National's Ballpark

My mama's eyes anally scan the menu last night at Nationals' ballpark. She really struggles to eat at a place like this. Which then again also seems to be the point of a place like this.

Nationals' ballpark is a great place for families, even babies. Children under 2 are not required to have a ticket to enter. To the right of the gate they have a well-choreographed Concierge Service who will check your stroller, backpack, breast pump, whatever you don't want to bring to the seats. Check out their site for more info.

Also if it is your first game, go to the office to the right of the stroller check where you will be presented with your very own First Baseball Game Certificate (Moms and Dads, I challenge you to find a baby book or some other way to save this gigantic piece of paper). Needless it is a special keepsake, and if you are older than me, an award you are at least cognizant of "winning"(?).

As for food, turns out with a little preparation everyone can food, drink and baseball. While the Little Rookies food stand to the left of the entrance offers slightly smaller portion sizes, the hot dogs, pizza, soda and popcorn were still out of my league, so Mom had packed me a bagel, blueberries and a Plum Organics. Food was used as both nutrition and an activity which kept me entertained for a good two innings. Dad in the meantime went with a Ben's Chili Bowl half smoke chili dog and beers for Mom and him.

Next time they at least owe me a hot dog.

Learn ABOUT ME and check out some of my BEST PRACTICES for eating out.

Rasika: Fine dining for parents

Believe it or not, I dared even Rasika West End (1190 New Hampshire Avenue, NW/Foggy Bottom metro). I arrived in a stroller and left in a Moby, and the dining experience was unanimously pleasant for my mom and two friends.

There was a little panic when I awoke from my nap, but as an overall experience, certainly better than sitting at home watching Modern Family re-runs.

I was eight weeks old and had eaten a big meal prior to the walk there. When I did wake up in my stroller, Mom whisked me off to the spacious Ladies' (albeit sans changing table) to transfer me to the Moby where she wrapped me tightly and bounced me back to sleep.

In addition to being Mom's favorite DC restaurant, the up-scale Rasika is remarkably baby-friendly. Tables are spaced wide distances apart allowing for easy stroller maneuvering. There is quite a bit of background noise, making the random scream, moan or babble indistinguishable. The hosts and wait staff are unpretentious and amenable as well. When I arrived, they escorted us to a convenient, spacious table with ample space to park my stroller. A waiter even offered my mama a pillow. That would have made nursing even easier in their already-comfortable chairs.

Why mention if I didn't even nurse? Knowing I can nurse at any second definitely takes the edge off me and more so my mama. She never wants to be caught in a social situation where she can't give me exactly what I want the moment I want it. Otherwise it can spiral into ugly very quickly.

Back to Rasika. Another added bonus - as I scoped out the joint, not one dirty look from employees or fellow patrons. And I even saw two other kids. Good for their parents and their palate.

I'd actually be curious to return as a toddler to test out the high chair situation and explore the menu a little more in detail. I mean the naan, vegetable biryani and chickpeas would probably work, but what about the chutneys? Would my parents' favorite okra dish and scallop appetizer be too adventurous?

I guess I need to go back....

Café Saint-Ex

Café Saint-Ex stands out in the neighborhood simply because it has really, really, really nice people working there - especially the hostess who sits on the bar stool during warmer months to greet and accommodate people on the outdoor patio. She has never rolled an eye the three times I've been there - and neither have the servers - a tell tale sign of a classy and customer-centric establishment. Staff make sure we have a table with room for the stroller, often sitting us at a four-top when we obviously will only pay for two.

I did have a meltdown here once when Mom went for an afternoon drink with a friend. She still wasn't quite comfortable whipping out a boob to shut me up, but even then, staff attentively brought out the check and got Mom squared away swiftly and without judgement.

Needless, the aviation-inspired French café has some very loyal customers.

I would have liked a room, but lunch will do at Big Sur's Post Ranch Inn

My Italian side has a saying, "L’ospite è come il pesce; dopo tre giorni puzza.” Translation for all you non-Italian speaking babies, "Guests are like fish, after three days they stink." 

When visiting her in-laws, Mom makes extra sure we don't start to stink and/or go crazy. That usually means pairing visits with a nuclear family getaway. Plus with family in the Bay Areas, there is tons to see within a 150 mile radius of San Francisco.

This year the destination is Carmel, CA - 122 miles due south - to the Lobos Lodge on Mount Verde Street. Central location, modern, clean, affordable ($130/night in off-season) and spacious rooms that included the very luxurious breakfast in bed. 

Hey wait. I do that every day. 

Well, for Mom it was a treat. 

Carmel is a strategically-positioned jumping point off which to visit an array of diverse destinations - Pebble Beach Golf Course (not the most ideal destination for new parents on vacation with baby for the first time, but they do have a spa), Big Sur, Monterrey, etc.

During the day we took to hiking and site seeing, and at night, we explored the town of Carmel-by-the-Sea. I missed out on all post-sundown exploration because before they went out, they dressed me in my pajamas, fed me lots of food and rocked me to sleep, wrapping me tightly in the Moby and taking me out to eat. 

So while technically I was there, I can't personally comment on the gastronomy, but I did overhear positive reviews about the following places. 

The gastronomic highlight of the trip and perhaps of 2013 was definitely lunch at Post Ranch Inn. 

The key to enjoying Big Sur's luxurious and eco-friendly Post Ranch Inn is not selling your soul to the gun lobby in Washington or making your millions in credit default swaps. 
It is possible for a middle income family to delight in the views and tastes of Post Ranch Inn. Just go for lunch.

The menu speaks for itself.- www.postranchinn.com/download/Sierra-Mar_lunch-menu.pdf. I will just confirm that yes, it is delicious. 

See how this restaurant stacks up in the BABY GASTRONOMIST RANKINGS.

Learn ABOUT ME and check out some of my BEST PRACTICES for eating out.

Mission Rock Resort & Laurel Court at the Fairmont - San Francisco, CA

My first time in an airplane and in the Pacific. Those were the two of the many highlights of my trip to San Francisco in December 2012.

Given my age and my size, eating out was fairly easy. And since no one wanted to spend time in the kitchen when s/he could be playing with moi, it was actually the preferred mode of consumption. 

Once the Virgin America wheels first touched down at SFO airport, Grandpa picked up us where we headed straight to Mission Rock Resort  at 817 Terry Francois Blvd, San Francisco, for oysters, fish tacos and clam chowder. The outdoor patio was warmed by the late morning sun and noisy enough in case I let out a post-six-hour-plane-ride screech. However, like I do every three hours, I continued my East Coast routine of sleep, eat, diaper, a few bats of the eyelashes and repeat. Only to say, I was both predictable and portable. 

At Mission Rock I not only saw my great-grandfather for the first time but also my first DeLorean-turned power boat. 

After a trolley up from downtown to the San Francisco Fairmont, I also had lunch at the Laurel Court Restaurant. One of my fancier endeavors, yet the lunch time crowd was light, and they had upholstered benches where I spent most of the lunch under a nursing shawl. Mom had timed both meals so I was ready to eat when she was which meant one arm to hold me, one hand to eat and zero distractions. The only trick was ordering food that didn't require any cutting. 

Laurel Court Restaurant, San Francisco Fairmont.