Throughout history, there have been battles that seem to have no victor. For me, the ongoing struggle to be the “Most Fun Parent” (MFP) is a Herculean task. Recently, with my wife out of town for a few days, I saw this as my best opportunity to earn that MFP trophy. I decided to take my two daughters, Ellie and Natalie, on a culinary adventure to various fun restaurants across Montgomery County.
Unfortunately, our schedules didn’t align for a weekend brunch at Pinstripes, famous for its chocolate fountain– a family favorite. Although my girls were disappointed that our planned visit to Medium Rare had to be postponed, we settled on four delightful spots: Nova Europa in Silver Spring, Caruso’s Grocery and Kusshi Sushi in Rockville, and The Melting Pot in Gaithersburg.
After a long day filled with museums and fun, Ellie, Natalie, and I were excited to finally visit Nova Europa. For months, I had promised my daughters that we would try the decadent Baked Alaska, so we eagerly put it on the schedule. Unfortunately, I learned that the meringue is flambéed with alcohol, making it off-limits for kids. To alleviate their disappointment, I quickly pivoted and ordered each of them a chocolate mousse, while I treated myself to a slice of chocolate cake (which they, of course, shared). While everything was deliciously chocolatey, it still paled in comparison to our anticipated Baked Alaska.
The following night, we ventured to Pike and Rose for what I consider the best kids’ meal in Montgomery County. At Caruso’s Grocery, for just $12, kids can enjoy a small Caesar salad, a choice of chicken parmesan (with veggies or pasta), spaghetti and meatballs, chicken fingers (with fries), cheeseburger (with fries), or pasta with butter, all followed by a scoop of ice cream. The food is consistently fresh, tasty, and served in generous portions. Pro tip: Dads can always snag a salad from their kids without complaint. My daughters chose spaghetti and meatballs and pasta with butter, and both opted for chocolate ice cream.
But since I was determined to bring home the MFP championship, we made a quick stop next door at Kusshi Sushi for extra dessert. While the sushi is top-notch, my kids were most excited about the snack shop tucked away by the bar, where we picked up Pokémon cookies, panda Oreos, and Japanese Kit-Kats.
On the third night, we headed up I-270 to The Melting Pot. It had been years since my last visit, and we brought Leo along to enjoy some fondue. The bread and cheese didn’t go over well with the kids, but they enjoyed the proteins when they arrived. Then came the highlight of our week: the Chocolate Explosion.
This extravagant dessert features a generous assortment, including a red velvet bundt cake covered in chocolate and topped with a large lit sparkler—more reminiscent of a nightclub in Miami than a restaurant off Route 355. The kids eagerly dove into the decadence, quickly devouring the pound cake and brownies, while I savored the waffle.
My wife had no idea about our food-filled escapade. While in Iceland, she reported our culinary adventure to her travel companion Rashida, who responded, “Has Ben fed the kids at home at all since you left?” Snitches get stitches, Rashida!
All that matters is that the kids had a blast and are looking forward to trying more restaurants this summer while my wife is away for work. We’re on the lookout for recommendations—does anyone know of a place with an incredible kids’ meal or a show-stopping dessert perfect for Instagram? Let me know in the comments!
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