5 questions with DC Crenshaw, the founder of Little Diner’s Crew
Feast and Field chats with DC Crenshaw, the founder of Little Diner’s Crew, an innovative new Chicago-based dining club for kids aged 4-12 and Teens 13-18.
Tell us about Little Diner’s Crew. How does it work?
“LDC is a dining club for kids and teens that expands their palates beyond mac-n-cheese and chicken fingers. Each month we feature cuisine from a different country and host a unique dining experience for both kids and parents at a local restaurant. We work closely with chefs to curate a tasting menu of 4-6 dishes that are approachable yet adventurous. During the experience, kids sit at their own table, meet the chef, enjoy mocktails, taste and rate dishes, learn how food is prepared and where ingredients are sourced. We also review and practice appropriate dining etiquette. Members receive a passport that is stamped after each event to document their culinary journey with LDC. Parents enjoy their own experience at the adult table.”
Why did you start this organization?
“We introduced our kids to different types of food at a young age, so they were already eating foods like sushi, Indian and Thai cuisine. Parents would often ask us how we got our kids to eat foods other than mac-n-cheese and chicken fingers, and we were also frustrated that most restaurants only had those options on their kid’s menu. We knew that their needed to be a way to help parents expose their kids to different types of cuisine and help restaurants provide better food options for kids, and from those challenges Little Diner’s Crew was born.”
Any highlights you want to share?
“Thus far LDC has hosted over 40 events with some of the best restaurants and chefs in the city. More than 100 members have joined over the past 5 years, but most importantly it makes us proud to hear the testimonials of parents who say LDC helped turn their picky eater into a little foodie. It’s amazing to watch kids become more adventurous eaters while attending our events and taking ownership of their food experience.”
And, what’s next for you?
Next, we’re launching a LDC chapter in Aspen, Colorado, and we’re really excited about the launch of CrewFood, our new online food delivery platform. CrewFood will continue to expand palates at home featuring a curated list of restaurants and dishes that have been kid tested and kid approved. CrewFood will make it easier for parents to order in food that the entire family will love. That should launch early in 2022.
To learn more about Little Diner’s Crew, visit littledinerscrew.com.