Trying to plan a class field trip to a restaurant...

September 5, 2014 7:08 PM

I teach a Grade 3 French as a Second Language class and would like to take them on a field trip to a French bakery or restaurant. What is the best way to find a venue which could reasonably accommodate this?

The class has ten children and will be accompanied by myself and one other teacher. They are a good group of kids and I have taught all of them for at least one year already. The other teacher is very experienced and works well with me.

I am just not clear on what kind of program I can ask for here and how to find the best venue who will do it. We will need some accommodations when coming from a school, such as arriving at a fixed time and leaving at a fixed time to accommodate the bus, and having a fixed price menu so we can collect money from the parents. If there could be some kind of kitchen tour or food-related activity other than the eating, that would be super. And if I was not the only one speaking French to the kids, even better.

So, do I just start cold-calling restaurants? What is the best way to find a good place and arrange this?

(I am in Toronto if anyone has any specific recommendations!)

posted by JoannaC to Food & Drink (8 answers total)

Start with Yelp, assuming that's substantially a thing in Toronto but I think it is. Find one with warm reviews from people who like the service, and maybe even take their kids. Start close to the school and work out from there.

Use that to make a short list for either cold-calling, or maybe drop in during off hours if you can - ask for the manager. I honestly think that as long as you are not asking for a peak moment, you will easily find somebody who will eat this kind of thing up with a spoon and put on a really great experience for the kids.
posted by Lyn Never at 7:27 PM on September 5, 2014

Local businesses like restaurants love this sort of thing, as long as you visit off-peak. Just talk to the manager.
posted by COD at 7:56 PM on September 5, 2014

Google "French bakery Toronto" and get on the phone. Bonne Journee Boulangerie in Leslieville is staffed with French speakers.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 9:14 PM on September 5, 2014

I'm biased, since I used to work there, but rather than Yelp, I'd start with Chowhound and ask about French places that would accommodate this sort of thing, because you'll get personalized suggestions of specific businesses that are owned by people who are likely to be delighted by this idea. (I'd ignore the inevitable suggestion of Bistrot 92, because depending on who it was coming from, it would either be somewhat off the mark of what I suspect you're looking for or totally facetious.) If you'd like a patisserie, you might try Nadege -- I hear many nice things about Nadege Nourian.

Then call them. Most restaurants will do a prix fixe menu on demand for any semi-large group of people, and French restaurants are probably more likely than most to do so. Kitchen tours are also often a possibility, as long as you can arrange to be there outside the lunch and dinner rushes. A lot of businesses love to do this sort of thing for kids, so it's really something you can just phone up (outside of lunch / dinner rush hours) and ask about.
posted by jacquilynne at 8:06 AM on September 6, 2014

When calling places, try to make it clear as early as you can that the trip would only involve ten children. "Field trip" evokes different things to different people, and you don't want the person answering your call immediately panicking at an imagined 50 kids descending on their bakery. You'll still get some "no" answers, but this may avoid some automatic "no"s.

Good luck! This sounds like such a fun time for the kids, and I hope you find the perfect spot!
posted by jessicapierce at 8:32 AM on September 6, 2014

When I was in the 4th grade, we had a restaurant field trip. It was to the dining establishment of a classmate's family, maybe ask the kids if any of their parents own a bakery/restaurant.
posted by goml at 11:32 AM on September 6, 2014

A bakery tour sounds appealing in that it could be like a factory tour (and something kids likely haven't done, unlike visiting a restaurant). Ask for a fixed price for a sample box for each kid. Great idea btw!
posted by vignettist at 12:11 PM on September 6, 2014

I did this with a group of 6 6 year olds in Korea. The ladies at the little gimbap shop loved having the kids and the kids had a great time. 2 teachers for 10 kids will be fine. It was just me when I did it. The kids had to order in English and I then translated into Korean. We had the kids bring the equivalent of a couple bucks, but gimbap is only a buck or two depending on the flavor. I'm sure you'll have a blast. Luckily I didn't have to worry about the location. There was only one place to go and I knew the owners because I ate there 4-5 times a week.

Have fun!
posted by kathrynm at 11:17 AM on September 7, 2014