Kids & Food

Foods Factories & Farms Tours

Watch Food Being Made

Education about food begins with kids understanding how its made. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory told in a fantasy how a child could have fun visiting a chocolate factory and see what foods they loved best and how they were made. Now that summer is here, how about a day trip to a store, farm or other foodie workshop that provides a behind the scenes look at how their favorite foods are made. Ice Cream, chocolate, cheese, food growing in the ground, can all be a part of showing your kids what it's all about. Visiting impromptu demonstrations, and fun culinary experiences provide real flavors from the North Texas resources around them; and yes maybe tasting some samples too.

Dallas Child Magazine has compiled a list we believe will be helpful in making a day of it with your family to explore some different options of education all about food:

Worth The Drive:

Veldhuizen Cheese - Just say cheese, please. Veldhuizen Family Farm in Dublin, about two hours southwest of Dallas, offers guided tours on Saturdays at 10:30am, where kiddos (and adults) witness the process of crafting the raw, unpasteurized artisan cheeses (the farm produces 15 varieties) and make a trip to the aging cave. Look forward to a sampling of fromage and a meet and greet with baby calves at the end of the tour.
Cost: Adults, $6; kids 6–12, $4; kids 5 and younger, free
Hours: Tues–Sat, 10am–5pm; Sunday, 1–5pm.
Where: 425 S Private Road 1169, Dublin, 254/968-3098

Dublin Bottling Works - While in Dublin, visit Dublin Bottling Works, the oldest soda bottling facility in Texas. Though the bottling line is now out of commission, kiddos see the process from start to finish in still-life. Kids walk alongside the conveyor belt to see bottles mounted to the racks portraying every step — from washing the glass bottles to filling them with soda. After the 45-minute tour, join the rush to Old Doc Soda Shop across the street for free samples. Tours run every 45 minutes daily (except Monday) from 10:15am–4:15pm.
Cost: Adults, $5; kids, $4
Hours: Tues–Sat, 10am–5pm; Sunday, 1–5pm
Where: 221 S. Patrick St., Dublin, 888/398-1024

Brazos Valley Cheese - Set aside some time on one of your shopping trips to Magnolia Market at the Silos in Waco to visit Brazos Valley Cheese shop on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday between noon and 2pm. That’s when the cheese-making magic happens. Kids watch through a large picture window (it’s over 8 feet wide) as 10 different types of cheeses — like Gouda, white Cheddar and Brie — are made. The cheesemakers inside the shop gladly answer questions and offer samples. After the demonstration, set kids loose to explore the 510-acre farm, which also boasts a mini market with other local edibles and a gift shop with handmade crafts.
Cost: Free
Hours: Mon–Sat, 10am–6pm
Where: 206 Halbert Lane, Waco, 254/829-0600

Braum’s Family Farm - Blue Bell isn’t offering tours of their factory in Brenham anymore (#sadface), but three-and-a-half hours north of Dallas, just outside Oklahoma City, Braum’s Family Farm gives families a peek at ice-cream making entertainment and more. During twice-daily guided tours (at 9 and 11am), kiddos ogle the vacuum-seal process that makes milk sweeter and thicker, watch barrels churn the cream into one of the 120 flavors of ice cream or frozen yogurt, plus see how Braum’s cones, cookies and muffins are made too. Finish with a sample of vanilla ice cream or a chocolate-dipped ice cream bar. Call ahead; tours fill up quickly.
Cost: Free
Hours: Mon–Fri, 9 and 11am.
Where: 491 County Road 2880, Tuttle, Oklahoma, 405/228-4604

Right Here At Home:

Mozzarella Company - Take the kids to Mozzarella Company around 2 or 3pm on weekdays (a perfect after-school activity) to discover what goes into their favorite pizza ingredient. A clear curtain allows kiddos to see into the kitchen as cheesemakers chop, heat and stretch the mozzarella (in that order) before it’s sealed and ready for consumption. Ask for free samples (the shop makes more than just mozzarella), and purchase your favorites to elevate your next cheese board.
Cost: Free
Hours: Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm; Saturday, 9am–3pm
Where: 2944 Elm Street, Dallas, 214/741-4072

Full City Rooster Coffee Roasting Studio - Visit Full City Rooster Coffee Roasting Studio on Saturday from 10am–2pm to see the organic, bird-friendly, certified-as-fair-trade beans toasted in the Loring roaster, a machine that reduces energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions significantly. The tour guide loads the raw greenish-khaki-colored coffee beans into the machine, manipulates them using an instrument called a trier, then dumps them when they reach their rich, brown color — all while talking visitors through the process and answering questions. Here, Mom gets to sample the cup of Joe while kids sip hot chocolate (though they can try the coffee too).
Cost: $45 per group of four
Hours: Mon–Sat, 7am–4pm
Where: 1810 S Akard Street, Dallas, 214/247-6394

iCream Café - iCream Café uses liquid nitrogen to instantly freeze custom-made ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet, hot pudding, shakes and malts. Kids first choose the base liquid — regular, light, nonfat, almond, coconut, soy or lactose-free milk. Next, the flavor combination is added (there are more than two dozen options). Finally, the concoction is injected with liquid nitrogen and mixed with fresh fruit, peanut butter (which stays creamy), candy and more — all while kiddos watch in amazement.
Cost: Prices from $3.99
Hours: Sun–Thurs, noon–9pm; Fri–Sat, noon–10pm
Where: 9250 Dallas Parkway #150, Frisco, 214/618-2343

Civello’s Raviolismo - Civello’s Raviolismo, a shop synonymous with fresh Italian noodles and ravioli in Dallas, sells their handmade creations wholesale to the public and area restaurants too. They also give interested kiddos a glance behind the curtain on weekdays from 10am–2pm. See how the pasta dough gets flattened and cut into squares before being stuffed with beef and spinach, shrimp and green onions or other tasty combinations.
Cost: Free
Hours: Mon–Fri, 9am–3pm; Saturday, 10am–2pm
Where: 1318 N Peak Street, Dallas, 214/827-2989

Mariano’s Hacienda - There’s almost always a wait at Mariano’s Hacienda. Before being seated or getting your food, entertain the kids with a visit to the tortilla station at the front of the Tex-Mex restaurant, where fresh tortillas are made throughout the day. Kids stand mesmerized as the ball of dough flattens, spins and cooks in the chute system to become the base for their cheese quesadilla later. Ask nicely, and the tortilla makers may give the kiddos a piping hot and delicious sample before dinner.
Cost: Free
Hours: Sun–Thurs, 11am–10pm; Fri–Sat, 11am–11pm
Where: 6300 Skillman Street, Dallas, 214/691-3888

Schakolad Chocolate Factory - Watch candy makers hand-dip truffles, make fudge and mold chocolate into teddy bear-, rose- or swan-shaped confections throughout the day at Schakolad Chocolate Factory. Ask for a sample of one of the milk or dark chocolate creations.
Cost: Free
Hours: Mon–Thurs, 10am–9pm; Fri–Sat, 10am–10pm; Sun, noon–6pm
Where: 106 E. 4th St., Fort Worth, 817/870-2400

Funky Town Donuts - Bring your crew (at least four people) to Funky Town Donuts for a free, private, interactive tour of the gourmet doughnut-making process. Owner Brandon Moore shows guests around the 600-square-foot shop and lets kids ages 5 and older roll and cut dough for the fryer (they don’t actually go near it). Moore then lets kids decorate the doughnuts with maple, chocolate or strawberry glazes, sprinkles, M&M’s, toasted coconut, crushed Oreos and more. Call to schedule a tour.
Cost: Free; doughnuts from $1.50 each
When: Tues–Sat, 6am–1pm; Sunday, 8am–1pm; tours by appointment only
Where: 1000 8th Ave., Suite 101, Fort Worth, 817/862-9750

Central Market - There’s nothing like a live pasta-making demonstration to pacify rowdy kids during a trip to the grocery store and Fort Worth’s Central Market does just that. Starting at 9am every day, kids can stare as pasta makers mix the eggs, flour and water into dough then run it through pasta machines (that make fettucine and linguini), ravioli maker and extruder (which creates tortellini) — all while taking questions.
Cost: Free; pasta from $6.99 per pound
Hours: Daily, 8am–10pm
Where: 4651 W. Freeway, Suite 100, Fort Worth, 817/989-4700

Orchid City Fusion Cafe - Orchid City Fusion Cafe turns cream into ice cream (almost magically) right before your eyes. First, the base, made with cream, milk and pure cane sugar, gets poured onto a frozen plate (set at -24 degrees) with a mix in such as cookies or fresh fruit. Next, using metal spatulas, the artists behind the counter flatten then scrape the now-frozen custard into rolls (they literally look like frozen fruit rollups) and finish it with favorite toppings such as chocolate sauce and whipped cream.
Cost: From $6
Hours: Mon–Sat, 11am–9pm
Where: 2135 Southeast Parkway, Suite 101, Arlington, 817/468-3777

La Hacienda Ranch - There’s almost always a wait at La Hacienda Ranch, the popular Tex-Mex restaurant. Before being seated or getting your food, entertain the kids with a visit to the tortilla station, which is enclosed for easy viewing of the fresh tortillas made throughout the day. Kids stand mesmerized as the ball of dough flattens, spins and cooks in the chute system to become the base for their cheese quesadilla later. Ask nicely, and the tortilla makers may give the kiddos a piping hot and delicious sample before dinner.
Cost: Free
Hours: Sun–Thurs, 11am–10pm; Fri–Sat, 11am–11pm
Where: 5250 Highway 121, Colleyville, 817/318-

On The Farm:

Cartermere Farms - Call to schedule a tour to let kiddos collect eggs, meet the lambs and chickens and harvest seasonal veggies. Before leaving, let little ones explore the 300-acre, natural pesticide- and herbicide-free, organic family-owned farm just outside of Celina.
Cost: $5 per child; adults are free
Hours: Mon–Fri, 8am–6pm
Where: 8436 County Road 134, Celina, 214/707-8029

Elizabeth Anna Farm and Garden - Show kids where eggs and carrots really come from at Elizabeth Anna Farm and Garden. Farm hands gladly take visitors on a tour of the garden beds and greenhouse, where kids learn how pea shoots, kale and turnip greens grow and why compost tea, organic fertilizers and rain water are essential for healthy plant development. Depending on the time of day, kids can hand feed goats and chickens too. Stop by for an impromptu walkaround, or call ahead to reserve a guided tour with owner James Samudio. Purchase organic produce and eggs from the on-site shop, or join the farm’s community-supported agriculture program for a weekly share of the harvest.
Cost: Free
Hours: Thurs–Sat, 9am–5pm
Where: 2825 8th Ave., Fort Worth, 817/922-0930

Circle N Family Dairy - Got milk? Teach kiddos where it comes from with a dairy tour at Circle N Family Dairy to learn what cows eat, how they are fed and the difference between raw and pasteurized milk. Kids can even play farm hand and milk Holly, the resident fake life-size cow with udders; bottle feed baby calves and take home a goody bag of coloring books and pencils. At the end of the tour, choose a sample of regular, chocolate or strawberry milk. Call ahead to schedule a weekday tour.
Cost: $7 per person
Hours: Daily, 8am–5pm
Where: 2074 CR 446, Gainesville, 940/372-0343

Kids are so wonderful and we need to give them all the help in learning we can. Finding common ground about foods they love is a great place to start. Travel time means special attention to just them and having a great time together as a family learning, growing, and just spending time together. Get a jump on presenting to the kids options on what and where they want to spend time. Planning weekends and special events means they can help. Pack snacks, gather gear, plan for time off, and even making long trips vacations is always a good idea.

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