The Bravo TV star has put his beliefs into action with his 16-year-old son, Dante, who’s grown up to be a huge foodie. Tom continues to encourage him to try new foods. “He likes going out to dinner — he gets that from both his mom and me. We have him try everything. If he doesn’t like it, that’s fine, but he can’t not eat it just because it’s green,” he says.
Tom’s newest restaurant, Colicchio & Sons, isn’t for the timid eater. The choices range from sweetbreads to pork belly and duck ham. Not exactly the mac and cheese most kids love, but his offerings are exactly the kinds of foods Tom thinks children should try.
The 48-year-old blames picky kids on picky parents and is against the idea of any kid ordering off a bland children’s menu. “I think they’re better off ordering appetizers,” he says. “Some kids are picky eaters but I think a lot of it has to do with parents saying, ‘Oh, you won’t like that. You don’t want to eat that.’ Why? You don’t know what they like until they try it.”
Little Luka isn’t ready for solid foods just yet, but Tom and his wife, Lori Silverbush, have already taken him out to eat. “I feel like before your baby turns 1 you can take them pretty much anywhere.”
That’s not to say the new dad would tolerate Luka crying in a restaurant. It’s one of his pet peeves. “My feeling is if the baby is loud and screaming, you’ve gotta leave. If something’s going on and you can’t get him quiet, just pick him and leave. Say, ‘Sorry, I gotta go.'”
We’d agree with that!
–Tiffany Miller
Tell us: What’s the most exotic food that your kids will eat?