Festival 

To commemorate the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Tokyo, the annual festival is timed with the blooming of beautiful cherry blossoms along the tidal basin. (In 2013, it is held from March 20 to April 14). The festival kicks off with a two-day “Family Days” event  at the National Building Museum featuring hands-on activities, interactive art demonstrations, and indoor and outdoor performances that celebrate spring and explore Japanese arts and design. Rent a paddle boat to enjoy the show from the water or hop on a guided bus tour to scope out the best vantage points for viewing and photographing the cherry blossoms. Other festival highlights include the Blossom Kite Festivalshowcasing creative kite-makers and kite-fighting competitions. And of course make your very own kite to bring home. As the climax of the three-week festival, the Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival stretches for nearly one mile through the streets of downtown Washington DC featuring food, arts and culture, merchandise, and live traditional and J-Pop performances on four stages.

Smithsonian Folklife Festival

Every summer (in 2013, it is held June 28 to July 8), the Festival is held outdoors on the National Mall in between the Smithsonian museums.  Families can enjoy crafts and food demonstrations, as well as music and dance performances. The Family Activities tent features a pizza garden, family folklore collecting, technology fun, and an art activity to raise hunger awareness. Pick up a Garden Activity Guide at any of the program’s gardens (marked with flowers on the site map) and answer questions to collect all six prizes and start your own wildflower garden! Younger visitors can try their hand at scheduled activities throughout the day, including quilting, mural painting, portraiture, sculpting, and designing with stained glass.

Do you have any tips to add to our Washington D.C. travel guide?

~ Pat Tanumihardja