Kid-friendly dining >> Peter Chang (Williamsburg, VA)

While we were in Cheatham Annex with friends over New Year's, we stopped by Williamsburg for an afternoon and ended up having lunch at Peter Chang. I was excited to try it, not only because I'd heard the (authentic Szechuan) cuisine was amazing, but because Peter Chang is one of the most fascinating chefs in the food world. After starting out at the Chinese embassy in DC, he became kind of an elusive figure, suddenly leaving thriving restaurants and popping up at random others (in Knoxville, in Fairfax, in Marietta, GA).

One important thing about Peter Chang is that for as well-regarded as he is, and as sought-after as his cooking is, his restaurant is kid-friendly to the max. We brought a crowd of four small ones with us when we went. Nobody seemed to care that as we were eating food that inspired a "fanatical following" (according to the NYT), our kids were scarfing noodles and trying to slither under their chairs to hide under the tables. The atmosphere was very laid-back -- in fact, there were families everywhere.

Our adventurous eaters tried a little bit of everything: bubble pancakes with curry sauce, dry-fried eggplant (with a texture somewhere between a french-fry and a marshmallow), shredded pork with bamboo shoots, and hot pot -- soup with duck, pork, or seafood served in clay or stone jugs. Oh, and noodles, noodles, noodles galore.

Peter Chang has other restaurants in Richmond, Charlottesville, Fredericksburg and Virginia Beach. The menu is slightly different in each but I highly suggest stopping by for one of his classic dishes if you can!

They say that if you eat a meal with friends to start the new year, it guarantees you will eat many more with them in the coming year. If that's true then our year is going to be awesome.